January 16, 2014

Social Media Lives {Be You. Do You.}

I'm a social media addict. Well, a Facebook-less social media addict.There's no denying any of that.

It's my job, literally. It's my side job, obviously. And besides all of that, I enjoy it. I really do.

I'd be lying if I said I don't still get giddy to look at my Instagram feed or to see who's posted what on their blog today. It's my thing. Some people like to bake, others like to read or watch TV...I like to workout, spend time with my husband and my dog (duh) and play on social media. And to me, there's nothing wrong with that, as long as it's not at the dinner table or in the middle of a meeting or a conversation, or every-freaking-second-of-every-freaking-day, etc... I actually encourage doing what you love and I honestly feel incredibly blessed that I get to do it personally and professionally every single day.

I am passionate about taking pictures and documenting every single thing I/we do. I absolutely love having this blog to post 'said' pictures and write about our everyday lives. I originally started this blog because I wanted to have a place for my kids (one day, if the internet and blogging are still around by then) to go back and read about mine and Beau's journey through life. And sometimes, it's even fun for me to go back and see what we were up to 2 years ago on January 16th. Isn't that the point in blogging?! To be a living, breathing journal?

That being said...I am, however, very confused by people who solely live their lives for social media. You know the kind I'm talking about...

The only reason they do this or that or take a certain picture or go on a certain vacation is solely so that they can blog about it or post it on Instagram/Facebook the very next second. Their lives are perfect. And so is their hair, skin and makeup. They want you to know how perfect everything is all the time, and when things aren't so perfect, they never let you know about it. It's almost like they're living a double life if you really think about it. No one's house is that perfect all the time. Nor is it physically possible to have a brand new outfit to post about every single day of the year, that is, unless you're Gal Meets Freaking Glam and Nordstrom and Kate Spade are your top sponsors. Your husband, though he may be an incredible guy, probably pisses you off at times, too. They're men...that's what they do. The pancakes you make every Sunday morning can't possibly turn out that freaking perfect every single time. (Seriously...am I the only one who screws up pancakes 75% of the time?!) And your family can't be 100% functional. Every single family has something dysfunctional about it...try and convince me otherwise.

Am I guilty of posting about the latest gadget I got for Christmas? Sure. Do I love trying to pretend I'm a food blogger whilst taking pictures of my most recent recipe? Of course. Do I love me a good photoshoot? Absolutely. Am I obsessed with my dog and treat her like she's most fabulous thing on the planet? Duh. We all want to post about the good things in life, but you've gotta throw in a little real life action every once in a while, too. Like how awful it was to host Thanksgiving dinner, or how you could learn to treat your husband a little better. Heck, even toss is how you're womanhood was taken from you the day your earlobe ripped all the way through and you can't wear earrings anymore or how you've seriously considered never leaving the crockpot going when you're not home anymore because you're terrified some strange electrical fire will start, your dog won't be able to escape and your house will burn down to the ground.

Be real. Be you. Do you.

Anywho...I could go on for days about this and I don't really know where all this is going. I just know I've run across a lot of "social media lives" lately and I'm not feelin' it. Not one bit.

Sure, enjoy blogging, tweeting, pinning and Instagramming all day long (to an extent...), but don't live your life around what your next blog post will be about or your next picture on Instagram will be of. Live your life the way you want to, and then post about it. Live your life for you.

And don't forget to stay true to yourself. Always, always, always stay true to yourself.

That's all the wisdom I've got for you today. I'll get off my soap box now. (And can someone please explain that term to me? I've never actually understood what it's supposed to mean...)

22 comments:

  1. I totally feel you on this post....and I still haven't left my crock pot on and left the house.....it would freak me out all day....kinda like I run back in to make sure my hair iron is off at least 3 times a week :-) Meet @ the Barre

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  2. Thank you for saying what you did about soapbox. I have no idea either! ha! :P
    As for pancakes, I used to burn them. EVERY TIME. It was only when I started lowering the temp on my burner that I was able to make a good pancake. They still aren't my momma's, but they're edible :) I've been trying to blog more recently, regardless of whether or not it's "social media politically-correct" because it's to document MY life (for ME) and that includes the ugly parts. (As evidenced here in this mess, also known as "Monica's closet:" http://www.bluegrassbelle.com/2014/01/why-do-we-make-new-years-resolutions.html)

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  3. *raises hand* my pancakes are totally messed up every.single.time. you'll never see a pic with a perfect pancake on my insta HAHAHA. But they sure are good! :) I agree, I don't share all the good or all the bad, but I hope I do a good job not allowing people to think I live some perfect life, because lord knows I don't!! If only people saw the melt downs, the bad moods, the heaping loads of laundry everywhere they would know!! great post!

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  4. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I am not the best at keeping up with my blog but I try. I do make an effort to follow all those I find interesting. And you know what's interesting? REAL people. Everyone is not perfect and finding the right outfit every single day can't be what you live for. I love when bloggers let their guard down and get real with their readers. It makes it much more interesting to read and believe it or not people can relate. I love your blog and your real life. Thanks for your "soap box."

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  5. Such a great post!! Love reading about the good and the bad. It makes so much more real and it's nice to know we're not alone. Thank you for sharing!!

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  6. A-freaking-men.
    ps my pancakes suck...every...single...time.

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  7. I'm totally with you! While I love posting about my successes or cute projects, I've also blogged about why I shouldn't cook when I burnt my whole hand and when my crafty map project was a fail and fell right off the wall and broke!

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  8. Here you go! I remembered it from some class in school back in the day.
    "A soapbox is a raised platform on which one stands to make an impromptu speech, often about a political subject. The term originates from the days when speakers would elevate themselves by standing on a wooden crate originally used for shipment of soap or other dry goods from a manufacturer to a retail store" via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soapbox

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  9. I love this! I am totally guilty of being that person on instagram that posts 10 pictures a day. Lol. ;) But it's so worth it! I love going on my profile later on and see what I was doing in the past! This post reminds me of something I wrote not to long ago... Don't be perfect, be you!

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  11. Great post!!! It is so true!! Wish I could explain the soap box - sorry no luck there!! But I can assure you - while my pancakes may be edible they look no where near perfect EVER!!

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  12. oh how i agree. some people are just there to document it and to show off, that's not living!

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  13. Very true and very well said - we all like to see pretty things and have adventures - but it should be for us, not for anyone else!!

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  14. I loved this post!!

    I didn't realize your blog or you for that matter, didn't have a facebook page piggy-backed on it?!?! I'm a relatively new blogger and I don't want to have a page for my blog! At some point, maybe success or popularity would 'require' another aspect for social media, but for now... no thanks!

    Oh and my husband is the pancake aficionado in our house! I burn them because I try and rush the process.

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  15. So, so true! I actually posted a very real blog post today about my life and how unperfect it is (well my teeth anyway). I like reading about people's REAL lives. It's good to know I'm not the only one who doesn't have a perfect house, or perfect hair, or a fabulous wardrobe. Thanks for this great post!

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  16. Oh it bothers me too when people are all for show! Sometimes I wonder if people think of me that way too. But I always stick to my lifestyle so probably not. LOL

    janmloves.blogspot.com

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  17. AMEN SISTAH! You already know this but I feel you on this and agree 110%! Love you!

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  18. So basically you wrote a blog post about Raven...LOL!

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  19. Agree. And like 90% of the time my pancakes are a blob.
    Love your blog!
    -Michelle
    http://michelleirons.blogspot.com/

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  20. Love! Guilty of posting 9,000 pictures of my daughter...but half the times she's covered in spit up ;)

    Also. No idea what a soap box even is... but I sure do use that expression!

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