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The 4 by 6 Clique

According to Instagram we're all living aesthetically pleasing lives, we're all in the clique.

Callie Rieder

Oct 22, 2016

New Orleans

Callie Rieder

Pics or it didn't happen.

180 likes.

1500 followers.

Insta worthy.

Image

We're obsessed, I'm obsessed! This reality check isn't pointing fingers, if anything I'm really talking to myself. Because I love Instagram. I love cute pictures, fluffy kittens, pretty smiles, hugging friends, sunshine and rainbows...you know all the quality, aesthetically pleasing times you find on this social media platform.

The thing is as much as I love Instagram...I hate it. People get bullied, upset over their number of likes, obsessed over the "perfect picture" and it becomes all consuming. You sit in class thinking of what you're doing this weekend and the perfect posed picture to post. At breakfast before you take a bite of deliciousness you're first thinking of snapping that picture. And the best is we take plandids. I was introduced to the plandid terminology this summer by a wonderful group of students, its a planned candid. (Don't lie we've all done it *laugh, smile, hair flip, click*) Because we're obsessed, its runs our life whether we want to admit it or not.

Here's the big kicker, it's all a lie. Those pictures all are smokescreens and lights to make this life look pretty, perfect, and in place. Life doesn't look like that. That "relationship goals" couple? They fight at night over communication problems. That ideal clique of friends? They all talk behind each others back. All those makeup flawless selfies? Sometimes cover up all the worries and insecurities.

It's

all

lie.

Were looking for a number of likes over being liked.

We pose for perfect plandids over creating honest moments.

We're trying so hard to capture beauty rather than admire it.

We want attention rather than connection.

What I'm trying to say is don't let Instagram be "goals" in any way in your life. Not relationship goals, not life goals, not workout goals, not food goals. Let it be life sharing and community creating, let it be uplifting. Let it stir something in you to put down the phone and strive for connection rather than attention. Seek for true aesthetic in life. One formal definition for aesthetic is "concerned with beauty".

So, rather than the perfect back drop or filter, whitened teeth and makeup, foamed coffee or cute kittens I want to be concerned with a different type of beauty. The beauty of people. I am concerned with the life I live and if it emulates beauty, beauty that draws attention to a greater purpose and deeper love. I don't want to have an image based off the number of likes, followers, or shares. I want my image to be of the beauty I surround myself with. Something bigger, something deeper, something from within. You can't capture that in a 4 by 6.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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The 4 by 6 Clique

According to Instagram we're all living aesthetically pleasing lives, we're all in the clique.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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