The grass is always greener on the other side, right?
Spring break is described as, "The best week of the year", "Much needed", and the most famous Instagram caption, "I never want to leave". So, tell me, why are so many girls coming out of spring break feeling absolutely, emotionally restless? The pictures, the comparison, the perfect swim suit bodies. Maybe it is all too overrated, maybe it is all becoming too much, and maybe we shouldn't let social media determine what we see in the mirror.
Let me explain. Today, I got back from an amazing, fun week with friends at the beach. We all got sunburnt, spent way too much money, and most significant to some, took insta-worthy pictures. I personally did not have a super hard time looking at all these pictures of girls in their perfectly edited swim suit pictures, but to see some of my friends be greatly affected was tough. It wasn't just my friends. I could hear it all around me, "why can't I look like that?". Why has comparison completely taken over our lives? Why doesn't the body God gave you ever seem to be enough? All great questions.
I write this article not to bash the girls who post bikini pictures, frankly if it makes you happy, do it. But I write it for the girls, or even guys, who are coming out of this week feeling worse about themselves than when they started it. The truth is, some of the girls we are envious of are probably feeling the same things. They are envious of other people. Nothing is ever perfect for us.
Imagine making something, and then being so proud of the final result. Thinking, "this is beautiful, I love it." And then seeing it be completely destroyed. Sometimes I think that's how God sees it. He made us ladies, beautiful, fearfully and wonderfully made, eager, hardworking, persistent, kind, humble, the list goes on. He made women, and He loves us as His children. Then, the sin and burden of social media causes women to be torn apart. The beautiful masterpiece is shattered. Yet, God waits for us with open arms.
For the girls who are comparing themselves to the "perfect" image of the most popular girls in school, understand that there will never be a defined perfect. There is only the REAL, PRESENT, BEAUTIFUL you. I know this may not make a huge difference, but I mean it when I say that no instagram comment/ picture will ever compare to how intricately and carefully you were made. Nothing will ever compare to the gentle, yet strong, woman that God made you to be.
