Why it can sometimes be quite difficult to always have to be cheerful

Anyone who reads along diligently every day (points deducted if you don't, by the way) knows that I started last Monday intensely grumpy, resulting in this piece. Now, working for Amayzine is of course the most fun, but on days like that, it’s quite difficult to work for a personality-driven site, because I really couldn't whip up any fun, cheerful little pieces from my sleeve. So it became a piece about what to do when you're grumpy, but beyond that, it wasn't a particularly productive day.

People consistently go through life sun-kissed (thank you filters), drinking perfect cappuccinos all day long on sun-drenched terraces

But even those who don't work for a site like Amayzine, or for whom it isn't their job to put a large part of their life on the web, can relate to this. I think it's safe to say that we all have Facebook, and many of you will also be on Instagram. I hate people who start sentences with “in this day and age,” but, in this day and age, it can sometimes be quite difficult when you're not feeling great, because everything always seems to be going wonderfully well for everyone.

People consistently go through life sun-kissed (thank you filters), drinking perfect cappuccinos all day long on sun-drenched terraces, flying from one radiant destination to the next, and never ever is anyone stuck doing Excel things in a dull and gray office. Don't get me wrong, I do love this trend, but sometimes, very occasionally, it all gets a bit much for me.

I posted that fateful Monday a photo on Instagram stating that I was not enjoyable to be around and someone responded with “how super cool and inspiring that you dare to share this with all your followers.” And I found that an interesting comment. That I “dare” to share that. Is it really so brave to say that you feel bad? That you are not feeling on top of the world? Isn't that actually quite strange? That being happy is really the standard, and anyone who doesn't meet that is brave and heroic for deviating from it.

Nothing on Instagram is untrue, but it is of course not a complete representation of what is happening

I have noticed before that when someone makes a less cheerful announcement, it is always wrapped in a long story with explanations and apologies, like: “Sorry to bother you with this, but this and that is the case.” Sometimes I think: wow, you share everything with your followers and we enjoy everything you do, why can't we accept that you are just a human being too? Our digital presence is now so well traceable that it also seeps into real life, and that is precisely why it is concerning that the online culture is one of clean appearances.

I previously wrote this piece about how my Instagram life is not the same as my real life. Nothing on Instagram is untrue, but it is of course not a complete representation of what is happening. And that's fine, you think everyone knows that, but apparently not.

Look, I don't want to be a whiner and I can always cry about negative things to my friends, but sometimes it suffocates me that everything always has to go well. That I always have to be able to write a nice piece and always have to post a funny joke on Instagram. This week the sun is shining so I am happier than ever, and moreover, my dip from last week has produced an extra piece, so now things are going well again. Johnny laughs, Johnny cries, that's how I am too. And for now, the sun is shining so I keep laughing, but if my weather changes, I might just let you know. Be afraid, be very afraid.