Behind the screen

The grass is always greener on the other side of things, at least that's what we have heard and been taught from the start. You take one look at someone's post on social media and you wish you were them instead. You long to have that relationship, lifestyle or whatever it may be that they are so proudly flaunting for everybody to see. But what if I told you the grass isn't always greener on the other side? Behind your screens there is a whole different world going on hidden from the naked eye. Take it from me, don't always believe what their pictures and pages portray.

That couple that seems to have it all together and be so in love, one or both of them is secretly cheating. Their relationship is built on lies, insecurities and minimal trust. But that picture of them am I right?! Social media shows they are in love so they must be. If only you could see the hurt, fights and deep rooted issues that post is lined with underneath.

And what about that family you saw at the park the other day or at the beach? The one you sat there admiring and wishing you had instead of being a single parent yourself. I hate to break it to you but those visions and wishes in your head are far from reality. You saw a happy family, however that morning one of them filed for divorce. A double life came unraveled the day before after a simple fling turned into something more and now they aren't together anymore. You saw the smiles they put on for the world to see and believed their life was somehow better then yours.

Let us not forget that one person who always and I mean always seems to have their shit together. You know who I am talking about, the person who had the straight A's in school, landed their dream job immediately and have their head on straight so it seems. Yeah, that person. Social media shows the glamorous and successful life but behind their screen is a struggle beyond your wildest dreams. A struggle with mental illness that resulted in 3 failed suicide attempts, a stint in rehab for addiction and being kicked to the curb because of their actions. Still wishing to be them?

Behind the screen of that girl with the most perfect skin and beautiful body is a lifetime battle with anorexia and low self esteem. Before taking that picture she threw up in the toilet as many times as she could. And then without a second thought she put on a brave face caked with makeup and posed for a picture guaranteed to make you jealous, or at the very least insecure. That girl in the picture you are longing to be so wishes she had the body and confidence you already possess.

Your friends parents just celebrated 30 years of marriage and inside it kills you your parents couldn't last, however those 30 years are nothing like the loving post you read on Instagram. Their marriage has been paved by abusive and controlling ways, all at the hand of her father's narcissistic ways. You didn't see the daily fights, screaming and slamming doors in that picture now did you though? Or the lasting effects her parents actions now have on her own personal relationships? Some scars are well hidden behind those screens. Your wish was her nightmare reality.

Social media does a great job filtering the images of life, hiding the bad stuff away and making us strive to obtain lifestyles that aren't even real. It posts the parts we want others to see and quite frankly believe. Even the cute kid pictures where they are all smiling, you saw that but didn't see the MANY meltdowns before hand, and trust me they were there.

The grass will always appear greener on the other side if you choose to believe what you see instead of what is going on behind the screens. No family is perfect (yes even yours Karen) and life is a constant roller coaster ride. It is okay to struggle, to not be perfect or have a life anywhere near what is sprawled out all over your screen. Life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.

Next time you see that happy couple, family, Instagram model or whoever it may be you are trying to be, remember there is a story behind those filtered images. Remember social media doesn't show struggles, depression/anxiety, abuse, trauma, insecure relationships or any raw images of what life all too often is.

Share those real life moments, the good, bad and downright ugly ones. Help raise a generation up on reality not filters, insecurities and photo-shop. Show the world what real life is like because honestly, we all need that reminder that we are enough sometimes on our worst days and that we are only human after all. Make sure you are happy in real life and not just on social media.

The grass isn't always greener behind those screens.