THE LIVES OF OTHERS
Part of life now days revolves around social media and reading about other people's perfect lives. It can be celebrities or it can be friends on facebook, but wherever it is, there are always people who seem to have been dealt a very nice hand of cards.In comparison, my cards look a little on the sad and sorry side. I'm not uploading photos of my dinner or dessert taken at the latest restaurant. I'm not peppering my facebook feed with photos from my lovely overseas destination holiday. I'm not even putting up photos of a local holiday or restaurant because it's been ages since I've been on one of those too!
AM I REALLY MISSING OUT?
The funny thing is that I really don't mind. I should be envious of my friends who married doctors and engineers and are living the life of Riley but I'm just not that bothered by it. There are a couple of friends who post impossibly perfect family moments that stick in my craw a little and I must admit to 'unfollowing' them - not 'unfriending' them though because they are still my friends - I just need to time when I look at their perfect lives and families.
What I've found is that I might have less money than some of these people, and my house and car might be smaller, but I am just as happy as they appear to be. I am at an age and stage where my life is pretty stable and straightforward. I know who I am and what is important to me. I know who I love and who I care about and I am happy to be surrounded by those people. I like my new job, I love my husband, I like where I live and I really like having my own time and space with very few demands.
CHOOSING MY ATTITUDE
I can't magically have the lifestyle of the rich and famous (or not so famous) but I can have contentment and gratitude for the life I already have. I can enjoy the fact that I'm healthy and (so far) have been spared any major illnesses and injuries. I can be proud of my children and the fact that they have done just as well (if not better than) their peers who had more privileges - not having life handed to them on a plate certainly didn't do them any harm. My husband may not have a high powered job, but he has time for me and time to look after our home - and even better, he has time to cook dinner for me most nights (which I love!)
Life may not have dealt me a full house but I think we have played a fair game so far and the rounds to come should be interesting too. I just hope it doesn't swap to strip poker because this old gal doesn't want to be playing the final hands in her underwear!
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you living a life of contentment and enjoying the hand of cards you've been dealt? Do you get seduced by the life of others into wanting more? Can we choose joy instead of envy?
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Hi Leanne,
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it! That's the blessing of midlife: to know who we are and what's important to us. And although I love life's little luxuries and crave some of the material things out there, I realise that none of them will make me happy, plus I would never sell my soul in order to get them:) It's very inspiring and uplifting your post!
xx Abby
Hi Abby - I think you're right in that we all like life's little luxuries, but we also know what we're worth and that we wouldn't necessarily trade what we have to get them.
DeleteLeanne, Good for you to know the blessings you already have in your life!
ReplyDeleteThanks Estelle - life is choc a block with blessings if we look for them
DeleteI think we are living parallel lives and that I could have written this post. Living a positive life filled with joy and being grateful for the blessings we do have? That is what's most important in life. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy - I love "meeting" people who are discovering the same things as me - life is pretty good isn't it?
DeleteYou are rich in so many ways. I interview lots of wealthy, privileged people, and let me tell you... They don't have half of what you have. You can't imagine how many times I walk away thinking, "There's no way I'd trade places with them, for any amount of money." My darling husband died Christmas Day, soon to be five years ago. We had no children. I have no siblings or family. Just me. Sometimes I feel a little down about the Facebook photos I see, but I don't stay down for very long. I'm blessed to have been loved by a wonderful man. I like my job, my friends, and I'm healthy. That's huge! Brenda from 1010ParkPlace
ReplyDeleteHi Brenda - I think you have a pretty perfect life too - but I do wish you still had your husband because that relationship is so special (I'm glad you have so many happy memories though). I think we are sold the myth that wealth is the key to happiness - in my opinion there is so much more to a full life than money. Thanks for stopping by again and sharing :) x
DeleteI agree and, at times, have found it difficult to not envy those exciting vacation pics of others you talk about. Have to put it all in perspective. I wrote something similar this week too.
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie - it's easy to see the cream of other people's lives and forget that's just the bit they want us to see - I'm popping over to read your post now :)
DeleteYes, you are so right. It's easy to forget that you can't always know what is really happening in glossy lives.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Leanne and I can see many people nodding in agreement as they read it. As I get older, my family is most important to me. I am very lucky to travel with my husband for holidays but if I couldn't I would still be happy with my life. Thanks for pointing out what is important at our #AnythingGoes link up
ReplyDeleteI'm in exactly the same place as you are. My husband is an hourly employee in a factory and money gets tight sometimes, but we get by just fine. We're happy and in love. I am content and once I finally realized that I was no longer living for tomorrow my little part of the world got just a little brighter!
ReplyDeleteactually enjoying your life now and not waiting for it to happen later is definitely a key to happiness Rena!
DeleteHi Leanne! I agree with you and the other people who made comments. It matters far less what we have and own and much more about how we feel about what we have and how grateful we are for it. There were ALWAYS be people who look like they have more and that there lives look good from the outside--but how can we really know. All we can do and know is appreciate who we are and the live we have been given. It sounds like you have a wonderful life and congratulations on knowing it! ~Kathy
ReplyDeletethanks Kathy - I think it's very true that we don't know what goes on in the reality of other people's lives and we get way to glamourized a version of it all. Contentment with our lot in life is such a huge plus isn't it!
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