I’ve seen so many online discussions about the use of social media lately, where people have been questioning their habits, attempting to be more “authentic” with their posts, and declaring much-needed breaks from certain sites. The general sense I get is that my media-entrenched contemporaries have become disenchanted with the status quo.

I have a different perspective. Finding things to post on Facebook and Instagram for me is a CONSTANT reminder to look for the good, the joyous, the gratitude-inducing. And any time I’ve taken an unintentional break, it’s because I’ve become overwhelmed and depressed and lost sight of the beauty in our lives.

Our days are mostly stressful and overwhelming and messy. Right now Dylan’s sick, Shawn’s recovering from an ear infection, I have a broken rib that’s still healing (not as quickly as I’d hoped), I need to schedule surgeries for both boys (ear tubes for Shawn, tonsils out for Dylan) which will be expensive and especially intense for kids on the autism spectrum, pretty much ALL of our furniture needs replacing (seriously our couch is 13 years old), our kitchen sink is leaking…the list goes on.

But then there’s Instagram, reminding me notice the happy and beautiful things each day.

Fluffy cotton-ball clouds and Queen Anne’s lace blooming and sitting down for a lovingly-cooked meal with my husband.

Yes please.

Shawn’s extra curly hair in the summer and watercolor sunrises and the first strawberries of the season from the farmer’s market.

Yes please.

Mushrooms found on nature walks and Dylan’s drawings and a perfectly made cup of coffee.

Yes please.