Why is this already happening? The leaves falling I mean. It’s too soon.
And the blogger-girl inside me wants to photograph ALL OF IT. Everytime I look down and see my booties covered in leaves I have to use all my restraint not to Instagram it immediately #fall #leaves #omgbooties. Anyone else ever catch themselves trying to snap a photo of something really stupid and cliche and you suddenly think why am I doing this? Why? Because it’s trendy and maybe just maybe the people will like it.
The world of Instagram sometimes turns me into a person I’m not. I’m pretty secure with myself (I thought?) yet I find myself seeking validation (likes) from people I don’t know… Why? What’s wrong with me???
When I was back home a few weeks ago I was visiting my great grandma Grace (she’s 101 years old) and I wanted to show her a photo of Harlow so I pulled up Instagram. In doing so, she happened to see some of the photos on my feed.
“What is that? Did you eat that?” she asked as she saw a photo of someone’s oh so perfect breakfast parfait or fancy latte. I don’t remember exactly. And does it really matter? No, not really.
“Nope, that’s someone else’s photo.” I responded.
“So they just took a photo of their breakfast? Just because?” she asked.
“Uh yea, pretty much.” I said.
“And you like to look at it?”
I sheepishly nodded. Because it’s true. I do spend a large part of my day looking at…. well dumb photos on Instagram.
And then she looked at me with this expression on her face that still makes me laugh when I think about it. My grandma doesn’t swear, but at that moment her face said what the f*&$ is that all about?
And then I realized that trying to explain Instagram to my 101 year old grandma is pointless. Because there isn’t a point to it. She’s 101 years old for God’s sake, she’s seen some shit. And not through a filter on an iPhone screen. She’s never even been on the internet, but she’s doing okay. Life goes on even if you can’t see photos of bloggers feet in bed or dogs taking naps on the couch. cough cough Harlow.
So occasionally when I get caught up in the world of photo sharing and photo liking and life comparing, I can’t help but think of great grandma Grace and what she might think of it all. What would she say if I complained that one of my coffee photos didn’t get more than 50 likes or a tweet that I thought was super funny didn’t get a single RT?
I think of that look. That what the f*&$ is that all about look and I can’t help but laugh at the silly world we live in today. Fun, yes. But very very silly.
And on that note FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM so you can see photos of Harlow wrapped in a blanket every single day. Because a dog under a blanket is just cute. I don’t care who you are, that’s instaworthy.
I can only imagine what Grandma Grace would think if she saw the pictures of your Bloody Marys.
lol! Your grandma's reactions sound much like what I would expect to hear / see from my grandma. we are in a fun and silly world indeed.
Is that what Chicago looks like right now??? Beautiful. I moved to TX about 3 months ago, and currently we have one tree that is starting to turn a little bit orange. Everything else is green, and it kinda weirds me out.
I think people our age are caught in the middle of this whole "social media" storm. We've grown up without it….and we are growing old with it. We know it's ridiculous because we've gone years not making a big deal about every little thing..but we still do it and then wonder why we do. People older than us…they never did it and they won't start. People younger than us have grown up with it and it's normal. We are totally caught in a social media confusion.
#nailedit.
Such a great post! Hysterical, but really so true. I catch myself doing the comparing game much more often than I'd like. Maybe there should be something that's the opposite of Instagram. Like where people can post their worst photos and the weirdest parts of their day, and we can all go there to make ourselves feel a little bit better. 😛
I had to laugh at this, I totally had a thought the other day which was, 'man, it'd really suck to have real problems'.
Good post! X
haha! I have a hard time explaining instagram to my husband or my mom!! I wouldn't even try on my grandparents or great grandmother (who is 100).
Your grandma is like a reality check for all of us! She's awesome! Next time I'm in danger of getting all worked up about silly stuff like likes and popularity (on the internet, no less!) I will ask myself: what the f*&$ is that all about?!
Good stuff, as always.
Daisy | Simplicity Relished
Sounds like everybody needs a Grandma Grace! Good reality check for this beautiful day as leaves fall down and coffee is abundant in cute mugs on cute couches in cute coffee shops.
lovelovelove,
Erica
cominguprosestheblog.com
Sounds like everybody needs a Grandma Grace! What a nice reality check on this beautiful day, as I'm sure we're all wearing cute sweaters and cute booties and drinking cute cups of coffee as we walk on cute leave-covered paths and it's all so cute and Instaworthy. Time to chill, all of us.
lovelovelove,
Erica
cominguprosestheblog.com
You keep writing these damn posts that hit the nail on the head every frigging time and it's THE BEST. Seriously. Five years ago – nay, nay, TWO years ago – I never thought I'd be so hooked on this damn IG BS. It's pathetic. It is. But I LOVE IT.
Eric takes some pretty sweet pictures from time to time and jokes, "maybe this will be my first 'gram!!" He's on IG but has zero pictures. And exactly 191 folowers. Dafuq.
And plus also: I have 999 IG posts. I'm waiting for some moneyball awesome poignant iphone picture to bring me to 1,000. Even more pathetic, right?
Okay enough. Love this gem. I think I'd love your 101 great-gram also.
very very silly, but I love Instagram.xx
dreaming is believing
I can't even imagine what my grandmother would have said about Instagram. Or Facebook. Or any of the rest of it.
My parents aren't 101 years old, but when it comes to IG they basically are. I can't tell you how many times they've tried to make the picture bigger – I laugh every. single. time! I only wish I was there when my dad posted his first picture, which is super dark and not focused at all. I love that they are trying, its too funny! I agree though, I remind myself not to compare myself to others or else I'll drive myself crazy! xoxo, ganeeban
I don't use instagram
I don't use Instagram but my daughter does. She spends countless hours looking at other people's photos. I think it's odd but then again she thinks the fact that I blog is odd so I guess we are even!!!!!
Grandma Grace is so right though….why do we do it?
Your great grandma is really cute.. and so right… now I'd think about her when instasurfing.. ^^
Haha this really puts Instagram and social media into perspective.. I can spend/waste so much time on there but it's a habit I just can't seem to break! So excited to find your blog, we just moved from Chicago and definitely miss it so I'll live vicariously through you now 🙂
Ha! Thank you for making me remember the day, when I was teaching my Granny to write a message with her new mobile ! In the end of the day (a loooong day), she finally did it 🙂
My blog: http://www.zanedemar.com