The New Pretty

I honestly didn’t give it much thought.

I snapped a picture of myself with Abby and Ellie and stuck it up on Instagram. It was a sweet picture, but it got more attention than most of my other photos, and I knew it was because I had made a point of being make-up free in the shot. At the end of the caption I had written, “I think keeping promises is the new pretty.”

It got me thinking.

What if we really made the effort to let people into our reality instead of just giving them the best of us? Let’s face it-social media has provided us with unparalleled opportunities to filter ourselves and call it the norm.

Let’s take last night, for example.

I decided I was going to make a chicken pot pie from scratch. I did, and I Instagrammed this photo.

Not that’s there’s anything wrong with showing people what you’re eating for dinner, but there was more to the story.

Here’s what my hand looked like the next day.

Is it because I’m clumsy? Sure it is. But it’s also because I hardly ever cook, so when I went to grab my magnificent pot pie, I burned myself. I might have even said a bad word, but I’m not 100% on that one.

So, yes, I made a great dinner. And in other news, I had to remind myself how to preheat the oven.

The truth is, I would rather you see the pot pie than the blister.

I asked myself what my insecurities were, and while the list went on and on, here are a few of my top choices.

1. I care too much what people think about me.

2. I don’t feel like a good mom most of the time.

3. I wish I was more domestic.

4. I often care too much what people think of me.

5. I’m failing more than I’m not.

6. On occasion (and I may have mentioned this) I care too much what people think of me.

So, I’m starting my own Twitter/Instagram revolution, and I would love for you to join me. The next time you’re about to publish something that casts you in a perfect light, remember that the new pretty is found elsewhere. Instead, choose the version that tells more of the story…people are hungry to know they aren’t the only ones.

What do you struggle with as far as how you “present” yourself to others? Start there.

We could all use a reminder that life is filter-free and doesn’t always come out of the oven perfectly.

How about it, ladies? Are you up for the new pretty?

Make sure and use the hashtag #thenewpretty so we can all share a little more realistic corner of life….

By: Angie Smith