Social media can never replace reality. With social media I can choose how to portray my life. I could spend hours cultivating the best photos, post them online and act as if they are flippant snap shots. Or I could take a snap shot that is flukily amazing and post that. I could omit the disappointments and arguments and portray the life of a happy family, all sunshine and picnics. Or I can wallow in the moments that didn’t go according to plan and rant about the unfairness of life, the daily drudge, the bickering and the mess without a single mention of the flickers of happiness, peace or laughter.
I posted this photo a while back of a rocking horse I am renovating. The photo itself is nothing special, more functional than anything else since it is part of a documented restauration.
My own outlook is to focus on the good in life, not to post anything that could embarass my family or be used against my children, share my achievements and stay positive about the inevitable failures. I accept that my life is not like what we see in magazines and I am happy with that.
This is all one life. There is good and bad, chaos and tranquility, there are moments when nothing is as you’d like it and there are brief moments when everything is perfect. Come to my house on any given day and you will see reality. Unedited.
Hehehe, It looks like home! I am forever apologising for the state of my house… Don't get me wrong it's not at health hazard status yet! I saw a cute sign years ago, it said Please excuse the mess, we are busy making memories. I have cosen to live by that!! ;0) #TwinklyTuesday
And the sign is right Claire! Good choice.
Thanks for stopping by from #TwinklyTuesday.
Definitely nothing resembling reality on Social Media. I love the clean but untidy reference – Ditto here! Mel xx #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks Mel. Yes, clean but untidy sums up our home style, if one can call it that 🙂
I so agree with you on keeping things positive, there is already so much negativity in the world. I look forward to seeing the finished rocking horse!
Becky xx
#TwinklyTuesday
Thanks for popping over, Becky. I'll be posting on the rocking horse's progress over the coming months.
Love, love, LOVE this post Fi!! Exactly — I couldn't have written it better myself! It's absolute tripe that Instagram is 'real life' — as you say — pan out a little and you'll see a washing basket full of clothes, shoes on the floor, clutter and mess of real life. But who want to see that??!! We all have enough of it in our own homes!! It's lovely to drift off into 'Instagramland' for a while isn't it? Having a little space for loveliness is good — particularly when 'real life' offers everything else — warts and all!
Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday — hope to see you again next week! x
Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk
I totally agree! With social media, we can portray what we want. The reality is different – I love that you have been honest about your house…because it's just like mine & everyone else's house! #TwinklyTuesday x
Oh yes! You may find my children and house in different arrays of cleanliness depending on how much notice you give me too! HA!
Thanks Caro and yes you have a good point there. Having something lovely to look at with all the banalities of everyday life blended out is good for the mind.
See you next week! x
Thanks Becky. I like a pretty photo as much as the next person but I hate if things are passed off as perfect when they are not. x
Judging by the comments here, I am not alone in my thinking or in the state of my house 😉
Thanks for visiting!