Personal Reflections
Being a part of social media is such a beautiful thing, but can also become supremely overwhelming. I love it because I'm inspired by so many aspects of it; I love discovering new people from around the world who share my passions in music, plants, interior decor, among other things. I love sharing bits and pieces of myself (to an extent, of course), and I love following social media accounts and blogs that are encouraging, relatable, positive, and inspiring.
On the other hand, there are moments when I want to abruptly shut down all of my accounts - even this website. Because I'm such an obsessively private person, I tend to feel that I serve no purpose on any of these platforms. I don't require validation from strangers, or need to be the center of attention. I'm not controversial or confrontational, I don't spill all the intimate details of my personal life on the timeline, I don't create ridiculous stories for retweets and likes - oh honey, I could go on but I think you get my point. I cringe at some of the things I see online. It's almost as if a lot of these people behind these accounts don't have friends in real life.
Social media can be a very toxic and heavy environment, which is why it's nice to step away, even if only for a few hours. Trust me, not checking in on your twitter or instagram feed for a bit is one of the greatest forms of self-care. Sometimes, that's all you need. It's especially difficult being in this era of social media when you're an empath because everyone seems so desensitized and shitty towards one another. It's really disheartening. I'm pretty sure what's kept me from disconnecting my internet and totally shutting myself off from this virtual world is having the option to mute and filter any and everything that doesn't fulfill or inspire me. Overall, I do love being here, in this space, so I'm very aware of what measures I need to take to make sure my online experience is one that won't make me want to throw my iPhone out of a moving vehicle.
Friendship
Respect your friendships. Honor them. Don't take them for granted. Take time to truly understand the people in your life. Don't dismiss their feelings when they're expressing themselves to you, because opening up to people (even your closest friends) is sometimes really hard to do.
If you're the person that people come to to vent about their frustrations, consider it an honor. It means that they trust you, and they feel comfortable coming to you about things that they may not be able to share with the next friend. (It could also mean that no one else wants to hear that shit. Either way, feel honored, ok?)
Be who you are, unapologetically. Let your friends be who THEY are. But, understand that sometimes, those energies may not always mesh in that moment. And that's okay.
Set clear boundaries in your relationships with people. If your loved ones know you well enough, most times, you won't have to say a word. They'll just "get it." Unspoken boundaries are a thing, and a beautiful one. But, sometimes, a quick conversation may need to be had. I always need for the people I love to know that in order for me to be my best self, I need my "me" time. I thrive in solitude. I can't give you the best version of me if I don't give myself that time to decompress, restore, and recharge, and those who truly know me should never take this personal.
Romantic Love
Don't settle. Ever. Hold out for your perfect someone. They're out there. I think.
One of my new favorite quotes (just might be my all-time favorite quote at this point) is "My alone feels so good, I'll only have you if you're sweeter than my solitude." A powerful statement by Warsan Shire, and my new motto.
Be with someone who makes you laugh, someone you can listen to good music with, someone who enhances the quality of your life, someone who won't kill the houseplants when you have to travel for work, in addition to all of the other important shit. Don't settle for anything less than butterflies.