I am drowning in FOMO, all the time.
I’ve wasted a huge chunk of my life wishing I were somewhere else.
As a teenager, I overheard talk of dates, trips, and parties to which I wasn’t invited. In college, people told me about threesomes, ragers, and drugs — none of which involved me. Now that I’m an adult, my friends have enriching children and/or international travels.
My calm, quiet life feels great… until I go on social media.
Everyone seems to be having the most bodacious time ever, surrounded by beautiful, smiling people. Everyone has bright drinks and white teeth. The sun always shines on the spectacular vistas behind them.
That shit makes me feel like a dumpster in August.
I promise you, my life is excellent. It’s a quiet excellent that doesn’t translate digitally. It’s not sparkle-party-gorgeous-sunset excellent.
Covid-19 has killed everyone’s social life.
Everyone is sitting in their house with their partner and their dog on Friday nights. Everyone is whittling down their books-to-be-read pile. Everyone is wondering if their exercise routine is worth it. Everyone is wondering how on earth they’re running out of desirable Netflix content.
No one has FOMO because everyone has FOMO.
My plans were canceled, too.
My husband & I had plans to visit London for our 10-year wedding anniversary.
It would have been stressful. I’m a shitty traveler.
I would have taken lots of pretty pictures, though.
I would have posted them.
People would have been jealous of my life.
I want people to be impressed. I want people to think I’m cool. I want people to be — ugh — a little envious.
Trust me, I know that makes me a puddle filled with cockroaches.
I don’t feel good about the reality I’ve boxed myself into.
This is the part of the post where I tell you that you should quit social media. This is where I tell you that comparison is the thief of joy.
You know that, though. That’s the thrust of pieces like this.
“Follow your bliss. Lower your expectations. Find the life that suits you.”
Whenever I see articles like that, I’m like, “take a bath, hippie. If I were going to quit social media, I would have.”
If you can get out, get out now.
You don’t need me to tell you that. You know what you should be doing.
You should exercise. You should floss. You should eat your greens. You should call your grandma. You should write down what you’re grateful for every day. You should donate time/money to charity. You should learn a new language. You should stop taking social media at face value.
You should enjoy this reprieve while it lasts.
As soon as there’s a vaccine, we’re going straight back to FOMO.