Lately, I’ve found myself spending a little too much time on social media. After hearing so much recent news about how algorithms can push content that isn’t always in our best interest, I started wondering if it was affecting me, too.

I realized I had slipped into the trap of comparison. Did every realtor have more business than me? Was everyone happily with their soulmate? Was everyone in better shape? Did everyone but me take several, mind-blowing trips this summer?

The highlight reel of Instagram had me questioning if I was measuring up—and if it was doing this to me, I could only imagine how hard it must be for teens navigating those same pressures every day.

It made me think of why horses wear blinders when they race. The blinders aren’t to limit them—they’re to free them. They allow the horse to focus on their own lane, their own stride, their own race. Watching other horses only distracts them and lessens their chance of running their best race.

The same is true for us. Life is not meant to be lived in comparison. Our careers, relationships, bodies, and experiences all look different—and that’s okay. We run stronger when we focus forward, not sideways.

So here’s my reminder to myself (and maybe to you, too): put on the blinders. Run your race. Celebrate your wins. And most importantly, keep moving toward your own finish line—because that’s the only one that matters.

XX,

MG