“We are a sad generation with happy pictures.”

“We are a sad generation with happy pictures.”

“We are a sad generation with happy pictures.”

I read those words recently and they really struck a chord. So much so that I’ve thought about them every day since. I find that statement to be incredibly true. For years I’ve wondered if it’s because I’m older and life gets increasingly more difficult as you age for *so many reasons* or if it’s just our generation. I thought, well, maybe it. has to do with the fact that our generation was the first to go through college, graduate, and find that there were no jobs available in our fields. It makes sense. We’re constantly being compared to those who came before us, and they had the jobs, so why didn’t we? 

But then I realized, that no, it’s not just Millenials who are sad. 

 It’s us and everyone who came before and after us as well. 

We’re all so . . . sad. 

Why is that?

Is it social media and the idea that we have to live up to certain expectations? It used to be that we felt that way when it came to our parents. We had to live up to whatever standards they wanted to hold us to. Now, it seems like the expectations start the minute we open our eyes and just don’t end, do they? 

From our appearances to our career choices, we’re constantly being judged, and at the end of the day, does it even matter? Not really. None of the people who are judging us are paying our bills, so why do we care so much? 

What is it about these times that makes our society so hungry for attention? 

(By the way, this is a question I ask myself as well.)

I’m going to tell you what I’ve deduced, because like I said, I think about this A LOT. 

I think social media definitely has a lot to do with our sadness, but only in the sense that we are constantly wanting more and wanting things that we probably wouldn’t even think about if not for social media. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think wanting more is a bad thing at all. I think it’s the way in which it infiltrates our thoughts that’s the problem. 

More importantly, I think all of us have a lot of crap we haven’t worked through. Things that go back to our childhood that maybe we try not to think about at all, but when it’s triggered, it messes up the rest of our positivity/happiness. 

So, what do we do about it? 

I don’t know. Therapy obviously helps with the trauma. Not getting on social media at all would be ideal, but who are we kidding, right? 😂 

I will say this, when I don’t check social media first thing in the morning I always have a much more positive day. I also start my day with gratitude and if I feel myself slipping, I start counting things I’m truly grateful for. My family, my dog, the fact that I’M ALIVE. Sheesh, that’s a big one for me. 

It’s not a simple fix. It’s not a *fix* at all if I’m being honest, but I do feel happier now than I did a year ago, and a year before that, and a year before that, so, I’d say it’s working out for me. Try it! 

Xo,

Claire

PS. I’m not going to tell you to smile because I know a lot of people hate that crap, but, I’m smiling at you from the other side of this screen and I’m always rooting for you. LOVE YOU. 

*** I always share these thoughts in my newsletter, but I figured maybe I’d start sharing them here as well.