Comparing ourselves to other people

There is a great temptation in the world today, and that is to compare our lives with the lives of others: we go on Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp and discover all the amazing things our friends are doing and we start to think that our lives are boring. 

Of course the reality is that people only post items on these social media platforms that they want you to see or read. They only offer a glimpse into the lives of others. They are not a true reflection of their lives. They are a snapshot. But often we forget this fact, and we become sad.

Social media brings people together but can also bring them apart. We need to bear this in mind as we surf these sites. Otherwise, we will fall into the trap of thinking our lives are boring when in fact they are not. Most people live ordinary, normal lives and not fantastic lives. 

The great thing about the English language is that it offers its students ways to escape the vortex of social media. We can learn how to use irony that perfectly describes how we might feel as we compare ourselves to others. We might say: ''Facebook is so amazing: I love going on it because it makes me happy''. Of course, the actual meaning of this sentence is opposite to its literal meaning. Thus we see an example of English humor, that of irony.