Negativity. It’s a harsh word. It’s a hurricane, a whirlwind, a natural disaster of a word, bringing destruction and grief for everyone. I’ve noticed, with the 10 years of social media experience that I have under my belt, that negativity is becoming a huge deal recently. It has pretty much always been a big deal living in the digital age, but I think now that there are so many forms of social media and easy access to so many people's feelings, this has become a current issue. What gets at me the most is how incredibly easy it is to stop yourself from saying something negative.

Unfortunately, this epidemic of social media negativeness can protrude itself into anyone in this generation’s lifetime. Celebrities, teachers, siblings, boys, girls, everyone, myself included. If it can happen to Taylor Swift, it can happen to you (or Chloe Grace Moretz or any other gorgeous superstar). Of course, it’s incredibly easy to say something negative online, that’s why it happens so often. However, it is absolutely just as easy, if not easier, to not say anything at all. Or better yet, say something nice. Bring happiness to someone’s day. DELETE WHAT YOU JUST TYPED AND THINK ABOUT IT. This requires literally no effort at all.

There are so many horrible things happening in this world, so much anger is relevant in our everyday society, let’s all just take an hour, 15 minutes, 3 seconds to decide against being negative and add something positive to this hyperactive, social atmosphere that we live in today. I’ll give you some suggestions. 25 suggestions on what you could do instead of being negative. Here goes:

1. Make it about someone else - in a positive way. It’s not all about you.
2. Make a note in your phone and sit on it for a day. You will most likely not want to send it tomorrow.
3. Hug your animal. Dog, cat, gerbil. You’ll feel better.
4. Write a list of all the things you love about your best friends. Give it to them later.
5. Talk to your mom. It’s not gossiping if it’s your mom.
6. LOG OFF.
7. Look up pictures of Peonies in matte black boxes. Seriously, they’re gorgeous and a better use of your time.
8. Look up pictures of any puppies at all.
9. Post the cutest picture you can find of your favorite puppy.
10. Take a run. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t kill their husbands (or online bully)
11. Watch Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. Or any other underrated romcom.
12. Switch from Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat to Pinterest. Everyone just wants to help on Pinterest.
13. Write down all the things you like about yourself instead. Loving yourself comes first.
14. Challenge yourself to delete social media for as long as you can. Create goals, a day, a week, a month, ect.
15. Write a book. Put your quick hands to good use. The idea for Mean girls came from a book, ladies.
16. Repeat The Golden Rule to yourself over and over. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
17. Become a kindergarten teacher. We could all use a few refresher lessons from kindergarten.
18. Ask yourself: will this make me feel better about myself?
19. Ask yourself: would I want someone to say this to me?
20. Ask yourself: will this comment matter to me in a year?
21. Remember your mom’s rule: if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
22. Practice saying what you want to say online outloud. If you can’t say it to your mirror don’t say it online.
23. Practice saying what you want to say online to your pet. If you can’t say it to your pet you DEFINITELY shouldn’t say it online.
24. Write your comment out onto an actual letter. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable sending it to someone, don’t write it.
25. Think about the type of person you want people to perceive you as. Think about the best you you can be and become that person. You can do it. Now delete the tweet/comment/text and do something more productive with your time. Like seriously, look at peonies, they’re beautiful. ;)