Gettin’ Real about the Highlight Reel

Howdy Friends! The blogging world and social media can be lots of fun but it can also be draining and make you feel super defeated. We are constantly seeing photos of expensive designer outfits, the perfect pastry and cup of coffee, and crisp clean houses. We see perfection everywhere, every day.

Don’t get me wrong, I love pretty things and pictures as much as the next girl! I have so much fun styling food (like these donuts published on Inspired By This), dressing up and will sometimes get my makeup and hair done for pictures. There’s a lot of pretty in my life, but it’s relatively balanced by the not-so-pretty, whether that be the mess piled all over my kitchen, balancing multiple jobs and projects, or keeping up with important relationships in my life. But I think it’s important that I keep it real with all of you, and with myself.

A couple of hours before this picture was taken I was hunched over a toilet and seconds after these pictures were taken my smile turned into a frown and my energy and attitude level went down to zero. Social media has a way of highlighting our best moments and greatest achievements but it doesn’t always show off the lows. These pretty pictures are not always the reality, actually the majority of the time they aren’t. Based on my blog and Instagram posts I may seem pretty happy. And I am. Things are going well and I feel extremely blessed but life can get a little overwhelming sometimes and I want to share that as well.

I just wanted to say that the next time you feel sad or off, know that you are not alone. It’s okay to let yourself feel defeated even when things are going well in your life. It’s okay to be sad even when you’re happy. Don’t try and put on a perfect act. Let yourself feel it all, but also try to take a second to remember about all the good things going on in your life. It can be hard to do I know, but it almost always helps.

And the next time you’re looking at blogs and Instagram photos full of beautiful people, styled food, and perfect outfits, try not to put so much dang pressure on yourself. Surround yourself with people who love you as you are. Be kind AND true to yourself! And as always be kind to others because you never know what’s going on in their life behind that perfect highlight real.

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