Why I Won’t Stop Instagramming My Perfect Life

This post is in response to an article called, “Stop Instagramming Your Perfect life.”

My life is as great as it looks through Instagram and on Facebook.  It really is.  I really am that happy.  My life is that “perfect”.

I am happy and my life is perfect because I am grateful.

I am grateful that my kidneys work.

I am grateful that the sun shines (even behind the clouds).

I am grateful that there are trees to provide me with oxygen and shade.

I am grateful that my heart pumps without me even thinking about it.

I am grateful that I can breathe in air.

I am grateful that I have a roof over my head.

I am grateful that I have shoes to wear on my feet and clothes on my back.

I am grateful that God has given me two precious children.

I am grateful that I have an amazing husband and that I love him for everything that he is.

I am grateful that I choose happiness.

Happiness is a choice.

Happiness is a mindframe.

Happiness comes from seeing all of the magnificant beauty in this world and being grateful for it.

Happiness comes from knowing that everyday matters.

Happiness comes because I know that this life God has given me in incredible.

Happiness comes from being alive.

It is my nature to share and Instragram this happiness with everyone I meet because I live and breath it.

No, it does not mean that I pretend to always be happy or that nothing ever goes “wrong” in my life.  It means that I see the lessons in everything in life.  It means that I grow with each opportunity.  It means that even when things are sad or hard or suck, I know that there is something bigger, something greater behind it.

This morning I awoke at 7am and was energized enough to make blueberry muffins before my boys went off to school.  I was super excited because I rarely get up early enough to make muffins, but this morning I had the opportunity.  I LOVE making food for my kids.  It always makes me feel like an amazing mom.

One of my sons awoke early and came into the kitchen to talk with me.  Just as I  was about to combine the wet and dry ingredients together and complete my vision of having muffins ready for breakfast my son hit the bowl with his elbow and the wet ingredients (eggs and coconut oil) went flying all over the kitchen.  I wanted to shout, I wanted to heave a really big sigh.  I wanted to get mad.  After all I did not have any other eggs left.  I could not start over.  I was disappointed.

Then I looked at my son.  His head in his hands, his body limp in sadness, in embarrassment, his confidence at an all time low at the beginning of the day.  I raised his head in my hands and said, “Cole.  I love you.

Because that is what matters,  Love.  Yes, my breakfast plans were ruined, but I am grateful that I have Cole in my life.  A child to love, a child to smile and laugh with.  Who cares if he spilled the muffin mix?  He is here in this world, he is alive!!!

It took him a few minutes to adjust his own perception of what just happened.  As I was cleaning the floor I said, “Maybe this happened because I needed to give my floors a good scrub.”  He laughed and raised his shoulders a bit.  By the time we went out the door for school he was spinning around the living room smiling saying, “Love you mom!”

My heart filled with joy.  I was presented with an opportunity this morning.  An opportunity to grow and see what really mattered or an opportunity to get mad, to think that the day had just been ruined.  I chose happiness.  I chose to value how my son felt about himself over being angry over spilled muffin mix.

My husband and I eat lunch at school with our boys every Friday (for nearly 3 years now) and today for lunch I brought muffins.  A big pan of muffins.  Not only did my son smile, but as I offered the extra muffins to friends, teachers and the principal, more people smiled.

Perhaps the muffins were spilled this morning so that I could bring muffins to lunch and bring a smile, to brighten someone else’s life.

I don’t know why the muffins spilled this morning, but I know it was perfect.  Just another perfect part of my perfect life.

So the next time you want to share something great with this world do it!  And by all means, if you friends are posting pictures on facebook and Instagram about their happy moments, be happy for them.

We as humans reach for negative emotions like jealousy over seeing someone else’s successes because our ego wants to feel important.  But the truth is, the soul already knows it is important.  The soul already knows how to live in love.

About The Author

Summer Brackhan

Mom, sociologist, teacher, author, musician, world traveler, parenting and health coach who believes healthy living incorporates body, mind and soul and that life is not about living in little boxes, but experiencing everything at its fullest.

2 Comments

  • Michelle DeRusha

    Reply Reply April 5, 2013

    Beautiful post, Summer. SO much truth here. I love your spirit.

    • Summer Joy

      Reply Reply October 4, 2013

      Thanks Michelle! Most days it is easy to be grateful and other days I have to remind myself to breath and go back to gratefulness. 🙂

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