This story from the New York Post entitled “Our Double Lives: Dark Realities Behind ‘Perfect’ Online Profiles” really touched my heart today and was a good reminder that we don’t have to “appear” perfect online. The real and raw are more endearing than a catalog-perfect existence.

The dining room table is cluttered with Dorito bags, math books, stray wide-ruled papers, crayons, and a ketchup bottle. One child has finished only 10 questions of his schoolwork…in total for the whole day. The whole day. He’s currently playing with a flashlight and grunting, “This is so boring.”

Boxes from Amazon Subscribe and Save are stacked against one wall, with twelve packs of paper towels scattered around the house, forgotten remnants of the forts we made earlier.

A navy blue blanket is draped over the television set, a reminder that “screens” are forbidden since little-boy-attitudes were not up to par today.

The kitchen is half-clean, dinner needs to be made, only one child has been bathed, and my office is in need of two hours of organization.

However perfect life seems online, there are always things going on that people don’t mention. While life at the Jett household is far from perfect, in the midst of what feels like chaos, the fact that we are safe, healthy, and together is more than many people can say, and for that, I thank God.

[Tweet “The real and raw are more endearing than a catalog-perfect existence. #BrilliantLife”]

I totally understand why people portray perfection on their social media. Who really wants to hear about all the negative things that are happening? One reason I subscribed to TheSkimm was because watching the news was too depressing.

I also understand because beyond readers, friends, and fans, there are business opportunities that arise from social media connections. The last thing I want is a potential book deal to go south because I appear disorganized or hard to work with.

Truly, though, there needs to be balance. I need to remember that my favorite bloggers to read are the ones who share the ugly with the good…the relatable, the authentic, and the oooooh-I’m-gonna-say-the-buzz-word…transparent.

Raise your coffee cups with me. Here’s to being real.

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