Comparison is the thief of joy ... we know, and?

because we know that all of us do this but somehow we still feel alone in it

It’s so hard. It’s so damn hard to not look at someone else’s post on Instagram or article on Substack and not think, dang, why didn’t I think of that? or why did their version of it do better than mine?

How did they grow faster than me?

That was a good idea. Why didn’t I think of it?

I should be doing better. It’s obviously your fault.

Comparison is the thief of joy. We all know this and we all do this, but somehow we still feel alone in it.

Logically, I know this is ridiculous and enhanced by social media. I know that this actually doesn’t matter much at all. I know that I find joy in my friendships, taking creative pictures, and writing about books. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t emotionally difficult anyway.

When I start doing things that feel vulnerable, I take baby steps so minuscule you’d have to measure it with a ruler. I started my Instagram, then immediately didn’t go on it for three weeks. I started my Substack, then sat here not really interacting with anyone. (To be fair, I didn’t really understand how this platform worked for awhile!) Hell, I only started writing last fall, and started the project I’m working on now this year. The most anyone knows about it is that it’s fantasy.