Just a reminder to everyone out there who’s looking at other folks’ successes and wondering, “Why not me?”

Everything on social media is a performance. Intentional or not, people don’t show you the price they pay for the things they’re showing off.

Maybe you’re jealous of that person who got promoted. You’re not seeing the long nights that led to their last breakup. Maybe you’re jealous of the founder of that new thing. You’re not seeing the people they stabbed in the back to get where they are. Maybe you’re seeing vacation photos of extravagant journeys to exotic destinations. You’re not seeing that their family hates that the only times they spend together are spent orchestrating beautiful photos for Instagram and that their parents are never there for the big moments *they* care about.

Everything has a price. Everything is a trade off.

Sometimes the thing you get instead of visible success is affirmation of your values. Sometimes you get the intangible things – love, time with friends and family, mental well-being. Sometimes you might even get enough sleep. Sometimes you get nothing.

And yeah – sometimes it’s harder for you than it is for others because circumstances are worse for you. That’s legit.

We’re all on our own journeys at our own speeds. It can be frustrating to see others further along. But never forget that everything costs something. You never see the price tag, but everyone pays.