Three life lessons from last week

Happy Tuesday Friends! I had a fashion post scheduled for this week, but in light of the recent deaths in the news, I’ll save that for next week. Today, I’ll jump right in and share three life lessons the events of last week reminded me of.

No one’s life is really #goals

At least not in the way social media has conditioned us to think. In this social media world of likes and hashtags, sometimes it’s easy to feel like everyone but you is constantly #blessed, #livingtheirbestlife or #baecationing. Of course social media isn’t all bad; I’ve built some great connections and found inspiration since I became active a few months ago, but sometimes it’s all too much. You click on one photo and you’re thrown into the never-ending rabbit hole of other photos you might be interested in.

You judge a little here, you compare a little there and before you know it, way too much time has passed. I’m guilty of this too (lol) but at the end of the day, I always try to keep this popular quote in mind:

“Don’t compare your behind the scenes life to someone else’s highlight reel”

Isn’t that so true! With social media, we can craft a life that we show to the whole world but no one really knows what’s real anymore. We all have our own unique paths in life and don’t need to get distracted by someone else’s journey. The truth is that you never know what anyone’s going through behind the scenes. Which brings me to the next point.

Phone a friend more often

Double-tap Instagram post, check. Like Facebook status, check. Respond to WhatsApp group message, check. But when was the last time you picked up the phone and called that friend you haven’t heard from in a while. Or even stopped to really check in on a friend you text with on the regular, especially the strong ones who always seem to have it together. We need each other and sometimes people don’t reach out because they don’t want to be a burden. That phone call from you might be all it takes to make their day. I used to be that girl who would be on the phone from sundown to sunup (yup, no exaggeration). But now I’m gradually getting phone-lazy by the minute and I need to do better. Make a list of people you’ll commit to calling this week. I’ll be doing the same!

Go beyond a casual “how are you?” and ask specific questions. I was talking to my friend the other day and his response to my “I’m fine” was “f** all that strong woman s***. I know you always say you’re fine but seriously dealing with “situation at hand” wasn’t easy, how do you REALLY feel”. Now that’s direct lol! Also if you can, visit a friend you haven’t seen in a while or invite them over. With the proliferation of technology, we need increased human interaction now more than ever!

Finally, be thankful for the little things

Sometime we focus too much on all the big negatives that we forget the little blessings that are right in our face. I started off last week in a bit of a funk after I blamed myself for a weekend that didn’t go as expected. Then I got a notification about Kate Spade’s death. A few days later it was Anthony Bourdain who inspired me a ton and had what we all considered to be a dream life. That put things in perspective real quick and I realized I was sweating the small stuff. Life is short and I can make the most of it by being thankful for everyday things.

One great way to practice gratitude is to put in some volunteer time somewhere, or do something that takes time out of your day for someone. It’s a great way to get out of your head, connect with your local community, and be #blessed for the ability to #giveback *wink.

Have a great week and as always, let me know your thoughts or recent life lessons below!

Thanks so much for all your support! It means the world to me.

xoxo
-Belle