For many years, many people have followed others’ financial status. It’s quite easy to present a façade of life on social media when the reality is far-fetched. The narrative quickly neutralises itself with a simple comment or action because the heart never lies. Many act out their lives, but because they have the biggest and brutally honest witness; their hearts, the truth is clearer than many believe. The reality has never been closer to home than now with the current economic status. Pretence has become as costly as the inflation.
It is easy to display a birthday cake, a bunch of flowers or outing pictures, expensive cars, accessories and houses as a means of validating an elevated status. We all want to impress others and compete with them by painting a picture of a happy, fulfilled life. We go to many lengths just to prove a point even when starving in reality.
Don’t be fooled by those extended fake nails or expensive hair extension and wigs. Don’t be taken by the labels on shoes and pieces of clothing, the type of alcohol brands or any other facade. People have their ways. Some will even forgo bill payments just to portray a certain lifestyle. Sooner or later, reality comes to bite.
I was watching Youtube the other day about the social media so-called power couples whose lives ended in tragedy. These are people who live their lives for the public, updating them on their everyday lives to amass those likes, subscriptions and views in the name of fame and fortune. The pictures painted by these couples or families are usually of happiness and success. What lies beneath the smiles and picture-perfect slots are bizarre and beyond comprehension. Tensions mount and there is disintegration. Most end in separation, divorce or even death.
You don’t owe anybody an explanation on what you eat or wear. There is no need to go into katapila just to take your children to school that others are taking their children to. There is no point in going into crime to service lifestyles that are beyond your means. Bragging is not all the social media can be used for. Trust me, real emotions come out sooner or later. You cannot fool anyone or yourselves for long. Normal conversations and interactions are allowed. Stop stressing with unrealistic posts.
There are many reasons some go into prostitution or turn to begging. There are reasons many commit suicide because after all has been said and done, we have ourselves to contend with. And when we can’t prove who we really are, we panic. Panic can be disastrous.
