Monday, 30 December 2024

MY FUTURE ISN'T GUARANTEED

I shared a candid post [caption] to Instagram in December 2024 about spending Christmas alone. I'm not the type of person who feels pressure to share, especially during the festive season. However on that particular occasion I wanted to be open about what that time of years looks like for me in support of so many who [sadly] compare what they have/don't have to the ones who appear [on social media] to enjoy a more elaborate and indulgent Christmas with their family, partner, and/or friends.


A collage of pictures taken during Christmas

I'm not about to state anything revoluntionary here, but I hope that this short article gives you a pre-New-Year pep in your step that you continue to walk with throughout the next 12 months...


You, like myself, have one shot at life. Just one! Try not to compare your life to other people's, try not to keep up with whatever the latest so-called trends are and try not to be about all the things everybody else seems to be about. Try not to flood your social media with filtered posed for pictures just for the sake of 'fitting in online', try not to conform to standards and expectations that do not align with who you truly are at your core. But, do try to stay committed to achieving daily joy and happiness via genuine interests and passions.


Life, your life, is about choice, and nobody will know of your choices if you do not make them public. There is no law that says, "all humans must document their day to day life and lifestyle on social media, so we can all see who has what and who is doing what in comparison to the rest". A private life truly is a more peaceful, fulfilling and happy one!


A photo of Charley Jai sitting down, smiling to camera


I'm just 5 years shy of age 50, god willing; my future isn't guaranteed! With that in mind, I stopped giving a lolly what people might think about me, who I am, what I do, how much money I have, whether my home decor is Instagram-worthy or not, my relationship status, what I have or don't have, etc., etc. Instead, I put some boundaries in place and have stuck with them; my overall health and well-being are what I focus on and pay attention to. 


Those following me on social media do not pay my bills, they do not line my tummy with food, they are not there when I am unwell, they don't check-in to see how I'm doing... So, why would I care what they may or may not think about the choices I make in my life [e.g. how I spend Christmas]? LOL! Even if they did do all of those things, I am not obligated to do/be anything I don't want for myself and neither are you.


Do yourself a favour in the New Year: before you sleep each night, ask yourself two questions: "what did I do for myself today to maintain my happiness?" and "how did I contribute to somebody else's happiness today?". A person's legacy is about how they made others feel not what they did or didn't post to social media when they were alive, or the material things they acquired during their lifetime.


May the next year be your happiest and most successful to date!


God bless x



Written by Charley - @charleyjaiuk
All details and information correct and up to date at the time of publishing.