Comparisons

Please tell me I'm not the only one who compares my life to the lives of others...

Sometimes I just get into these funks and suddenly my life sucks compared to the pictures of former friends' lives.

I'm well aware of how silly and ridiculous this is and can't believe I'm admitting this in public- can I blame it on being pregnant and having my hormones out of whack???

But sometimes I can't help it...

It's ridiculous for a multitude of reasons:

#1 I don't know what their lives are really like. It's easy for someone to post only flattering pictures of themselves and their families and their home (on Facebook for example) and all the luxurious vacations they have taken. And really, why wouldn't they? Don't we all want others to believe we have 'the perfect' life? But a picture isn't always reality.

#2 They probably have more debt than I do, and to me, debt is not worth looking like a super model, having a fancy car, or paying on a big, fancy house. (Okay, maybe paying on a big, fancy house would be worth it to me)...I don't even own a credit card, and I live in a state where it's very popular to be as natural as possible. Fake hair, fake nails, fake skin color, fake eyelashes, fake, fake, fake is NOT attractive out here and I absolutely LOVE that about Southern Oregon. It's okay to be oneself without pressure to "look" a certain way-how relaxing!

#3 Maybe they are not happily married. Perhaps their husbands are as super-modelish as the women, but maybe they are unsuccessful in the business world (hence the big, fancy house accompanied by D.E.B.T.)

Who knows? Who really cares? In all honesty, most days I don't. But today I do.

Is it because it's Friday night and I'm home, sitting on the couch, in my super-small, extremely dirty, messy house that I don't have the energy to clean because I'm pregnant and I've been sick for 9 days, staring at my belly that is expanding for this new little baby, but right now just looks awkwardly fat?

Is it because I'm hungry but haven't been grocery shopping, therefore nothing sounds remotely good?

Is it because deep down I too want to look like a super model but refuse to go into debt so I can? (I am REALLY missing my size 4's right now).

Is it because I'm a teacher and can't afford a fancy car or take luxurious vacations?

Or, am I simply in a whiny mood?


If my husband were home he'd tell me, "Suck it up. Look around you. I adore you, we have a beautiful, healthy son, a roof over our heads, and more than most people. If all that's not a reason to smile, I don't know what is!"

He is a wise man and I should heed his advice (even though he didn't really say this, but I know he would say something similar..) :) I should quit my complaining and silly comparisons and be grateful for everything I DO have!