On Snapchat, there is a feature called "snapstreaks" which identifies when you have exchanged snaps with a person for at least three consecutive days.
When it comes to snapstreaks, identified with a fire emoji, there comes the responsibility of upholding it. Although this may sound silly or of no significance to some, but I'm here to talk to those who put more value into this than they ever should.
Let's say you meet a cute boy, a new friend, you add each other on Snapchat, all is going well. You have a steady streak going now and whether it's in the beginning or later stages of this potential (or solid) relationship, you see the hourglass begin to turn. Will they break it? But this is the only time we talk...
This is where you've made a mistake.
I have even made this mistake. Not only with a crush, but with people I thought I had a strong friendship with. Placing value in something that means absolutely nothing. It's embarrassing thinking about it now, how Snapchat is almost this hierarchy for each individual person that potentially determines your importance to them. The yellow heart indicating you're each other's best friend? You know, the one you stole from an unsuspecting victim wondering who could have possibly taken their place? It may seem like an achievement at first, but later when you find yourself sending each other snapchats of the ceiling or floor to avoid the hourglass timer just to see a number go up every passing day, it's just so empty. Your conversations lack substance. Your snapstreak becomes a chore.
It's like when you go to hang out with someone you used to be extremely close to, everybody knew how inseparable you were, and the conversations switched from the depth of life and the universe to... weather.
The point is you should never allow anybody or anything, especially social media, to overshadow your confidence in a friendship with doubt and constant worry about not being enough. That you have to uphold a streak to uphold the relationship. Because nobody wants to let go of someone they value. It hurts! That's why some find it hard to break a streak with those people, but they don't value you. They simply value the streak.
Face it, you wouldn't speak to half the people you probably have a streak with right now if it were to break.
Break it.
Break some or even all of your streaks. Put your phone down. Go out and talk to people the way we are meant to. You can't keep living through the black mirrors we constantly broadcast our lives through.
Try to avoid the siren song of social media and enjoy the seasons as they come before you miss out on experiences you find yourself regretfully thinking, "I wish I had been there." Sure, you can always take a picture or snap for your story to show everyone you were physically there, but that's not what I mean. You need to have been there.
So, stop seeking the approval of others through social media, or in person, because if they were meant to be in your life, they would have made it work. If not, that's OK, too! Keep going!
Having channeled the essence of every one of our parents, I truly hope you give this a shot.
