In a world where to scroll through our Facebook feed is to be reminded of what’s missing in our lives – it’s easy to assume the grass of others is somehow greener than our own.

In the 2012 documentary, “That Guy… Who Was In That Thing,” sixteen character actors transparently detail their ups and downs as they struggle to maintain careers in Hollywood. You’ll recognize several of the actors interviewed in this film (most instantly) who candidly detail the challenges – and misconceptions – of a career in Tinseltown.

In this film, these actors remind us that even the seemingly glamorous lives of Hollywood actors can be riddled financial and emotional hardships – regardless of how we see things from the outside.

The same is true in our lives too. From our closest friends to distant acquaintances, it’s not hard to see the best of what life has to offer when looking through the warm glow of an Instagram filter. As such, it’s not a stretch for us to start believing that the lives of others might somehow be just a little bit better than our own.

The truth is that for every smiling face, be it a Facebook “friend” or that of a celebrity, is often far messier – and much more like our own – than any post can reflect.

We all live in the same broken world, and too often what we see simply doesn’t represent the whole story.

So, as we look to captured images of holiday celebrations, time with family and friends, and even some of those extravagant holiday vacations – let’s remember that behind every seemingly perfect moment captured on “film” is a lifetime of stuff that’s downright messy at times.

Sometimes, the grass on the other side of the fence isn’t really as green as we might think.