Choose Happy

Alright, so, you may disagree with me, but hear me out.

Nobody chooses to be sad. Usually people feel sad because of something that happened, a mental illness, or it's just one of those days and they can't put a finger on.

But, people choose to be happy. You make a choice to smile, to laugh, or treat yourself to a cupcake with rainbow sprinkles. You choose to put on your "happy" playlist, instead of the depressing one.

So with this being said, I urge all of you to choose happy.

Happiness comes in all forms. Often times it is singing along to music, taking a nice, long nap, or getting outside to enjoy the fresh air. It's hanging out with your friends, calling your mom/dad, or singing in the shower. It's finishing a good book, writing a letter to your sister, or (and I can't stress this enough) a cupcake with rainbow sprinkles on top.

I hope you realize, any of you, whether I know you well or not, that you deserve happiness. It took me a long time to realize I do deserve to be happy, and people who want to take that away from me should not be in my life.

Happiness, for me, is often stolen when I look at social media. I'm sure you might be tired of me preaching this, but I think it is important for more people to be aware of this stolen joy.

Instagram shows me every morning a girl on spring break who I immediately deem prettier than me, or a young mother who is raising her babies in the cutest fashion, and leaves me wondering if I'll ever be that amazing of a mom. Snapchat shows me every night that there's a group of people I know out and about without me, having the time of their lives. It shows me that I need a filter on my face, or a "streak" with a hundred people in order to attain coolness.

Twitter shows me the turmoil in this country, people bashing each other for political, religious, and personal views. It also shows me some pretty funny memes, so I can't complain too much.

Facebook shows me that my mom's friends' kids are doing insane things, truly living their best lives, and I feel bad that my mom can't brag about me like that. It also shows me that half of my "friends" don't speak to me if they see me at the grocery store.

WITH ALL THIS BEING SAID, I have distanced myself from social media to avoid these LIES. That's right, nearly everything you see on the internet is fake, or fake happiness, or an illusion for a life they want to live. It is my greatest fear that I will meet someone and they will leave thinking "wow she's nothing like the kind person she seems to be on instagram." I have come to realize that actions are much louder than words ever can be. I could keep writing this until I turn blue in the face, but if you don’t see me living this out, what’s the point? I become a hypocrite and I hope to never become so.

So, I vow from here on out to let my actions meet my words and thoughts, showing love to everyone, no matter what.

I vow from here on out to choose happy.

I vow from here on out to be real and intentional on social media, letting my real life be the same.

I vow from here on out to not believe the lies of the internet.

Having read this, I hope you can see how I'm trying to choose happy. And I really hope that you choose happy, every day.