The Philosophy of Instagram

I do not have an iPhone, so when Instagram came out for Android, I was incredibly excited.  I had even signed up to receive an email notification the moment it was available. Seriously.

And then I didn't know what to do.

I didn't follow anyone for a long time.  Felt too stalker-ish.  Who am I kidding? Right?

And I posted a lot of older pictures that have been on my phone for a while.  And then I visited the triplets and posted some of them.

And then...

I didn't know what to take pictures of.

My food? Only when I discover a new allergy, ok?

Myself? No. Just no.

The sky? Weird.

None of it felt important enough to take a picture of.



I started following more people and began having a lot of pictures to look at.  And I noticed that some people post a picture every day.  Of random things.  Their food, themselves, their view of the sky.  And it didn't seem weird, but pretty and important.  (And not just because they triple filtered it or posted meaningful lyrics as the caption.) Does the period go inside or outside the parenthesis? Score! Spelled parenthesis right the first time!

So maybe the issue isn't that I don't have something to take pictures of, but that I need to open my eyes to all the beautiful and interesting things that I pass by every day.

Maybe I can learn to appreciate what to me is mundane and uninteresting, but may one day, as in the next day, be a precious memory to cherish.



Like these:

Just random, now blurry (both literally the pictures are blurry and my memory is starting to fade), pictures from moments this week.

I am learning to look around rather than just moving through life with my head down.  To appreciate what I have now, rather than always anticipating what is to come.  I am learning to share the imperfections rather than attempt to maintain the illusion of an untroubled life. 

And yes, more has been happening in my life to prompt these thoughts, but Instagram has played a definite role in this shift in perception.  

And yes, I am much too philosophical for my own good.  

Gosh, I hope I used philosophical correctly...

What have you been missing this week?  

What have you taken the time to notice?