picture this

I was sitting in my journalism class yesterday listening to the lecture when I heard something that I couldn't help but scribble down in my notes. My professor said " If you gave someone a camera, what story about themselves would they tell?" I'm not sure why this stuck out to me so much, but it did. If everyone was given a camera, what parts of themselves would they want the world to see? How much of themselves would they alter or change knowing people would be looking at them? Would people see themselves differently looking through the lens of their own life? What does this say about me?

Once I started looking at this topic from my own perspective it actually scared me a little. Real talk guys. I would not want the world to see every part of me. Why would anyone? We change the way we think, act, dress, and perform for others, and it is a scary thing to be completely vulnerable. I think thats why we put a guard up, shield off the world from who we really are, and sit ourselves in front of a camera and show the world what we think they want to see. I can't speak for everyone, but it is so easy to only put the best version of ourselves online or on camera. It is rare to find an instagram post, tweet, or facebook post about someone talking about how hard their day was and why they didn't feel like the best version of themselves. We all have those days. But how often do we post about them?

Like I said before, if you knew someone was following you around with a camera, how would you act? If you saw your own life through the lens of a camera, how would you feel? Would you change the way you acted to appease others and to appease your own expectations of yourself? I know that I would. I KNOW. If someone was following me around and recording my life, I would dress cute everyday, always be bright and cheery, and always make a conscious effort to smile. But it wouldn't be real. And thats what I'm trying to get at here.

Authenticity. Truth. Genuineness.

These three things are so hard to find. And when you do find them, they are almost impossible to hold on to. But I think thats what this world needs. A little bit more authenticity, truth, and genuineness.

Thanks for reading a random jumble of thoughts at 12:07 am. This is what college does to you man. Until next time pals.

Alyssa