The perils of social media: things are not always what they seem

Oh the perils of social media. I was perusing my social media accounts the other day and was, as usual, greeted with picture-perfect evidence of how wonderful people's lives are. And you would think, being in the family law business that I am, that I would know better than to believe what I see. Having had picture-perfect husbands and wives post idyllic photos one day and walk into my office the next to describe the the less-than-perfect-and-sometimes-quite-terrible behind-the-scenes reality. But as many do, I often forget that and wind up worried or saddened that my life, while really really good in so many ways, is less than perfect.

So maybe I need this as a reminder to myself. Maybe this is my advice to myself to stop looking at what others have because it may not be what I think. Maybe behind the smiles and the gaiety is someone who is unfulfilled in love or worried about their next paycheck. Maybe thinking that someone's business or love life is what we should all aspire to is not only what we wouldn't aspire to but is something we wouldn't take if offered on a platter.

Maybe the truth is that looking at our own lives and appreciating what we are provided and fixing what we can, is the better path. Maybe knowing that there is no perfect life and there is only our life to do with what we choose is where our focus should be. Maybe wising and hoping for someone else's life is not only misplaced idealism but also takes our focus off of us, where it should be. Maybe if we decide to really take stock of what we have, not what others seems to have, we can be filled with hope for what may be and can be. And maybe feeling grateful for what is in our lives but setting goals for what we want, should be the impetus for us to stop wishing and start working.

Lesson learned.
-a