“Special” issues
We have universally accepted social media to be an individual’s public personal-diary.
People are found using social networking sites for displaying pictures, memories, appreciation and even opinions (which they think can change the world). The motive, skeptics say, is often to garner likes/favorites, comments/mentions, shares/retweets and appreciation — to boost one’s ego. Of course, these skeptics silently stalk the “exhibitionists”, following their every move and waiting for their next update, but that’s alright, isn’t it?
On Mother’s Day 2015, something happened.
Now I am somebody who appreciates my loved ones everyday, in whatever way I can. My mum has brought me up that way, and she always told me never to take people for granted, no matter how reliable they are. She said appreciation is what fosters relationships and keeps people together forever.
What she also taught me is that you should never be too shy to appreciate someone before other people. Show your love, express the genuineness of your feelings and let the world know how much you appreciate someone. Live your life like an open book, and be receptive of others’ lives too. I therefore put up a special message for her, and she loved that!
I used to be someone who never used social networking platforms. Within the past two years, I’ve realised that it is a wonderful way to know the people around you better, and therefore, a great platform for people to know you.
Indeed, we enjoy appreciation. Man is a social animal, and therefore loves to love and be loved. I hence do not see a problem with it. The problem, I think, is when people fight and create dramatic scenes in public. Social media wars, insults and battles are common, but nobody seems to mind it.
It was quite disheartening for me to see status messages by people yesterday, saying they wished they didn’t have to see Mother’s Day messages. I came across a status that said, “Shouldn’t we dedicate messages to her everyday?”
Frankly, dear pseudo intellectual, that would piss you off even more.
I appreciate the sentiment of valuing your loved one everyday. In fact, I follow that myself, and I know plenty of people who do. But I also think that taking it one notch higher on special days makes someone feel even more loved. It is a reminder and a morale-booster. Birthdays and anniversaries also count. Appreciation is so rare these days that I find it extremely joyful to come across people who publicly show their respect and admiration for their loved ones.
Celebrate your life every day and every moment, and that includes special days too.
Just because you express your love for someone on a special day, it doesn’t mean that you deprive that person of love for the rest of the days. Why assume when you do not know what is happening in the person’s life?
So before you judge, whatever the matter and whoever the person may be, remember that you really don’t know enough to pass a general statement.
If you still think people are gimmicky, let them be. Why waste your thoughts and status messages on them? You’re serving their purpose (or maybe, just maybe, pulling a gimmick yourself).
Express yourself each day and rejoice in each moment. Love and be loved. There is nothing wrong with that.
Keep those “special’ issues away and embrace all the good that’s around. Cheers!
