I love making you believe
What you get is what you see
But I’m so fake happy
I feel so fake happy
And I bet everybody here
Is just as insincere
We’re all so fake happy
Fake Happy: Paramour. 2017
COVID has given rise to a whole new way of living, working, and vacationing via purchasing a recreational vehicle. The ads show families sitting around campfires in seemingly empty RV parks. People brag about being able to live, work, and vacation all at the same time. If you’re not careful, you might think RV life is bliss. For a time, we considered taking the plunge.
Recently, my wife sent me a Tik Tok video about the realities of RV life. People talk about the hardships of finding empty spaces in RV parks, camping out in Walmart parking lots, and dealing with a host of other inconveniences nobody speaks of when you buy one. A recent article in USA Today exposed the poor quality of RVs, even highlighting a family of four who nearly burned to death when their newly purchased $100K RV caught fire the day after they bought it.
But nobody ever mentions this.
In fact, most people don’t mention anything that takes away from perceived perfect experiences.
Consider social media. Nobody ever says they have a lazy husband, bad kids, a terrible job, dead-end career, or a disappointing vacation. Your colleagues on LinkedIn brag on how they’re “honored” to be speaking at such and such event. Or how many copies of their new book they sold. Or how successful their business is. I used to think my parents were the only ones who fought on the way to church every Sunday. Until I learned otherwise. We all like to show the best of everything to others.
Last year, we found out a former neighbor of ours committed suicide. We couldn’t believe it! She was always talking about her kids, her exciting life, and how wonderful everything was. Turns out most of that was a façade and in reality, she was all alone.
But nobody ever talks about this either. And if you’re not careful, you might believe that you’re the only one who doesn’t have the ideal life, family, and career.
In the song above, the artist confesses that behind the smile, there is pain. She is fake happy.
The paradox is that sometimes the happier a person appears, the sadder they probably are.
Here is the lesson for all of us: Worry less about what everyone else is bragging about. For every amazing event they talk about, there are probably 10 other problems they are wrestling with. Likely the same 10 problems you’re wrestling with!
This week, rather than being “fake happy,” why not find someone you trust and share what’s really going on. Trust me, the more real and vulnerable you are, the more legitimate credibility you’ll have.
I been doing a good job of makin’ ’em think
I’m quite alright
But I hope I don’t blink
You see its easy when I’m stomping on a beat
But no one sees me when I crawl back underneath
If I smile with my teeth
Bet you believe me
If I smile with my teeth
I think I believe me
Oh please don’t ask me how I’ve been
Don’t make me play pretend
Oh no, oh what’s the use?
Oh please, I bet everybody here is fake happy too