Anyone who knows me knows that one of my absolute favorite things in the entire universe are 90's sitcoms. I LOVE them. Boy Meets World, Family Matters, & Sabrina The Teenage Witch anyone?They just don't make shows like they used to (insert cane, old lady voice telling you how when I was little I used to have to walk to school in the snow, uphill both ways! ;) But it's true. They don't. I am only in my 20's and I feel like since I was a teenager EVERYTHING is so, so, SO completely different.
It's got me thinking a lot lately about the world. Like, in the big expanse of everyone on it. And our country. And just, how everything is changing so much, so rapidly. I mean, even in things as small as how different shows are nowadays to the fact that when I graduated high school VERY FEW kids there even had cell phones. If they did they were those candy bar nokia phones or those motorola razors- all they did was call and if you were lucky, you paid 10 cents per text. And most didn't have their own computer-just a shared one in a common room in the house. And that was just 10 years ago.
Now, EVERYONE has a cell phone- the 5 year old I just babysat had a brand new cell that was an even bigger and more expensive model than my phone. EVERYONE has access to technology in their hands, at all times. It is a wonderful thing to have. So much good is done through these advances. And then there is the other side or the coin- barely anyone even has face-to-face interaction anymore. Everyone seems to be constantly looking down, at this little glowing box in their hands. Constantly updating. Constantly looking for updates. Constantly posting. Constantly reading. Constantly playing. Constantly liking. Constantly disliking. Constantly sharing.Constantly comparing. Constantly texting, snapping,tweeting, gramming,you name it. It makes me sad. And this is coming from an introvert that very much loves my phone.
With all the varying information, posts, opinions, etc that I see on a daily basis-it has just gotten me thinking a lot about what we are putting out into the world.
I see so many tutorials on how to contour your face, neck, and even body to look like a completely different person.
I see fashion posts of "I got this top here and these shoes here and this purse here."
I see constant pictures of food. The good, the bad, the in between.
I see constant cries for validation and attention and help.
I see bullying and harassment and hate.
I see confusion and hurt and complaining.
I see useless garbage. Every.Single.Day.
But I also see those who fight for what they believe.
I see love.
I see hope.
I see faith.
I see life and adventure and happiness and goodness.
THERE IS A FINE LINE IN EVERYTHING.
I love that everyone has differing opinions. It is what makes us human. It is what makes us unique. It is what makes us free.
But I can't stand when opinions are forced on others as fact and arguments and hate ensue. That is useless. It does no good. It is not what having a difference of opinions should mean. You can agree to disagree RESPECTFULLY. You can be on completely opposite sides and not be able to see another's point of view at all. BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE AWAY SOMEONE'S HAPPINESS OR FREEDOM OR RIGHTS and treat them unkindly or unfairly.
If you disagree with something someone says, you are not forced to argue or make a degrading comment. Be fair. Be kind. Be wise.
If you get annoyed with an account, unfollow it.
If it makes you feel bad, don't look at it.
If you are constantly comparing and belittling yourself based on someone else's life- DON'T.
Don't compare and analyze and bash. Don't be so concerned on things that don't have value. Looks fade. Money gets spent. Clothes go out of style.
Let's think more about:
WHAT AM I PUTTING OUT INTO THE WORLD?
Is it good? Is it uplifting? Does it make you ponder? Inspire? Motivate? Uplift? Make someone laugh or smile?
I get it, BELIEVE ME, I GET IT- life is not a bed of roses. There are so many troubles and trials and hurts. And I am not denying their existence or removing myself from reality, I am not promoting denial.
I am promoting MAGNIFYING THE GOOD. Sharing goodness. Loving others. Loving ourselves. Being positive. Keeping unkind comments to ourselves. Focusing on the good and making others feel worthwhile and hopeful. Sharing things that are worthwhile and that MEAN SOMETHING.
I love online shopping, tweeting, and instagram as the next person. And I am all about watching and sharing funny memes and cat videos and all the hilarity the internet has to offer. But I believe it is ALL ABOUT BALANCE. And I just know that I never want to be ashamed of what I have left in this world. I don't want it to be useless. I want to make people feel good. I want there to be meaning in my life. I want to actually experience a concert, party, sunset, new place, EVERYTHING- without constantly worrying about getting the perfect shot for instagram.
I want to post a picture solely because it was a good memory and it is a good way to remember it.
I want to not worry about how many likes I get or how many views are racked up.
I don't want to be constantly trying to compete with everyone else on social media in trying to make my life seem perfect one post at a time. I want real. I want meaning. I want goodness. And I intend on contributing to it.
