I heard someone refer to “likes” on Instagram and Facebook as the modern day Valentine cards we used to get in elementary school. 

When I was in elementary school this was a huge deal. Maybe it was just me or maybe it was just my school…but whether you had Cinderella, Star Wars, Rugrats, Hey Arnold, or Big Bird on your Valentines…well, let’s just say that it said something about you. And then how many you received!? Oh. Yes, they were counted. Was there a note on it? Or did someone just write “To: Emily From: Jack.” Sometimes they only said, “Jack,” a peer not even taking the time to pencil in individual names. (Not cool.)Was there a sucker? Or those delectable candy hearts attached? 

…it was important.

I like to believe that (early) elementary school kids are pretty resilient and quite confident. They haven’t been hit with the fact that some people will, in fact–despite what their mama says, not want to be their friends. And though “words will never hurt me” will be yelled out on the playground…they probably haven’t discovered how huge of a lie that is yet so they can roll with the Valentine cards punches.

But then there is puberty and preteendom and adolescence and then…young adulthood…college…fraternities…and, even worse, sororities. There was nothing that could make me feel less cool than a group of “perfect” looking sorority sisters doing something “perfect” in their “perfect” dresses and “perfect” teeth for a “perfect” cause in college years. [Side note…this whole post is true in many ways. There are exaggerations in some cases, poking and a little prodding at our insecurities…but as with all things…should be “taken with a grain of salt,” …if anyone even knows what that phrase really means. Where did it even come from? …not important. I digress.]

And now we have all of the beautiful phases of life and social media. Not one. No, not two. Not even three. But multiple, multiple outlets to let you know whether you are worthy of clicking the “like” button, whether that smoothie you spent 13.46 minutes making for breakfast is worth finding out the recipe for, or whether someone is going to “share” that blog post you poured your entire heart and soul into. 😉

And we don’t always mean to…but it can sometimes be easy to wonder why someone didn’t think your witty tweet was funny enough to “favorite” or why Lebron didn’t immediately comment on your 15 second Instagram video of you being like-the-most-awesome-half-court-ball-through-your-legs-dribble-with-no-hands-BALLA ever!!?

With a deep breath…let me just remind you of something that I know you know, but have a tendency to forget sometimes…the world does not lie behind that beautiful, recently polished, no face oil screen of yours. Life lies all around you. Yes, there is so much beauty and life and fun and community to be had in social media. As a blossoming yogi, I can attest to the community found in such social media. It. Is. Awesome.

But it is not the end-all-be-all to who I am or to who you are. And it certainly does not make my worth (or yours).

I’ve had a few conversations recently that inspired me to simply remind you, yet again, that you are magnificent. NOT despite your flaws but because of them. In the same way that beauty and grandness does not lie in your BMI or the number on the scale, neither does it lie in your number of “likes” or retweets. 

Everyone has their own beliefs and we know where mine are founded. Choose to hear this however you wish…but I believe that you are exceptional and incredible because the God of the Universe, the same one who put the billions of stars in the sky, who formed the galaxies, and created the flamingos and penguins he made YOU. Not only that, but He made you unique, with special gifts, with a purpose, and a path that is lovely and meaningful. 

Social media has NOTHING to do with that. YOU and GOD have something to do with that.

I know you know this…just wanted to remind you. Play on, my loves. Live on and do it well, and share it–whether the world is watching or not. Document what is important to you because you matter. Period.

With so much love…XO

“We do not want merely to see beauty… we want something else which can hardly be put into words- to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it. That is why we have people, air and earth and water with gods and goddesses, and nymphs and elves.”