Every morning, I get up early and meditate…then I get a cup of coffee, and scroll through my Instagram feed. I’ve made friends on Instagram…I can’t wait to see what those friends are wearing, doing and eating. I make comments, I always smile at what people post, and it’s a fun part of my day that I look forward to. On Blackout Tuesday, when I woke up to mostly an all black Instagram feed, it felt really weird. While I completely understand and support what went on, I kind of missed my ritual of getting a glimpse into the lives of the people that I’ve come to know on Instagram.

One thing I love about Instagram is that we get to share our lives with others in a creative way. The need to create, for me, has always been there and has been expressed in different ways over the years. I’ve always loved to cook and make food look beautiful, and starting a catering business was my first creative endeavor. I love to paint, and really wish I had the time…maybe I’ll pack a canvas and take it to the beach this summer. I’m also learning to become a better photographer and learning about my camera is just part of it. The other important part is being able to capture special moments and portray a feeling with pictures. However, as you know, this blog has become my creative outlet and Instagram is an extension of that.

I share on Instagram every day and I think sharing is important for people who consider themselves to be creative, even though I believe we are all creative in some way. When I see what others share, it’s also a form of listening…reading their quotes and feelings about many different things. Reading, on Instagram, and of course in other ways, (books, blogs, etc.), what people have to say and how they feel about something is a conversation about hopes, fears and dreams. Sharing our lives can have an impact on the lives of others, even if it just brings a smile. During the last few months, when our new normal was completely turned upside down, sharing and being part of my Instagram community has helped me to feel uplifted and also inspired to be more creative. I love the visual of a pretty picture, reading a message that someone wants to share, or learning about a new way of doing something. The world needs sharing - a glimpse into the lives of others who live differently than we do, and I believe that spreading a positive message, a beautiful picture, a quote, etc. can make a difference.

Having said all of that, I’ve realized that my Instagram feed is, for the most part, full of people who look and are similar to me. That has started to change as people share black fashion designers, companies and activists. I’ve followed accounts that will make me think outside the box, show me new perspectives and expand my world. Here are a few of the accounts I’ve followed…I hope you’ll take a look.

@sweetpotatosoul - this account is jus t fun and the pictures of food make me hungry!

@darrylcarterdesign - beautiful interiors

@plantbasedrd - amazing plant based recipes

@justinablakeney - colorful interior design

@laylafsaad - inspiring and thought provoking

@aliette - fabulous fashion

The whole situation in our country has caused so much discomfort and I’ve chosen to watch things that have disturbed me instead of looking the other way in an effort to understand the emotions of the protestors and the fear and rage that has been unleashed in this country. I also want to be more a part of communities that are different than mine in the hope that I will gain a better understanding of what is going on and how I can be part of positive change.

It is important to me that out of respect for people are hurting that my posts continue to be thoughtful and also helpful. I would love for you to share any thoughts on this and also any other Instagram accounts that you are following. Thanks so much for reading today!