National Selfie Day... Unfiltered

Yesterday was National Selfie Day...why "selfies" need their own day is beyond me.  I hate selfies, they make me feel so uncomfortable, probably because I am not photogenic and rarely ever look at myself and think, "Wow! You look so good! grab your phone, make an awkward face to make your lips look bigger and post it, because everyone needs to see just how hot you look right now!" However, as I scroll through my Instagram account I find that I am in the minority; its hard...actually nearly impossible, to scroll and not see countless selfies. But these aren't just basic selfies, these selfies are filtered... not once, not twice, but maybe even three times! I know, you must be thinking, "wait a second Megan, you mean to tell me people don't naturally have butterflies flying around their heads, or deer ears?" Well, brace yourselves because that is EXACTLY what time telling you.

Now don't get me wrong, I myself am guilty of filtering... for a time I got caught up in how much better a good filter can make EVERYTHING look..especially me! Filter once and it becomes an addiction...it's so easy, one swipe and suddenly your skin tone is perfect, blemishes are gone, your eyes are bigger and brighter...so why would I NOT filter? Why would I want to post a picture of me that shows the reality of being human...freckles, redness, uneven skin tone, tired eyes, crooked smile, disheveled hair? At some point you get conditioned by social media, caught up in the comparisons of your flawless friends and their filtered perfection. 

Comparing ourselves to each other is nothing new, we do it without even knowing.  Now, not only are we comparing ourselves to each other, but it is an unrealistic version; an unattainable standard.  Why do we feel so uncomfortable showing our true selves? What are we scared of? Social media was supposed to be a way of connecting and giving insight into our lives; but it has turned into an attention seeking mechanism used to boost confidence and measure self worth. "How many likes did I get?" "Who is going to comment on how hot I look in my (filtered fake) picture?" "If I don't filter this picture, what will people see?" "What will they say?" Somewhere along the way we became uncomfortable in our own skin, uncomfortable in the reality of being HUMAN and REAL. 

Now am I saying I will never use a filter again? Absolutely not.  I enjoy a fun filter and I guarantee I will again use the "pretty" filter for a flawless look, but it is my hope that by filtering a little less, we can get closer to being more real and more comfortable in our own skin.  At the end of the day, when all your make up is off and you look in the mirror, that is the REAL YOU. The you that is beautiful... beautifully unfiltered.  

I was encouraged by MegHan to post a selfie for national selfie day.  Like I said, I hate selfies but I decided to post an unfiltered selfie with the #WokeUpThisWayChallenge. The hope of this challenge is to bring awareness to everyone's natural beauty.  Did I feel comfortable posting this? No. I could look at the make up free, unfiltered selfie and find all the imperfections that make me feel vulnerable, but instead of focusing on my insecurities, I chose self acceptance and self love.