I have been using Instagram the way that I want for several months now. However, there was a time when I used Instagram the way I thought everyone else wanted me to. How lame is that? Super lame. Today, I happily post whatever I want, whenever I want to. It's been great, I have no complaints. I usually post just one photo a day. I do not feel the need, however, to post a photo every single day. I participate in “throw back Thursdays” and occasionally share a “woman crush Wednesday” or “man crush Monday.” My “crush” days are generally devoted to my girlfriends or are humorous posts about how single I am. I post all kinds of photos, including the occasional selfie.

I eventually got sick of the selfie stigma that I now take full advantage of when I stumble into some good lighting or have on the perfect shade of lipstick. This is because sometimes I think I look pretty, and that’s OK. When I feel pretty, people may assume I’m vain for posting a selfie. But when I don’t feel pretty I receive pity compliments, such as, "You always look fine, don't worry about it, girl!" Likewise, when I vocalize my annoyance with my appearance, it comes across as if I’m fishing for compliments. Sometimes I feel pretty and sometimes I don’t. That’s it. I don’t actually owe anyone an explanation for either of those feelings or for any selfies that may go along with them. And neither do you. Post a selfie if you feel pretty. Post a selfie if you feel ugly. Post a selfie if you want to. Post what you want.

Here is what Instagram has to say about itself: “Instagram is a fun and quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures. Snap a photo with your mobile phone, then choose a filter to transform the image into a memory to keep around forever. We're building Instagram to allow you to experience moments in your friends' lives through pictures as they happen. We imagine a world more connected through photos.”

You’re damn right, Instagram. It is fun and quirky. I do transform my photos with filters sometimes. It does allow me to save memories. And I do make connections with others through photos! Looks like I’ve got this Instagram thing down. Instagram’s statement is positive, fun and easy-going. So why did I ever take this so seriously? How did I get wrapped up in what others would have to say about my account?

The attitudes people have toward Instagram vary, but I asked two of my friends about it and here is what they had to say. The first response I received read, “I use Instagram as my main place to post photos of stuff happening in my life. I don’t really have a system of posting posts, I just post them as I take them and think of witty captions. And I think it shows the parts of my life that I think people would be more interested in seeing and knowing.” The second read, “I use Instagram to post photos that make my life seem better than anyone else’s. So I post about traveling and important events. And if I post about a friend, I love them lots. I choose the best picture. It’s usually the cutest or one that gets my point across. Instagram is only an accurate depiction of the fun half of life.” These are two similar and yet very different responses. Both friends of mine are female and frequently Instagram. The girls each live in different states and lead very different lives. These things could account for the differences between their responses. However, both of them have something big in common. They both mention something about using Instagram to share their lives with others in a somewhat misleading way.

A lot of people express concern regarding the idea that nobody’s Instagram is a true representation of one's life. Shots posted to Instagram took time and effort to get just right. But that’s still real in my eyes. The event, adventure, or moment still happened. While it is true that pictures can be deceiving of people's true feelings, I find it to be ridiculous when people call others fake. Maybe people don’t take photos the way you do, but they wanted to post a photo that way, so they did. People are going to post what they want to portray their lives the way they wish. My second friend, who talked about wanting to express that her life as being better than anyone else’s? That is the way she uses Instagram, and it's great because it's so her. Looking back at Instagram's statement, this is why the app exists. It allows people to express their life through a series of photos the way they wish.

Now, actual fake Instagram posts are an issue related to this. For example, people who have a lot of followers might be asked to model certain clothing or to take photos at certain places with products. An example of this can be found in an Elite Daily article about a former Instagram model who exposed the truth behind her posts. She wanted to show the world the truth behind her photos was not as happy as the photos looked to be. This should be noted. It is important to recognize that these photos can represent unrealistic lifestyles. However, there is no reason to shame folks who use Instagram this way. They've decided to use their account for ads, so who am I to take that away from them?

I will leave you with some friendly advice: don't worry about what other people post on their Instagram. Don’t worry about people's “like” count. Don’t worry about the filter they went with. Don't worry about the selfies. Stop stressing over how much people use Instagram. Respect others. Follow people you relate to, are friends with, or enjoy sharing photos with. Follow celebrities if you want. Use Instagram the way you want to. And one last thing: don't forget about that handy dandy unfollow button; It's there if you need it.