Fakebook

If all you ever knew about someone was based on their social media presence you might be tempted to believe that everyone lives a pretty charmed life. No strife, no struggle, no need to change their underpants 'cause clearly their shit don't stink.

You'd also be wrong, wrong, wrong. Social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest are the equivalent of a perpetual first date: your legs are always shaved, your outfit's always tight, you're on your best behavior. You say all sorts of things people would never actually say in real life like "Look at my zillion carrot diamond ring!" or "just feeling sexy today!" Who talks like this? We do.  When we're on Facebook! 

There are actually people out there who become depressed when viewing other's pages because it seems to them that everyone else's life is so much better! See this article written about this phenomenon.

It's human nature, I suppose. We've probably all contributed to the myth that is our lives on social media. One thing that I try to remain aware of is that we never really know what goes on behind someone else's closed doors. You don't know what people are struggling with behind the posed stances and brilliant smiles. 

The same person who just posted a seemingly idyllic pic of themselves and their significant other wind-surfing in the South Pacific may have been arguing viciously with that person moments before the shutter clicked. 

That pic of a gourmet home cooked meal? The kids probably refused to eat it that night. They had chicken nuggets instead.

Those adorable pics of young siblings with their arms around one another? Their mom probably had to threaten them with extinction and then bribe them with candy to get them to sit still long enough to take the pic! It probably also took at least 104 crappy pics to get the one Facebook worthy shot.

Cute puppy dog pics? That little ball of fuzz probably crapped on the carpet later that day. 

Social networking sites provide a moment frozen in time without any context whatsoever. Those of us on the outside looking in might be thinking "gee, that person has the perfect life!" 

Nope! 

Nobody does. So, wish your friends well, but know that no one leads a perfect life. We wouldn't be human if we didn't experience the full compliment of existence: joy and struggle. Facebook is just particularly good at highlighting only the joyful parts.