Live Life For You!
I think we should all aim to be self-aware in 2026. They often say that comparison is the thief of joy, but it is much, much deeper than that. During the Christmas/New Year holiday, a popular Jamaican social media influencer was allegedly arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States of America. Why he was arrested, I don’t know because I don’t care to know the details (largely because it’s not my business). The responses to this and about this on Jamaican social media has been….. strange (for lack of a better word). The lack of empathy towards the situation has been quite concerning. People are saying if he was committing crimes to be able to live a certain lifestyle, then he deserves it, and other things along that line. What stood out most to me though, is that there were people saying these influencers show a fake life on social media that discourages the 9-5 lifestyle, meanwhile their own life that they’re showing is unattainable. Let us pick this a part like reasonable, emotionally mature adults (like I’ve taught you to be in this blog post).
Why would you let a stranger influence you so much, that the life you’re currently living (one that’s comfortable and paying your bills) is not enough? My biggest fear re social media is the lack of individuality in our thinking. Everyone seems to be a part of this huge group of people who just can’t think for themselves. “What are WE wearing this summer?” “What hobbies are WE starting in 2026?” “How do we feel about this?” It’s becoming so strange to see people seek out validation regarding their most intimate selves from literal strangers on the internet.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against being inspired to aim higher and to want more. I’m not against aspiring for something bigger because you’ve seen the endless possibilities online. However, it’s an absolute shame that people seem to not be able to validate themselves and their own opinions. We used to be warned about peer pressure in school, but I think that is something adults need to learn now. It’s okay to aim for just enough. Some people will never aspire to be anything more than what they are, and if you are comfortably a part of that group, it is okay. I know social media is pushing the idea of non traditional careers and lifestyles that can be achieved with or without education. Kudos and snaps for that. Anything is possible. Having said that, it should not discourage the pursuit of higher education. It should not discourage the stability of having a traditional job. It should not discourage the appeal of being a consumer and not a producer. I think we are forgetting the importance of doctors, teachers, nurses, lawyers, policemen, and firemen; but even more importantly, the importance of cashiers, janitors, servers, caregivers, domestic workers, or even street cleaners. Not everyone has to live a flashy influencer/ content creator/ entrepreneur/ podcast host lifestyle. The world still needs normal people to run smoothly.
My point is this: you should not be influenced into the thinking that the life you’re currently living is not enough because of the content being pushed to you on social media. Though it is perfectly okay to want more, it is also perfectly okay to be consumers. Your life is yours to live. Don’t be coaxed into living someone else’s own.
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