My name is Ana, and I never imagined I would admit this, but there were times when I wished I had the kind of life lifestyle creators seem to have in their YouTube videos.
I wanted to experience everything they showed. Looking back now, I realize it was an illusion - one I had willingly believed through my own rose-colored glasses.
We all use social media.
We capture beautiful moments and upload them to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and sometimes even Substack. We want to preserve those memories, but, if we’re honest, we also want to share our happiness with the world.
Some of us take it much further. We post gender reveals, positive pregnancy tests, hospital photos, and everything in between.
Somewhere along the way, though, something changes - you become addicted.
Addicted to the next Story you’ll post.
Then, before you even realize it, you start going to certain places, dressing a certain way, and planning your day around getting that perfect photo.
In your own little world, you begin to feel like the next Britney Spears. Or at least, that’s what you tell yourself.
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We idolize people we don’t actually know.
We try to become someone whose real life we know nothing about.
We assume success happened overnight because all we see are beautifully edited videos filmed on a camera that, more often than not, is probably still being paid off.
A few days ago, Tsetsy and I had exactly this conversation.
How much of those aesthetic vlogs is actually real?
How many people genuinely live the way they portray themselves online?
And honestly, who has thirty spare minutes every morning just to perfectly plate a bowl of granola?
Let me tell you: No one.
Sometimes, it’s even less.
It’s like admiring a beautiful painting hanging in a gallery while never seeing what happened behind the canvas.
No one sees the hours the artist spent staring at it, completely unmotivated.
No one sees that the same artist sometimes can’t even find the energy to take a shower.
And the truth is... That’s normal.
Do you know why?
Because if we’re honest, we’re not always motivated.
We don’t wake up every day overflowing with positivity. We don’t make it to church every Sunday. We’re not always kind to our coworkers.
Sometimes we skip workouts. Sometimes we leave the gym without showering.
Sometimes we cry in the shower. Sometimes we’re so emotionally exhausted that the only thing we want to do is crawl into bed.
Sometimes we reach the end of the month feeling anxious because our salary is gone and the next loan payment is waiting.
Sometimes we desperately want to escape the city for a day or two but postpone it because other responsibilities come first.
We’re not always able to say “no,” no matter how much we talk about avoiding people-pleasing.
Sometimes we overreact simply because we’re emotionally drained.
Sometimes we cancel therapy because we don’t feel ready to open up.
Not today. Not this week.
Every single one of us has experienced at least one of these things.
The problem is that almost nobody talks about them.
And because of that, entire generations begin to idolize a life that doesn’t actually exist.
On what you choose to share with your friends, your audience, your coworkers, and your family.
But also on what genuinely brings you joy.
We’ve become so obsessed with documenting every moment and waiting for the next notification that we sometimes forget life is happening while we’re staring at a screen.
Time keeps moving.
Instead of living it, we often choose to get lost in illusions created by another celebrity photo, another athlete’s vacation, another actor’s perfect-looking day.
So here’s my challenge to you:
Take off the rose - colored glasses. Start appreciating the life you already have. Talk about reality as it truly is.
Because beautiful photos don’t always mean a beautiful life.
Because that “perfect couple” you’re trying to imitate may not be happy at all.
Because moments taken out of context will always look beautiful, but nobody asks what happened during the other twenty-three hours of the day.
Because it’s completely normal if your home doesn’t look like it came straight from Pinterest.
It’s completely normal if your bank account isn’t filled with millions.
It’s completely normal to keep refreshing your inbox while waiting for an important work email.
It’s completely normal to be so exhausted that you don’t even shower after your workout.
And for the love of God...
It’s completely normal to wear comfortable clothes to the gym instead of trying to look like Kim Kardashian or Hailey Bieber every single time.
And I’m here to admit that there are days when the weather outside is absolutely beautiful, yet I’d rather stay home, wrapped up in bed, feeling like one giant burrito.
And you know what?
On those days, I feel incredibly small. But I also feel happy.
Because I know the laundry can wait. The washing machine can wait. The chores can wait.
But that quiet reminder that I’m only human...
That won’t wait for anyone.
I’m planning to launch a podcast for Not Exactly Ana - a space where we talk about the things no one really talks about: relationships, boundaries and those moments when saying “no” feels impossibly heavy. That’s why I decided to start saving for a camera to finally bring this project to life. So if you’ve ever wanted to support me with a “coffee,” know that this is what I’m currently saving for - and what I’m planning to invest in.
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