I hate that "jealous" has become a common response on social media to something good happening to another person.
Obviously it's meant to be harmless, but jealousy in and of itself implies a sense of envy, and truth be told, we've probably all been programmed for the word to be more than just a joke.
A couple months ago, I learned the word "Schadenfreude" from a sermon at church. It basically means that your happiness stems from someone else's misfortune. There were a few chuckles here and there throughout the congregation at this concept, but at a time when everyone is constantly comparing their lives to those they see on social media, it can easily become the norm.
I was in Kansas City for most of February for training, and every morning I'd stop by the hotel drugstore to pick up a couple snacks for breakfast. It got to the point where the guy recognized me, and we would chat for a couple minutes before I had to scamper off to work.
We had some good conversations throughout my four weeks there, ranging from the Super Bowl to the folk music convention in town, and it was all pleasant until one day he pointed to an article in the local newspaper which mentioned that certain poorer areas of the city would get free Google Fiber.
My first reaction was that this would be a great thing for Kansas City. But then I saw the outrage on his face and heard the anger in his voice as he complained about a situation that didn't even affect him personally at all. It just made no sense to me -- why was he mad about it? Or furthermore, why would he even care at all?
Maybe it's all an extension of FOMO. Ironically, the oversaturation of social media in our lives has led us to be more inward focused instead of outward. Don't let this happen to you. Celebrate when good things happen to other people. Sympathize when bad things happen to other people. Let's spread love, not jealousy.
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