The Myth of Romanticising Your Life - Finding Real Joy in the Ordinary

Have you seen the term “romanticise your life” cropping up all over social media?

I confess—I was baffled. The idea seemed innocuous until I dived deeper, watching well-crafted videos and influencers living out unbelievably curated “slow lives.” Honestly? It feels like nonsense.

The Social Media Illusion

Yes, romanticising your life means cherishing the beauty in everyday moments—that I understand deeply.

If you've followed Under an English Sky, you'll know I champion mindfulness and seasonal awareness. But now it feels like that simple appreciation is being packaged as something to "attain" rather than authentically lived out in the small moments of every day life.

I kid you not, some of the things I have seen are just absurd: a fruit-based milky tea topped with dried rose petals (apparantly called 'moon tea') or full Victorian dress-ups and live ducklings swimming in kitchen sinks. It feels like yet another social media mirage—practiced aesthetics overshadowing true contentment.

Contentment Is Deeper Than Aesthetics

Our truest peace doesn’t come from Pinterest/Instagram/YouTube‑worthy scenes—it comes from something deeper and more enduring. As a Christian, my joy is rooted in my relationship with the Lord, not in curated scenery.

Real contentment means being genuinely satisfied—with our homes, our simple belongings, and yes, even our imperfect little cherubs. Nostalgia for “simpler times” often overlooks real hardships such as grinding labour, disease, premature death, poverty. Romanticising doesn’t erase those realities.

Slow Living Today Is an Attitude, Not a Dress Code

A slow, intentional life is still very much achievable in 2025. It’s about your mindset—pausing, choosing what matters, and sometimes saying no to good things to make room for the best ones.

A personal example: this week, I skipped the dishwasher and handwashed instead. I stood at my sink, sudsy water around the dishes, gazing out at:

• A rambling rose nearing the end of its bloom

• Birds pecking at seed beneath the feeder

• Foxgloves dropping spent flowers as seedpods form

That quiet moment through my kitchen window filled me with unexpected joy. It wasn’t about how it looked—it was about how it felt.

Isn’t Romanticising About Deeper Meaning?

The phrase taps into something universal—a longing to reject superficiality and embrace authenticity, simplicity, and connection—the very depths we feel placed in our hearts by our Creator. That’s beautiful. But chasing it through staged aesthetics? That’s another story.

Authentic Living Over Aesthetic Living

Yes, I invite you to romanticise your life—but not the way influencers do. 

Pause. Notice. Handwash dishes with eyes open to God’s tiny masterpieces in your garden. Let ordinary moments draw you closer to gratitude and grace.

Because real romance occurs not in perfectly lit feed visuals but in the quiet, soul‑rooted moments of authentic living.

Traditional Skills for an Authentic, Anchored Life

If you're seeking a more grounded and authentic way of living, consider reintroducing simple, traditional skills into your days.

Baking bread by hand, tending a modest garden, preserving seasonal fruits, sewing or mending garments, or even writing in a journal with pen and paper—all of these practices reconnect us to rhythm, intention, and the satisfaction of making something with our own hands. 

These aren't just quaint pastimes; they're quiet acts of resistance against a rushed and hyper-digital world. They're reminders that we are capable, creative, and custodians of beauty in our homes.

A Gentle Invitation

So instead of striving to make your life look romantic, why not choose to truly live it? Breathe deeply in the ordinary. Turn your heart to gratitude. Embrace quiet acts that bring peace, not performance. 

Whether it's a homemade loaf cooling on the counter, the scent of lavender on your fingertips from a morning in the garden, or a moment of stillness by the sink, let these be your offerings of joy. Not for the camera, not for the crowd—but for your soul, and before the Lord. Because true beauty—the kind that endures—is found not in aesthetics, but in a life lived fully, faithfully, and with love.