Are There Really That Many People Living So Well?!

Sometimes when I scroll through Instagram or TikTok, I catch myself thinking:
“Wait… are there really this many people living the good life?”

Someone’s at a fancy restaurant that’s impossible to book, someone else is wheeling their suitcase through the airport, and another person is smiling in a brand-new dress with an expensive bag on their arm. My feed looks like a highlight reel of people who have it all.

And then there’s me.
I just got home from work, collapsed on the couch, stared at the ceiling for a bit, and grabbed whatever was in the fridge for dinner. I wasn’t even feeling bad—until I opened my phone. Suddenly, a wave of heaviness sets in.

The truth is, I also lived a full day. I got things done, had my own small moments. But compared to those glittering snapshots online, my day suddenly feels… dull. And that’s when I start asking myself: Is everyone really living that well? Or are they just showing us the parts they want us to see?

Social media connects us, but it also pushes us into constant comparison. And more often than not, that comparison shrinks us.

So lately, I’ve been trying to ask myself a different question. Not “What did I do today?” but “What did I actually feel today?” Sometimes those quiet, ordinary moments—sitting at home, zoning out after work—might be the most honest part of my life.

What about you?
When scrolling leaves you suddenly heavy-hearted, how do you deal with it?

-Luda