She won the Nobel Peace Prize, and her discovery actually killed her. During an interview she said these words:
Life is not easy for any of us.
– Marie Curie 1934
Marie Curie didn’t complain, didn’t make disparaging remarks about the all male scientific community, and she did not speak from a ‘woe is me’ persecutive. She knew what she was doing was important, and she took her poverty, health issues and overlooked discoveries in stride. It’s a great mindset to have.
When we look into other people’s lives, as the internet makes it so easy to do, we see only what they want us to see. What they ‘post’ is only the picture they want us to think is their reality, when in fact, no one has a perfect life. The family portrait of everyone sharing a meal does not let us know that there were sixteen versions taken until everyone was smiling. That photo does not show the people who glare at each other or barely speak. It does not show the spilled drinks or half eaten bad casserole brought by Aunt Edna that no one touched. And it certainly does not tell the true story, it tells the story they want us to know. It portrays a perfect life…which as Marie Curie reminds us, no one has.
I’m not trying to be Debbie Downer here, just pointing out that life is hard for all of us. No one has the perfect, flawless life. We all struggle. We all make mistakes. We all have our issues AND we all face each day with all the energy we can muster to face the day’s responsibilities. Everyone’s dog chews up something they shouldn’t have, and the cat claws something else. There is hair on the bathroom floor and probably dirty dishes in the sink. Your hair may not have turned out today just the way you wanted, and your outfit was a bit tighter today than it was last time you wore it. Okay, we can ALL relate.
When you are felling low, having a bad day, or even have a hard time mustering the energy to do all those items on your to do list…give yourself a break! No one expects you to live the perfect life, except you. Stop portraying the life you want to have, and live the real one. It is much more interesting, relatable and most of the time can be rather humorous. People will love you more because you are real NOT because you took the perfect photo of a family meal where no one ate the casserole.
Whew! That felt good. And just so you know, while I’m writing this our kitten is jumping all over my desk knocking things off, no stains on the carpet…yet! Life is not easy for any go us, yet a day above ground is a good day!
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