I have a love-hate relationship with social media. It sucked me in. I feel this constant need for the approval from others. No one favorited or retweeted my tweet? No one liked my Facebook or Instagram post? I must be a loser.
What a horrible mindset to live in.
There's this Twitter account called Arkansas Confessions, where a U of A student can send in "anonymous" confessions. Usually it's just guys who are too nervous to talk to a girl in person.
For example:
"To the girl who just came in the Hotz laundry room... Please come back and give me your number."
That was from a few days ago.
This account is stupid. But entertaining. Sometimes people confess hilarious things. But mostly, I think it's messing with people's emotions. I know I'm not the only one who secretly wants to be posted about on there.
Here's a confession:
Sometimes I'll see a random guy look at me on campus and I'll actually think "I wonder if he'll post about me..." and of course it never happens. But you know what? I'm glad. I don't want to attract guys who use social media to flirt. Maybe that's a way to set guys apart nowadays.
But on with the show.
I'll list social networks from least obsessed to most obsessed.
5. Vine
I rarely ever post on it. I mostly just get on at night before bed and laugh really hard at the things people post.
4. Facebook
Let's be honest. I only keep my account because of my photography page and to look at blogs people share.
3. SnapChat
I think I just use this to make people laugh. And when I don't succeed, I feel stupid.
2. Twitter
In the past year or so, I've had this constant obsession with wanting more followers. More favorites and retweets. I only posted things I thought people would like. And when they didn't, I'd delete the post. How. Ridiculous. I am judging myself right now.
1. Instagram
I am a photographer. I LOVE photos. So naturally, this is my most used network. I'm so attached to it. I follow all of this awesome accounts and strive to be like them. Why? Why can't I just be myself? And why do I care how many likes I get?? I swear, this generation is the worst. If I don't get at least 40 likes, I feel like I failed. I'm laughing right now. I don't even feel the need to explain further.
So how have I started to fix this problem of being a typical 21st century kid? Well...
5. Vine
I don't get on every night before bed. Sleep is better than getting sucked into an hour of Vines anyway.
4. Facebook
Basically just hid people from my newsfeed that made me mad/annoyed/etc. I don't have a huge obsession with Facebook anymore.
3. SnapChat
Simple. Deleted the app.
2. Twitter
Despite how many followers I had, I decided to delete it and start over with a new one. It's private, so I have to accept follower requests. And I won't be following oodles of people anymore, which will make it harder to use it when I'm bored because there won't be a bunch of posts to read. I'm hoping that my addiction to popularity will go away. If not, Twitter will be gone for good.
1. Instagram
Oh, Lordy. I don't even know. I'm just going to have to pray about that one and not post for a while.
Not really sure where I'm going with this. I just think that our generation is awful. We could change how we look at life if we wanted to. It's just a matter of realizing how messed up and dependent on each other's approval we are.
This is my intervention. If you have a problem like me, then fix it. I dare you.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Three Words: I Don't Know
Do you know what you're doing with your life? Because I sure don't.
My mom and I hang out a lot, especially now that I'm transferring to a college two hours away. The other day, we were in the car and she told me something that my sister told her.
This blows my mind.
My sister said that she thinks I am the most likely to be a missionary out of all the siblings. I'm the most likely to stick with it.
How crazy and awesome is that? And scary. And terrifying.
But amazing.
I constantly beat myself up for not being good enough. About EVERYTHING. I think everyone does. If you are one of the few truly confident (but humble) people in this world, I look up to you.
I think I'm a horrible Christian. I don't act like Christ. I am selfish and rude and conceited. But at the same time I am insecure. How is that even a thing?
I think I am an awful singer. I have potential, but I constantly feel like others around me are so much better (Hey, Claudia. Welcome to college.)
I think I am just so stupid. I constantly feel like an idiot. Like I have the IQ of an acorn. (Hey, Claudia. Welcome to college.)
But recently, I've been burying myself in God. Because it's honestly the only thing keeping me from going insane. My life is CRAZY. (Hey, Claudia. Welcome to college.)
God's been blessing me beyond belief and has been sending encouragement through people. One of which was that message from my sister. She says when I'm not interested in something, I don't try hard (true) but when I am passionate about something, I really stick with it (true).
Missions scares the crap out of me. Me? A missionary? HA! I have the social skills of an acorn, too. And I am awful at foreign languages. I spent 5 weeks in Honduras and my main form of communication was a smile.
So it makes me think... Why God? Why me? I know I'm meant to be a missionary of some kind...but what kind? Do I stay in the states? Do I go overseas? Do I spontaneously combust because I'm so stressed about knowing what Your plan is for me?
One thing comes to mind. Music. I'm good at it. God gave me the talent. So for now I just pursue that with all that I can and maybe, just maybe, God's plan for me will unravel from it.
Advice from someone who knows nothing (me):
Notice God in the little things
-a compliment from someone
-your favorite song coming on the radio
-someone holding the door for you
Notice God in the big things
-it's actually not you who made your life awesome, you know
Thank Him always
-even when crappy things happen. He's doing it for a reason. (remind me of this later)
Some of my favorite quotes from the book The Christians Secret to a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith:
“To the children of God everything comes directly from their Father’s hand, no matter who or what may have been the apparent agents. There are no ‘second causes’ for them. The whole teaching of the Bible asserts and implies this. ‘Not a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father.’ The very hairs of our head are all numbered…”
“Take Joseph. What could have seemed more apparently on the face of it to be the result of sin, and utterly contrary to the will of God, than his being sold into slavery? And yet Joseph, in speaking of it, said, ‘As for you, ye thought evil against me: but God meant it unto good.’ ‘Now, therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life.’ To the eye of sense it was surely Joseph’s wicked brethren who had sent him into Egypt; and yet Joseph, looking at it with the eye of faith, could say, ‘God sent me.’ It had been undoubtedly a grievous sin in his brethren, but, by the time it had reached Joseph, it had become God’s will for him, and was in truth, though at first it did not look so, the greatest blessing of his whole life.”
I'm really talented at verbal vomiting. I apologize that this blog post was all over the place!
Love always,
Claudia
My mom and I hang out a lot, especially now that I'm transferring to a college two hours away. The other day, we were in the car and she told me something that my sister told her.
This blows my mind.
My sister said that she thinks I am the most likely to be a missionary out of all the siblings. I'm the most likely to stick with it.
How crazy and awesome is that? And scary. And terrifying.
But amazing.
I constantly beat myself up for not being good enough. About EVERYTHING. I think everyone does. If you are one of the few truly confident (but humble) people in this world, I look up to you.
I think I'm a horrible Christian. I don't act like Christ. I am selfish and rude and conceited. But at the same time I am insecure. How is that even a thing?
I think I am an awful singer. I have potential, but I constantly feel like others around me are so much better (Hey, Claudia. Welcome to college.)
I think I am just so stupid. I constantly feel like an idiot. Like I have the IQ of an acorn. (Hey, Claudia. Welcome to college.)
But recently, I've been burying myself in God. Because it's honestly the only thing keeping me from going insane. My life is CRAZY. (Hey, Claudia. Welcome to college.)
God's been blessing me beyond belief and has been sending encouragement through people. One of which was that message from my sister. She says when I'm not interested in something, I don't try hard (true) but when I am passionate about something, I really stick with it (true).
Missions scares the crap out of me. Me? A missionary? HA! I have the social skills of an acorn, too. And I am awful at foreign languages. I spent 5 weeks in Honduras and my main form of communication was a smile.
So it makes me think... Why God? Why me? I know I'm meant to be a missionary of some kind...but what kind? Do I stay in the states? Do I go overseas? Do I spontaneously combust because I'm so stressed about knowing what Your plan is for me?
One thing comes to mind. Music. I'm good at it. God gave me the talent. So for now I just pursue that with all that I can and maybe, just maybe, God's plan for me will unravel from it.
Advice from someone who knows nothing (me):
Notice God in the little things
-a compliment from someone
-your favorite song coming on the radio
-someone holding the door for you
Notice God in the big things
-it's actually not you who made your life awesome, you know
Thank Him always
-even when crappy things happen. He's doing it for a reason. (remind me of this later)
Some of my favorite quotes from the book The Christians Secret to a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith:
“To the children of God everything comes directly from their Father’s hand, no matter who or what may have been the apparent agents. There are no ‘second causes’ for them. The whole teaching of the Bible asserts and implies this. ‘Not a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father.’ The very hairs of our head are all numbered…”
“Take Joseph. What could have seemed more apparently on the face of it to be the result of sin, and utterly contrary to the will of God, than his being sold into slavery? And yet Joseph, in speaking of it, said, ‘As for you, ye thought evil against me: but God meant it unto good.’ ‘Now, therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life.’ To the eye of sense it was surely Joseph’s wicked brethren who had sent him into Egypt; and yet Joseph, looking at it with the eye of faith, could say, ‘God sent me.’ It had been undoubtedly a grievous sin in his brethren, but, by the time it had reached Joseph, it had become God’s will for him, and was in truth, though at first it did not look so, the greatest blessing of his whole life.”
I'm really talented at verbal vomiting. I apologize that this blog post was all over the place!
Love always,
Claudia
Monday, November 18, 2013
I Did That
This semester, I have been interning for the First United Presbyterian Church choir. This requires me to go to a rehearsal on Wednesday nights and both services on Sunday morning. Let me tell you, showing up to church at 8:15 every Sunday is HARD for a college student.
This week the sermon spoke to me. Keep in mind, it was early, so I don't quite remember what she said, but I wrote in my Notes on my phone:
"I did that"
Be proud of yourself!
I really like this. I tend to focus on the negative things in my life.
For example:
You aren't as good of a singer as everyone else in your choir.
You are bad at socializing.
You can't play piano.
You aren't beautiful.
Well, that right there is Satan. Plain and simple.
I loved the sermon this week, because I have been realizing how many "I did that" moments I've had.
Quick background:
I decided to transfer to Arkansas Tech University because I am unhappy at the U of A. In order to talk scholarships with ATU, I had to release my scholarship at the U of A. I had NO idea if I would get scholarships at ATU or not. Scariest thing I've ever done.
So onto that "I did that" list!
Knew I wasn't happy and decided to change that.
I did that!
Trusted God and released my scholarship at the U of A.
I did that!
Mastered double handed scales on piano.
Holy crap, I did that!
But more importantly, the "He did that" list.
Blessed me beyond belief.
He always does that.
Believed in me.
He always does that.
Loved me.
He always does that.
I really am just so happy. I always knew God was awesome, but He really showed Himself to me this past week.
"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities." Luke 16:10
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7
Can I get an "Amen"?
This week the sermon spoke to me. Keep in mind, it was early, so I don't quite remember what she said, but I wrote in my Notes on my phone:
"I did that"
Be proud of yourself!
I really like this. I tend to focus on the negative things in my life.
For example:
You aren't as good of a singer as everyone else in your choir.
You are bad at socializing.
You can't play piano.
You aren't beautiful.
Well, that right there is Satan. Plain and simple.
I loved the sermon this week, because I have been realizing how many "I did that" moments I've had.
Quick background:
I decided to transfer to Arkansas Tech University because I am unhappy at the U of A. In order to talk scholarships with ATU, I had to release my scholarship at the U of A. I had NO idea if I would get scholarships at ATU or not. Scariest thing I've ever done.
So onto that "I did that" list!
Knew I wasn't happy and decided to change that.
I did that!
Trusted God and released my scholarship at the U of A.
I did that!
Mastered double handed scales on piano.
Holy crap, I did that!
But more importantly, the "He did that" list.
Blessed me beyond belief.
He always does that.
Believed in me.
He always does that.
Loved me.
He always does that.
I really am just so happy. I always knew God was awesome, but He really showed Himself to me this past week.
"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities." Luke 16:10
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7
Can I get an "Amen"?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)