The Highlight Reel

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel."

 - Steve Furtick

I recently read Steve Furtick's quote above and it caught my attention.

Being someone who is on the internet a fair bit - blogging, reading, networking, facebooking, tweeting, etc.  I ingest a lot of information about a lot of people on a daily basis.

Being an active participant in the blogosphere and in social networking, I write, I post stuff and I comment on things I find interesting, funny, noteworthy, inspiring, etc.

Where am I going with all of this?

Ummm...where was I going with this?

Well, Frank's quote really got me thinking.

We all have to remember that people get to pick and choose what they post and what they say on the internet.

Let's take me as an example - since I know myself better than anyone else.

Why?

Really?
 Well I will tell ya then!

Because I know everything that is beyond my "highlight reel".

And there it a lot in the beyond!

...like this Hong Kong-based band called...you guessed it!...
BEYOND.

Now, of course there are people in my life that are very close to me - like my family and very close friends - who see more than what they see on this blog and on Facebook and Twitter, etc.

But we all compare ourselves to others. It is just human nature.

We just have to remember that when we compare ourselves to what people show of themselves on-line tend to be from their personal "highlight reel".

That's right...uhhh...beauty pageant queen!

Kind of like movies tell stories with the boring parts taken out, rarely do we share all that is real.

We show all that is "reel", if you will.

I could show you pictures of me first thing in the morning.

I could tell you intimate details of my most intimate relationships.

But I don't.

I try to be as real as I can...especially in my writing...but some things...some information...is not for total and complete public consumption.

Yeah...uhhhh....no.

So if you think I have the perfect life, think again hon.

If you think I am a total beauty...think again.

We are all painters...and we all present "paintings", using light and dark brush strokes to present art to the world that represents not only who we are...but how we want to be perceived.

Some are braver than others.

Some seem to be able to shake their ego to the ground and bash vanity into the wall and let it all hang out.

The good, the bad and the ugly are exposed to the world and we are pulled into to their lives and enchanted by the artist's pure honesty.

I like to think I am getting there.

But I do have my "highlight reel" that I pull from...because I fear that letting all of me "hang out" will expose information about me and those I am closest to that I am not proud of...or that make me feel too vulnerable to show.

I don't like feeling too vulnerable.
Who does?

I also respect the privacy of the people I cherish.

I am the writer...the blogger...the social media queen. But not everyone is. Not everyone in my circle wants their dirty laundry hung out to dry for all to see...to inevitably be subject to judgement.

Sorry. Very predictable photo choice.
Please don't judge me.

And so I keep on keeping on...but with each passing day, I am getting braver...at least with my own shit.

I am letting myself get more vulnerable.

I am communicating (I think!) that I have the same struggles, phobias, problems, issues, neuroses, muffin tops, etc. that many of you have.

These are the muffin tops I just referred to...of course!
(What did you think I meant???)

Sharing is a choice.

But the bottom line here is - stop comparing.

And start celebrating.

Woo hoo!

We are all different and if we were all the same...well...life would be pretty frickin' boring.

As Katy Perry sings: "Baby you're a firework!"

That Katy is on to something!

I may just pull from my "lowlight reel" a little more often one of these days.

But until then...I just want you to know that comparing yourself to me or to anyone else is futile and just totally counter-productive.

Instead, if you are going to compare...compare yourself today to the person you were yesterday.

If you are happy with what you see...then hon...

THAT is progress.

Smiles,

Lora