Sunday, January 27, 2013
Life envy
I read this article on Mamamia today and it really struck a chord with me.
Mia writes:
And I hear you, Mia.
In a life where we are putting our "best face forward" on social media, it always seems as though our lives are less exciting, less full than everyone around us.
I live life as a contradiction - trying to live a fast-forward life while actually moving in slow motion.
Steve Furtick hit the nail on the head when it comes to "life-envy" - 'Don't compare your behind-the-scenes to everybody else's highlights reel'. And it is true - my world-travelling, fine-restaurant-visiting, bungy-jumping, mountain-climbing, extreme-sport-participating, fun-loving friends have wonderful things to post on FB and Instagram, but they don't live with chronic illness. They get to bounce out of bed each morning and start their day, where mine is more of a stretch-for-an-hour-before-feet-can-hit-the-floor-and-shuffle-to-the-kitchen-to-take-my-body-weight-in-meds start to the day.
I, like Mia, go to work, and come home, with the occasional detour to the supermarket (or more commonly, to a medical appointment or the pharmacy). Of course my life isn't going to look as impressive on a highlight reel - but it's my life, my lot, and I accept it. The pangs of guilt and envy hit every now and again, but I'm not ashamed of my life in all it's mundane-ness. Because someone, somewhere, would kill for my boring, mundane life where I have a job, and a roof over my head. And that's all the highlight reel I need.
Mia writes:
Do you ever get the feeling that everyone else is living their lives better than you? It’s that. The feeling that I should be doing more. Being more. But I’m not. I’m in bed with a large cup of tea and a small child snuggled under each arm. Finish line? My day hasn’t even started and already I have this nagging feeling of inadequacy. A quick glance at my Facebook feed often leaves me feeling the same way as the images whizz across my screen – overseas trips, music festivals, exhibitions, picnics, adventures, celebrations, restaurants, beaches, sunsets, parties…everyone’s lives loom so large.
Meanwhile, I go to work and I come home. Wait, sometimes I go to Westfield or the chicken shop.
And I hear you, Mia.
In a life where we are putting our "best face forward" on social media, it always seems as though our lives are less exciting, less full than everyone around us.
I live life as a contradiction - trying to live a fast-forward life while actually moving in slow motion.
 |
| Steve Furtick was onto something. |
I, like Mia, go to work, and come home, with the occasional detour to the supermarket (or more commonly, to a medical appointment or the pharmacy). Of course my life isn't going to look as impressive on a highlight reel - but it's my life, my lot, and I accept it. The pangs of guilt and envy hit every now and again, but I'm not ashamed of my life in all it's mundane-ness. Because someone, somewhere, would kill for my boring, mundane life where I have a job, and a roof over my head. And that's all the highlight reel I need.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
In 2013, I will...
Whenever a new year rolls around, we humans tend to make a heap of resolutions that, according to research, tend not to last even five days into the year. Given it's the fifth, I thought it time to see how I'm going.
Resolution #1: Finish the coursework component of my Masters degree
Given I am still on uni holidays, this was rather an intelligent resolution on my part - I can't 'fail' at this for quite some time!
Resolution #2: Be kinder to myself
Well, this one isn't going so well. I have a total of 4 days off in January, my first of which was today - and I am utterly exhausted. Combined with the distinct lack of anti-inflammatories circulating around my system, my body is aiming to shut down entirely, irrespective of my work commitments. Basically I don't think this one even made it 10 hours into the new year, working far too hard seems to be part of my DNA!
So on the resolution front, I'm running at 50%. Unfortunately, everything pales into insignificance in the current crisis facing so many of my fellow Tasmanians.
We've had a heatwave here in Tasmania over the past few days - and sadly it has led to bushfires in the state's east and south. Many homes have been lost, animals perished, but luckily, thus far, no human lives lost.
Friends of our family have lost their home, their possessions, everything. Other friends have evacuated and left their homes behind, hoping for the best. For now it's a waiting game. Waiting for the cool change to come, waiting for the rain, waiting for the luck of the Tasmanian people to change. We can only hope. And wait. And offer what little help we can. I hope the rest of the country joins me in opening my wallet and donating what I can, just as we did following the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.
There are two appeals running thanks to the Bendigo Bank - one for the South-East Tasmania (eg. Dunalley, Forcett, Nubeena, etc) and one for the Bicheno fires. I'm sure more appeals will come to light as time goes on, but all help is needed. It breaks my heart to think of these people who have lost so much, who are tonight trying to get precious little sleep so that tomorrow they can continue to look for loved ones, continue to defend their properties, or try to begin the agonising task of cleaning up. Tonight, all Tasmanians are heartbroken for them.
Resolution #1: Finish the coursework component of my Masters degree
Given I am still on uni holidays, this was rather an intelligent resolution on my part - I can't 'fail' at this for quite some time!
Resolution #2: Be kinder to myself
Well, this one isn't going so well. I have a total of 4 days off in January, my first of which was today - and I am utterly exhausted. Combined with the distinct lack of anti-inflammatories circulating around my system, my body is aiming to shut down entirely, irrespective of my work commitments. Basically I don't think this one even made it 10 hours into the new year, working far too hard seems to be part of my DNA!
So on the resolution front, I'm running at 50%. Unfortunately, everything pales into insignificance in the current crisis facing so many of my fellow Tasmanians.
We've had a heatwave here in Tasmania over the past few days - and sadly it has led to bushfires in the state's east and south. Many homes have been lost, animals perished, but luckily, thus far, no human lives lost.
This photo was taken by Ian Stewart - fire is so beautiful, yet so devastating all at once.
Friends of our family have lost their home, their possessions, everything. Other friends have evacuated and left their homes behind, hoping for the best. For now it's a waiting game. Waiting for the cool change to come, waiting for the rain, waiting for the luck of the Tasmanian people to change. We can only hope. And wait. And offer what little help we can. I hope the rest of the country joins me in opening my wallet and donating what I can, just as we did following the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.
There are two appeals running thanks to the Bendigo Bank - one for the South-East Tasmania (eg. Dunalley, Forcett, Nubeena, etc) and one for the Bicheno fires. I'm sure more appeals will come to light as time goes on, but all help is needed. It breaks my heart to think of these people who have lost so much, who are tonight trying to get precious little sleep so that tomorrow they can continue to look for loved ones, continue to defend their properties, or try to begin the agonising task of cleaning up. Tonight, all Tasmanians are heartbroken for them.
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