Jai & The Illusion of Missing Out

It was a Friday night.
Jai had survived a long week at work, wrapped up his tasks, and finally crashed into his favorite spot on the couch. Blanket burrito. Maggi noodles on the side. Netflix ready with “Next Episode in 5…4…3.”

Life felt good. Simple. Safe.

Then came the mistake — he picked up his phone.

The moment Instagram opened, peace evaporated.

• First story: his best friends at a rooftop party, clinking glasses, neon lights in the background.

• Second story: a college mate in Bali, sipping from a coconut, writing “Living my best life 🌴✨.”

• Third story: a random influencer he barely knew, flaunting a luxury car with the caption, “Work hard, play harder.”

Suddenly, Jai’s cozy Friday night transformed into a crime scene.
The couch felt like prison. The noodles felt bland. The blanket too heavy.
And his brain, that overthinking machine, whispered:
“You’re missing out, bro. Everyone’s living. Everyone’s winning. Except you.”

So Jai scrolled. And scrolled. And scrolled.
Every reel was a punch to his self-worth.
Trips. Parties. Proposals. Success stories. Six-packs. Smiling faces.
Each post became evidence that his life was… behind.

One hour gone. Mood? Ruined. Sleep? Delayed.
His noodles? Cold.
His energy? Drained.

But here’s what Jai didn’t know:

• That rooftop party? It ended early because of rain.

• That Bali guy? He was broke and fighting with his girlfriend after posting that picture.

• That influencer’s car? Rented for a photoshoot, returned in two hours.

FOMO had lied.

The next week, Jai decided to try something crazy — he stayed offline.
No Instagram, no reels, no endless comparisons.

Instead, he cooked his favorite food with his mom, laughed with his younger brother over silly jokes, and went on a late-night walk listening to old songs. He slept early, dreamt deeply, and woke up with no regrets.

For the first time in months, Jai realized something powerful:
👉 He was never missing out. He was just missing in — missing in his own life, his own peace, his own happiness.

That night, he promised himself:
“I don’t need to chase someone else’s highlight reel. My real life is enough. And it’s worth living fully — offline.”