Reality TV Versus Reality

As an adamant fan of reality television, be it The Bachelor, Real Housewives of ___, I have come to notice that the reality that is fed to us is nothing like the reality I lead on a day-to-day basis. This is most especially true with friendships and relationships. When was the last time you were able to tell the guy you were on a first date that you were ready to be a mother and a wife? They would probably run for the hills! Same thing with friends, if you told a friend how you felt on every honest moment (through the confession camera), do you expect an invite to the annual Holiday bash? Don't think so.

These reality shows are dangerous. They are to my diet, my self esteem but every more to some of the basic truths that we should have come to know and understand. But the simple fact remains-- we are drawn to the drama and the crazy. Its the schandenfreued that pulls us closer to the fictitious characters each week that make us escape from the normal, everyday life and maybe even feel a little better about ourselves. Let's be honest, the "desperate" girls on any dating show could be a best friend or us after one too many drinks--we just don't have cameras following us at every turn. But, maybe we should behave like there is an instant replay or a marathon of the bad Thursday night on a bad cable channel reminding us that we went too far or maybe pushed that guy too much. But, in life, we don't have a fast forward or a rewind button, so make sure your reality is one that you are comfortable living both in and out of the spotlight.