With all this pressure to be the best, we’ve lost our ability to appreciate each other’s work, and it doesn’t stop there. Since I was twelve, I’ve struggled to feel happy on hearing about other people’s great vacations, love lives and even more so about their productivity and achievements. It’s not that I don’t want them to experience good things, but more that I instantly project it back on myself to feel that other people’s success equates to my failure. What is that?!
Yesterday while sitting in a photography critique of my work and one other student’s, I found myself face to face with me as a twelve year old girl. Our professor clearly loved the other student’s abstract concepts, which I immediately took to mean that he hated my pictures of old buildings and train cars. As I walked out into the sunshine after class, I confronted my emotions. Why did I feel so bummed out? It shouldn’t affect me negatively when other people shine.
If I’d had an Instagram or Facebook account when I was twelve, I would most likely roll my eyes as I do now, when someone posts 20 vacation pics or a long self-congratulatory post on how much art they are making or scholarships they are winning, etc. Is it my suspicion that many people are portraying their own reality with as much creative license as a screen writer? Yes, people post inspirational quotes when they are feeling their lowest, cute couple shots when they are struggling to stay in love, and calls to political action while seated in their overstuffed chairs. Who cares? I am not the sincerity police.
I keep thinking about trying super hard for stuff, then sitting around wondering if it will pay off. I’m sure other people are waiting to see if they’ll get the things they try for too. Here is me attempting to grow: I want to feel more inspired by the great stuff that happens to other people. I heard this quote on an old episode of Six Feet Under: “What is the purpose of living life, if you don’t let it change you?”
I hope this finds you enjoying your day,
having a great time with your friends or family
and feeling like a total winner!
