Trying to Be Perfect

We talk so much about authenticity these days, but I wonder—how real is it?
Does everyone truly want to sip matcha and hit the gym every morning? Does everyone dream of slow mornings, journaling, and meditation? Or have we just created a new standard of what “perfect” looks like, only wrapped in wellness and productivity?

What happened to the days when we could just… be?
When staying in, doing nothing, or spending hours listening to music with a friend or partner was enough? When relaxing didn’t require a retreat, a ticket, or a workshop teaching us “how to log off.”

Now, it feels like even leisure has been commodified. To relax, you need a class. To breathe, you need a coach. To rest, you need to schedule it in.

And on top of that—there’s the endless checklist society whispers at us:
Eat healthy. Don’t drink. Don’t smoke. Go to the gym. Sleep early. Wake up early. Make money. Hustle. Network. Date. Go to festivals. Stay informed—about politics, arts, news, movies.
Always moving. Always improving. Always perfect.

Just writing this list exhausts me.

When did living become a performance?