The strange pressure to romanticize everything

Online, it all looks better.
A drawer opens in soft morning light. A sponge moves in slow motion. A hand reaches for a freshly folded linen cloth. There’s music. There’s mood.

But when I do the same thing?
It’s a chore. It smells weird. I want it over with.

We’ve learned to expect beauty—even meaning—from the most mundane parts of our day. And when those moments fall short of the aesthetic—or just feel flat—we wonder what’s wrong with us.

Maybe nothing’s wrong.
Maybe some things are just ordinary.

And maybe that’s okay.
Not everything needs to be a story. Or content. Or a window into a better version of yourself.

Sometimes cleaning out the fridge doesn’t feel soothing.
It feels sticky. And cold. And like I waited too long.

And it sucks.
But you know what? That’s also part of living an authentic life in the real world.

And weirdly enough, that can feel kind of good