She Strengthens

Beyond the Filter: The Unseen Realities of My Life

As I sit poolside in Miami, surrounded by luxury and beauty, it’s easy to get caught up in the highlight reel of social media. But I’m reminded that there’s more to life than the curated images we share online.

The Facade of Perfection

We’re bombarded with manipulated and deceptive images, making it easy to overspend and feel like we’re not measuring up. As someone who works online, I’m guilty of wanting to “cash in” on my experiences, but I also believe it’s essential to share more than just the highlight reel.

Radical Honesty

That’s why I’m committed to transparency, even if it means sharing uncomfortable truths. In the past, I’ve shared my struggles with anxiety, and now, I want to peel back the curtain on the unseen aspects of my life.

The Unshared Moments

Here are a few things you won’t find on my social media feeds:

• The days I go makeup-free and look like I’ve recently died
• The faceplant that was our plan to buy my parents’ apartment
• The dozen-plus selfies I delete because of bad lighting
• The times we struggled to make payroll at TFD
• The friends I’ve slowly removed from my feeds because we’ve drifted apart
• The embarrassing moments, like when my bikini bottom came undone at the pool
• The financial mistakes, like forgetting to pay a bill and tanking my credit score
• The questionable dinners I eat, like microwaved cheese and baby carrots
• The scary letter from the government about my taxes
• The severe sleep-deprivation period that left me hallucinating and screaming at loved ones
• The clothes I didn’t fit into when I was stress-eating
• The turmoil our book went through, including finding a new publisher

The Lowlights Are Just as Vivid

I didn’t share these things on social media, and perhaps that makes my life seem less honest from your perspective. But I hope this list makes you feel a little better about the imperfections in your own life. The highlight reel may be lovely, but the lowlights are just as vivid, and maybe we’d all be better off if we talked about them more.