Caught in the Comparison Trap?🪤
I hope everyone had a wonderful start to the new year!
Yesterday, I had the honor of watching one of my very best friends tie the knot on the steps of the Phoenix courthouse. It was such a beautiful moment, filled with tears and joy. But before that, I found myself doing something many of you might have done as well—comparing my 2024 to other people’s.
Since returning to the U.S. a few months ago, I’ve been caught in the trap of comparing my life to those I’ve known for years. Most of them have bought houses, started families, or gotten hitched. I know I know—comparison is the thief of joy. Usually, I’m pretty good at staying focused on my own journey, especially when I’m out exploring the world. But being home makes it harder to stay in my own lane. When another friend calls to tell me they’re pregnant or engaged, it’s easy to wonder if I’m doing life “wrong” or if I’m missing some very important part of the puzzle. Should I just stop wandering and settle down? WTF am I doing with my life?
Thankfully, I’ve been through this spiral of self-doubt enough times to recognize it for what it is. When those feelings creep in, I remind myself of the life I’ve chosen and why it’s meaningful to me.
Here’s what I recently did to get out of the comparison trap
I grabbed my phone and scrolled through photos from the past year— every mountain I climbed, every body of water I *secretly* bathed in, every dog I got to love on, every stunning place I woke up in, and every amazing person I met.
2. I opened my email thread labeled SUNDAY FUNDAY and reread the notes I sent to myself each week. Every Sunday in 2024, I’d write down a few things that made me smile or feel grateful. Seeing those moments typed out reminded me how much magic has already filled my life. You better believe I am going to keep this tradition going in 2025.
It’s not always easy to embrace a life that looks so different from those around me. As a mostly single woman who travels the world full-time, I sometimes question whether I’m doing life “right”. But when I reflect on my adventures and the synchronicities that guide me, I remember why I chose this path. It’s not about following someone else’s timeline—it’s about creating a life that feels true to me (even if the road is mostly unpaved and sometimes very bumpy.)
If you’ve ever felt the pull of comparison or the weight of self-doubt, know that it’s a natural part of being human — especially if you’re a human called to live an alternative lifestyle. It’s totally okay to compare your apples to your neighbor’s oranges (sometimes), just don’t let it overshadow the unique juiciness of your journey. Life isn’t about following someone else’s map—it’s about charting your own course, one step at a time, in a way that feels true to you.
Here’s to building a year (and life) you don’t have to escape from!