I have fun with social media. Sometimes too much fun. Some days I realize that all of my “sharing” paints a too-perfect picture of my life that just isn’t true. While I don’t think it’s a bad thing to post photos of my beautiful veggies and sweet kids, I have to realize that it can become annoying if I don’t throw a little reality check in every once in a while.
So here it goes:
- Joe hit Leila on the head with a rock today. They were both throwing rocks at each other…in front of a bunch of windows.
- Sometimes my kids go an entire day without eating a vegetable.
- Sometimes I give into the urge to eat a candy bar for lunch.
- If I don’t get instant feedback on a project I feel like a failure.
- I procrastinate and make piles and have to spend tons of energy just to be a tiny bit organized.
- Sometimes I wonder if I should quit everything and put on a denim jumper and homeschool the kids (just kidding about the jumper).
- I rarely take the time to properly mop the kitchen floor. I run the vacuum over it and call it good.
- The other day I was telling my mother-in-law about how well behaved the kids are…five minutes later they were both throwing full-on tantrums.
- Sometimes I stare blankly at my fridge full of organic veggies and order out for dinner instead.
- I desperately want to do good in this world, and sometimes that makes me push too hard for something that isn’t supposed to be.
- As much as I want to share a photo of what I look like at this moment in my Saturday sweats and crazy hair, I don’t want to give anyone nightmares.
In other words, I’m not perfect, my kids aren’t perfect, and what I share with you on a daily basis is meant to inspire, not defeat or annoy. Just know that behind every perfect pose are a hundred mess-ups, behind every smiling kid photo is a “But Mommmmmmm”, and behind every styled food photo is an un-mopped kitchen floor.
{how NOT to do a side lunge}
So how about you? Have any behind-the-scenes material you want to share?
And, I love you even more. Super awesome post, Alysa! 😉
Thanks lady, you inspire me to be me!
1) I spend way too much time on my phone
2) at bedtime, I want nothing more than to sit on the couch and do nothing for three straight hours
3) I struggle with a judgement spirit
4) I’m the same re: mopping the floor
5) piggybacking #4, I don’t clean our bathroom nearly enough, because we’re the only two who see it
Oh, how I could go on and on 😉
I’m with you on #5. For sure.
Love the post! So true!!!
Pfft, we had a good breakfast and even though I fed little miss a good lunch,.. I myself just ate half a bag of BBQ chips. And it was delicious.
We’re all human. Your blog title says it all INSPIRE. That’s why we post what we do and when — to inspire. That’s how I learned so much, from others. You’re NEVER annoying! Your posts.. Pictures… Are always beautiful and inspiring.
Thank you Keeley! Mmmmm…BBQ chips… 🙂
Enjoyed your post, Alysa! I can totally relate; I wouldn’t dream of posting something negative on Facebook or Twitter — it just feels so counter cultural to the norms! So, here goes:
1) I don’t exercise, and I know I should;
2) I eat all the wrong foods;
3) I am getting solar panels for my house, but I don’t recycle;
4) I am petrified of public speaking;
5) I do my best to stay organized, but somehow I’m just not;
5) My kids are grown, so I rarely cook OR clean;
6) I care about things like oppression and overcoming injustice to the degree I fear I annoy everyone!
Thank you for your transparency and the freedom to share a few of our own flaws on your post!
Thank you for sharing Heidi! #3 totally cracked me up, and #6 ME TOO, SISTER.
Love!! Thank you! I smiled at all your ‘confessions’ because I can SO relate!! 🙂
Thanks! I never thought about it any of those things.
I’m almost too insecure to write some of them down
I didn’t put my blog address on the form because I haven’t written in months
I eat Late July Summertime Blues chips for lunch on Saturday.
We won’t begin to talk about the kitchen floor.
I am a night owl also. If it weren’t for coffee I couldn’t function. Uh, I think that’s two.
And the list could go on.
Yay for coffee!!
I LOVE this post! I often too think about how the life that is portrayed through posts and pictures can seem all too perfect. No one is perfect! I have to keep telling myself this. But, always striving to do better/be better is all that matters.
Yes! I struggle with the comparison trap so often.
Thank you so much for this! I’ve heard that quote, but slightly different, “You can’t compare your insides with someone’s outsides.”
oooh I like that one too. Thanks for sharing!
which is exactly why we love your blog! INSPIRE is right! we all need outside “inspiration” to push us to strive beyond our comfort zones…thanks for sharing a little of the “real” you! I’m so right there with you on the mopping the floor, and deciding to eat out despite all the good stuff in the frig and,
– I struggle with a judgmental spirit
– can’t seem to give up my highly processed sugary coffee creamer
– wish I had spent more time with my kids when they were little, and less time working
but I am God’s work in process for sure 🙂
Thanks Angelique, I appreciate your support so much.
I really love this article. Thanks so much for your honesty.
My confession:
I am a dietitian and went out to an all you can eat pizza buffet lest night. Whoops : )
Haha Amanda! Love your confession 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I just knew that I really liked you, but this confirmed it:
“Sometimes I stare blankly at my fridge full of organic veggies and order out for dinner instead.”
I am so bad about doing that!
Feels good to come clean, doesn’t it? 🙂 You’re the best Kalyn!
My floors are in dire need of a good cleaning.
And we usually order takeout the day I go get groceries. #fail
Yay, we can be dirty floor buddies!
What a breath of fresh air!
1. Haven’t done a real workout in about 6 weeks.
2. Procrastinate. Put everything in to-do piles that I hardly ever revisit…
3. Find a lot of good intentions molding at the back of the fridge.
4. In spite of reminding myself to eat mindfully every time I sit down to eat, always end up wolfing down my meals.
5. Wear the same pair of jeans so long that they get stretched out & I can tell myself I’ve lost weight.
Great list Lisa!! Feels good, doesn’t it? 🙂
Oh my gosh, can I just copy your list? I felt like I was looking at myself in the mirror 🙂
Haha, go ahead!
This is one of the best posts ever! Everyone paints this picture of perfection. That’s one reason why I got rid of FB. It annoys me to no end. The perfect kids, hubbies, house, vacations….. I wish people would stop the fakeness and start being real. I vacuum and call it a day too!
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such a great post…that first quote is so true!!
Thanks Danica!
These are my favorite types of posts BY FAR. Love it!
Yay me too, thanks!
[…] might not need it for your perfect life and perfect kids, but you know, just in […]
I’m new to your blog. Just looked around a bit and stumbled on this post. This post – it is what is making me add you to my feed reader. I could so relate to so much of what you posted! Could we be long-lost sisters? Seriously, my list would include the same ones you posted as #2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10! And if Snickers bars didn’t make me sick, I’d be with you on #3 also! 🙂
Thanks for being real. I’m looking forward to following your posts.
Mmmm…Snickers… 🙂
Thanks for sticking around Michelle! Sometimes I get the nudge to post something like this just to make sure I’m keeping it real!
[…] The quote I found below pretty much says the same thing. It’s worth reading the post where I found this image too. Pretty awesome – and honest: Finding the line between inspiring others and being supremely annoying. […]
[…] The quote I found below pretty much says the same thing. It’s worth reading the post where I found this image too. Pretty awesome – and honest: Finding the line between inspiring others and being supremely annoying. […]