Since Coronavirus hit, not much has stayed the same. Between changes in our daily routines to more than a year completely disrupted, 2020 was a very tiring year that's dragged into 2021. During this crazy time, I've been making an effort to focus on mental health and happiness. Sometimes, that means taking a break and reevaluating your situation.
I consider myself blessed for very simple reasons - I have shelter, I am not starving, and I have lots of amazing people in my life who keep me strong. Plus, I have a Jeep :) Although there are a LOT of things that haven't been going as I had planned the past year, I've learned to find the silver lining in even the most overwhelming situations. Granted, this took time and like many of you, I've been struggling throughout the changes brought on by COVID. I've been more silent out of respect for myself until I felt strong enough again to share my voice. For those of you fighting battles no one knows about, it gets better. 💙
Although social media is a place to share and connect with people, it can also be extremely toxic. Since we've been socially distancing and isolating, we've turned to our phones more than ever to stay connected with our friends and family. But seeing celebrities ignore COVID guidelines and with travel restrictions being in place, it's hard to see cool destinations you can't visit or other people living their lives when you're stuck at home.
Don't let social media or the pressures of "staying relevant" change you or how happy you are. I constantly see captions like "sorry I don't have content." Stop pressuring yourself. It's ok to be busy or just living your life. It's ok not to post for awhile. And more importantly, it's ok to not be ok. Let's build each other up and get through it together - don't be lonely. And never apologize for going through a hard time, or feeling like you're not enough for social media. There's always someone out there who cares.
When is the last time you went on a trip and didn't take a picture or post it to social media? And when did the internet get so judgmental? Don't forget to be present in the moment with the people who really matter because you're doing it for the 'gram. In this new age of social media, don't get caught up on your perception through a screen. After all, most of us are just strangers on the internet anyway lol!
Instead, get caught up in nature, telling stories with family, and making new memories with friends. As the world starts to reopen, I challenge you to open your mind too and put down the phone. Let's go out explore and live our best lives. We all came together because of the same passion - Jeeps - let's not forget the core message of why we're all about the Jeep life. We're in this together.
