If I had a dollar for every couple that looks happy on social media but is totally miserable in real life, I’d be rich. I get that social media is a lie, but sometimes what you see really is what you get. My current guy and I look so crazy in love on Instagram that some people think we must be lying, but this time, it’s no joke.
- When I look at old pictures with my ex, they look forced and awkward. I know back then I truly thought I was happy and in love, but hindsight is 20/20 and those old pics make me squirm. I’m not surprised my closest friends didn’t believe everything was kosher in our relationship just from the photos we posted on social media because honestly, it wasn’t. He was miserable and toxic and no matter how many posts I used to try to make myself and the world think otherwise, we weren’t fooling anyone.
- Now I really am that freaking happy. Now when I post, we don’t need to trick anyone into thinking things are great because they really are. My boyfriend makes me laugh every day, and whether I post on Instagram or not, I smile most of the time I’m with him. I’ve always wanted to be in a relationship that other people looked at and said, “Wow, I want that,” and now that it’s happened, it’s the best feeling in the world.
- I don’t post pictures to get attention but I’m still racking up likes like it’s my job. I’m truly not a spotlight hog, but that doesn’t mean it’s not nice to get validation from the entire online universe that we’re as adorable as we think we are. Friends and family I haven’t talked to in ages like and comment on my pictures, and those closest to me can’t stop talking about how much they love my feed. I’ve never cared how many views I get, but the sudden increase is kind of cool.
- Don’t judge me for wanting to share my excitement. We all have those friends who obsessively post about their relationship just to rub it in people’s faces. That’s not at all what I’m doing, and I don’t appreciate when friends make me feel bad for showing the world how happy I am. I know it doesn’t have to be on social media to make it real, but why shouldn’t I be able to shout it from the rooftops?
- Apparently happiness doesn’t just feel good, it looks good too. So many people have commented on how amazing I look, and not because of anything I’ve purposely done to my appearance. When you’re in love and truly satisfied, there’s a glow that no one can take away from you. I smile brighter, my eyes twinkle, and whatever I’m doing in the picture, I look carefree. It’s not a Valencia filter, it’s totally legit.
- Pictures come out genuine because we actually are genuine. It’s funny how when you’re not trying to be cute and get a picture that’s going to go viral, you end up with something perfect. The candid shots we take of each other or that friends sneak when we’re not paying attention are our favorites because they show what we’re really like as a couple. The internet is full of relationship pictures that are clearly posed, and the beauty of ours is that they’re totally natural.
- I used to secretly hate people who looked happy because it made me jealous. I admit there was a time when pictures of couples on the internet grossed me out. I would roll my eyes and scroll past, annoyed that someone would take up my feed just to rub in my face that they were happy when my relationship was crap. I didn’t realize at the time that it was jealousy, and I ended up fighting with some friends because I judged them for putting their life on display.
- These days, I don’t care what people think. Now that it’s me who is smitten and carefree, I couldn’t give two craps what the universe thinks. I post our pictures because I’m proud of them and because I want my friends and family to know that despite everything I went through with my awful ex, I’ve found someone who treats me like gold. As long as they continue to appreciate my posts, I’m not going to stop.
- Tasteful PDA is A-OK. There’s a big difference between putting sweet pictures on the internet and spamming your friends’ feeds with tongue-down-throat, over-the-top, “get-a-room” type shots. I don’t post anything I wouldn’t be OK with my mom or grandma seeing, and that makes it fine with me. I like showing us lounging around, going on adventures, or just enjoying each other’s company.
- I know no one is perfect, but we really are smitten. As cliche as it sounds, I’m beaming all the time and I just can’t help it. He makes me so happy and so secure that nothing in the world can possibly bring me down. I know we’ll continue to capture our love in selfies and I’ll keep posting them on social media. All you have to do is spend five minutes around us and you’ll know nothing about these pictures is fake.
