Because not every day is a good day…

A friend recently reached out to thank me for posts that “radiate joy.” She shared that this past year has been a constant struggle, and my posts give her hope. I responded, “You do know not every day is a good day for me either, right? But I try to make it as good as I can, even on the rough ones.”

Social Media and Authenticity

Social media often hides the hard days. People don’t post struggles for fear of burdening others, being labeled a “downer,” or exposing someone else’s pain. Sometimes we just want to escape our own hard moments.

When I hit a tough day, scrolling my feed reminds me that life is good-ish overall. Seeing past adventures and joyful moments is comforting, inspiring me to keep moving forward, just like it inspires my friend.

I also have bigger goals ahead—a lifestyle shift still a few years away. Some days feel heavy because I haven’t arrived yet. But looking back, I realize how far I’ve already come.

This past Christmas, my daughter Audrey skipped gifts and painted affirmation cards instead. They are perfectly tailored to my current journey, reminding me of who I am, what I’m working toward, and what’s important.

A Recent Bad Day

To stay honest and authentic, I want to share a recent “bad day.” Keep in mind that everyone’s version of a bad day is different, and what feels crushing one week may seem trivial the next. My intention isn’t to minimize your struggles, just to show that not every day is sunshine and smiles—even for someone whose feed looks cheerful.

On a freezing slope, I was poorly dressed, snow soaked through my jacket, my hands were numb, and my goggles fogged. I took a nasty fall because I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. In that moment, all I could focus on was that I wasn’t living the life I wanted… and yes, the pandemic made self-pity feel even more justified.

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The Journey is Where the Magic Happens

In my self-pity spiral, I forgot that life is made of stepping stones. The journey itself is the interesting, sometimes frustrating, often beautiful part. Arriving isn’t everything, there’s always a new path or goal waiting around the corner.

So today, I try to appreciate the ups, the downs, and the in-between. I try to see joy even when the cloud lingers. And I use my daughter’s affirmation cards to help:

• It’s just a bad day… not a bad life.
• What am I grateful for today?
• I have everything I need.
• I am worthy of self-love and empowerment.
• What is one thing I can do to achieve my goal today?
• I am enough.
• I am loved by my family.

This past week, I leaned on the “It’s just a bad day, not a bad life” card. It reminded me that tomorrow is another chance, next week is another chance, and even a “bad day” is temporary. I’m already feeling a little silly for my dramatic attitude—but c’est la vie.

Stay real, stay authentic, and always try to keep your chin up, friends!