Toilet Plungers and Facebook

Toilet Plungers and Facebook

Several times over the last month, I have had a conversation with people which is similar to this blog post. 

The conversation starts out with the person stating how he or she is feeling “bad” about his or her life… Because it does not match the pictures of life he or she sees on Facebook.  Friends are having fantastic days.  Their selfies are spectacular.  Vacations are plentiful.  There are joyful moments.  Everyone else’s diets are rocking away the pounds.

And there is the person with whom I am speaking… Who is not on vacation.  Who has not lost ten pounds with the latest and greatest diet.  Who is not glamorous in a selfie.

The person who is frazzled.  Who did not get much sleep last night because he or she was up worrying about bills.  Who is going to be lucky to get a full 10 minutes to shower without interruption – a vacation is out of the question.

It is to these people I have asked the question:  Do you ever see pictures of their toilet plungers? 

After all, everyone eats.  Everyone sleeps.  Everyone has a life.  … And all those lovely Facebook pictures NEVER show people washing dishes scrubbing the floor, or unplugging the toilet.  I have yet to see someone posting a selfie of using a toilet plunger.

So when you see those lovely pictures and doubt starts to creep into your mind… I want you to think of toilet plungers.  Remind yourself that Facebook pictures are the shiniest moments of life.  But Facebook pictures ARE NOT representative of the vast majority of life we each live.  All those moments which make up the bulk of our lives – no one is snapping sparkly pictures of them.  No one is posting those pictures – the ones which never get taken.   Instead, people are busy LIVING those moments.  Just like you do. 

Just like we all do.