Social Media pt.1

Hey there guys, apologies for this huge gap between posts, I have just been truly relaxed over this festive period and have been thrilled working my job. Christmas was great for me and I'm hoping you guys could switch off from the madness that is COVID and try to enjoy your time. This 3rd lockdown I anticipate will be the hardest one yet for us, but together, we can grow through it and come out the other side for the better. Apart from the arrival of my beautiful nephew Jamie, not much on a personal level has changed for me. I am still feeling mentally strong and I let positivity drive my life, and boy what a feeling that is. If I could give that to everyone reading this I truly would. All I can really say on the matter is I truly feel blessed.

I wanted to touch one big topic on this post that I've always been fascinated at, so, to dive into this topic and to be honest with you, being able to witness the incredible gift of my niece growing up and becoming an incredibly funny and smart kid made me think about this. I love social media, I really do. I think it has such a capacity of good that it can achieve. I love to entertain people and make them laugh on my socials, either through Instagram, snapchat or this blog itself, but I do think that its impact on our generation and generations to come can be extremely detrimental.

I have always at my core been a confident guy. I'm not the tallest (lol understatement if you've met me in really life- Mason and Raff I'm looking at you guys, the LIL FELLA IS SPEAKING), I'm definitely not the smartest, but I'm happy with myself fully and as cocky as this sounds, I'm so proud of the person I've become. But through the years of 18 to probably 21 even, subconsciously I couldn't help but compare myself to others. It became to a point where I would instantly go on my phone to Instagram or Twitter, and just start digging at myself, looks wise, personality wise, even the type of clothes I had or the money I didn't have. Social media is inundated with all these stunning women and handsome men who are both posting little snippets of their day and its almost become a feed of who has the better life, the most money, the best body and it can be extremely overwhelming and could mould people's expectations of life in general. And don't get me wrong, I'm guilty of this too. A saying I say to all of my mates is nobody posts a picture or a story of a funeral, nobody lifts the curtain completely to show their full life, the dark days, the days where their skin isn't as perfect or their parties aren't as good as others. It's all perception, and how this links to my niece growing up is I am concerned about the future of social media and how people will use it.

I really am not trying to attack influencers or any user of social media as ultimately everyone does this but I feel like the dangers need to be known. Everyone has a right to choose what they want to post obviously but it's important to realise that it isn't normal reality. Not everyone will be looking a certain way and not everyone's bodies are that picture perfect, it could be through the use of a filter or an angle or anything, but I feel that young men and women could be tricked into thinking that this is reality and how everyone must act or look like 24/7.

To conclude, please if you feel social media is overtaking your life, step out of it. Talk to your friends about things that'll make you laugh, be comfortable in your own skin, be yourself to the fullest. Everyone is truly beautiful and unique in their own way and mustn't be forced into changing the person they truly are. I want everyone to find happiness but, as I have learned through life, the experiences I've had (both good and bad) and through therapy, that happiness must come from within. Love yourself, because no one will ever be as good at being you than you. Below to finish off this post, I want to add one of my favourite quotes ever, and something that sticks with me every day, kind of like a little personal mantra that in times where I feel insecure about myself or the person I am. I love you all, stay safe, stay positive, and a new post will for sure be less of a gap than this time around. Much love everyone as always.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

By David Lark