I browse through beautifully curated images on Instagram, feed upon small squares of perfection to pass the time. In many ways, this is like flipping through slick magazines back in the day, turning page after page of professional images designed to make me want more than what I have….
Our home is on the small side, with not much room to spare beyond the necessities. It is nearly seventy years old, the old hardwood floors scarred by many steps and mishaps. There is only one bathroom, tight and cramped, so we have learned to share. But, it is cozy and serves us well.
Daily, I remind myself that it’s not about what I don’t have – unlimited funds, everchanging decor, a large flagstone patio with amazing fire pit and more. It’s about what I do have – a home that provides shelter and sanctuary from the outside world, no mortgage payments, a perfectly imperfect place to call HOME.
I don’t want to get caught up in the desire to be more like others, envious of their possessions, circumstances and opportunities. Key to keeping this mindset is avoiding comparing myself to others. So, I make the conscious effort to view with an eye for details that might be useful to me, that can be incorporated into my life in a way that works just for me. I view to be inspired, possibly educated – not to mimic or adulate.
I constantly remind myself that IGers I follow are not perfect themselves, nor are their lives and surroundings. They simply have chosen an image that represents the best, the part they want to show and share. Behind the scenes, their lives can be filled with just as much imperfection as mine.
So, skip the comparison. Don’t let it make you lose sight of the joy and blessings you already have.
Welcome to the porch... 