The Highlight Reel...

​"Comparison
is the death of
​joy"

These are the days of the highlight reel.
It's hard not to imagine the grass over the fence
​being the same shade of chaos and tired as yours,
because from where you sit,
it looks a bright shiny shade of everything you're not.

 With so much of our lives spent on social media, this kinda of thinking becomes worse. It feels like everyone's posting a highlight reel, and it's hard not to fall into the trap of comparison. No one's to blame here. People have every right to make their Instagram feeds, or Facebook page look as shiny as they choose to. It's important to remember that, some people are skilled at photography, some people do actually have designer homes, some children sit still long enough for a photo to be taken, and some people treat their Instagram pages as they would a full time job. So much of the time, what we see is a carefully orchestrated scene which makes many of us think 'Well my house doesn't look like that' or 'Jeez, I wish i looked that good first thing in the morning'. OK, sure, maybe some people actually DO set out to try and illustrate the fact that their lives are seemingly perfect. For the most part though, I think many are genuinely trying to create a thing of beauty. What we need to remember is, that 9 times out of 10, surrounding that one amazing photo on the camera roll, are 10 others that didn't make the cut. 
​

Some attempts to get 'the shot'...

The shot I went with...

​Now, social media has become a way of life (of sorts) for me. My blog is taking up much of my spare time, and I'm loving (almost) every second of it... BUT that doesn't mean I haven't had those moments of self doubt, or times where I've compared myself, my life, my blog, my Instagram feed to someone else's. What occurred to me over time, really looking at my own Instagram feed, and my own photos is that, while often times I do post about the chaos and terror occurring behind the scenes, or a first thing in the morning selfie, I also post some 'pretty pictures' too (ok they're mostly of my kids). Now, I know full well what went into taking those pretty pictures, and while yes, some of them have occurred in a moment of brilliance (aka complete fluke), other times not so much, they take time and effort. I've since learned to take other 'pretty pictures' for what they are. They are a thing of beauty, something to be admired, but nothing to be compared to, or read into.
​

This is pretty much my norm...

​I remember reading a post made by one of my favourite bloggers, where she felt the need to defend her 'pretty pictures'. In this post she showed her followers what was just outside the square on her Instagram feed. It was to be expected. Chaos, mess, life... just like the rest of us. In this little blog world, it's important to take in the 'whole' person. The good, the bad, the words, the comments, the pictures, pretty and the messy ones. Something that we all need to remember. Further more, for me personally, it's important to remember to follow the pages that make me happy, not the ones that make me wanna eye roll so hard, they're gonna bust out of the back of my skull. If feed after feed of pretty white houses, and perfectly styled scenes float your boat, then go for it... Just find the accounts that resonate with you, not the ones that make you question your self worth.

Don't compare 'normal' no make up, average lighting, below average hair styling (L), with a 'designed' photo, make up, hair done, great lighting. (R).

For me, my feed is about trying to portray a fairly accurate represtenation of ME, of my life, or in the very least, certain aspects of my personality. Sometimes you'll find a pretty picture, I'm showing you something I love, or giving in to my creative side a little bit. Other times it'll be something I've scrounged from the bottom of my camera roll, because it's more about the story behind it. In the end though, they're all me, just my different parts. It's actually an interesting exercise, going through your favourite 'follows' from purely an aesthetic point of view. It really can give you an insight into the owners personality. At the end of the day, it's important to own what you're good at (and who you are). If you're more the words than the pretty pictures (like me), then tell that story. If you take a cracker photo, then share it. If you live your life in paradise, then enjoy it (and make us all (me) completely envious). Don't change your style for what's popular, don't mess with your mojo. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Do whatever it is that you do...

Just make sure it's authentic.