An old friend of mine posted on Instagram something that made me think. She posted about how she shares all her yoga pictures and outings with her partner but what we don’t see is her sometimes crippling anxiety and her chronic pain that sometimes makes it hard to get out of bed.

Social media is the idealized version of all our lives. But this isn’t news. There are so many self help articles on why social media is bad for our mental health. That’s why the accounts I follow are all book accounts, art accounts, thinkers and some famous people I don’t mind following.

I follow 7,500 people on social media and I barely look at their pages. I don’t know who these people are. Most were suggested to me through instagrams algorithm. Since I’m writing a novel and I know social media presence is important when trying to be brought on by a publisher I follow as many people as possible. It’s funny though, I barely scroll through my feed. There are certain people that I check in on because their content has a positive affect on me but other then that I have no clue who I follow.

I love seeing the book aesthetic and art. I’m drawn to these accounts and those are the accounts that are advertised to me.

I deleted all my social media and decided to focus on Instagram. I have three Instagram accounts that are half for fun and half to help me when it comes to publishing my novel.

My bookstagram is my favourite page. I also have an inspiring quotes page and a fashion page. I am no fashionista. I wear simple clothes but I always wanted to have a fashion page after reading Anna Wintour’s quote “I’m also interested in seeing just the girl on the street because she is unlike any other. I’m inspired by whatever it is she might be wearing.” We are all that girl on the street. We all like different styles and colour patterns. We like different textures and patterns. I just want to showcase for fun what I wear everyday even if it’s simple. I’m one of those girls on the street. And it makes me think more about my wardrobe and how to inspire customers to style themselves. It’s just something I’ve always thought about. I look in the mirror and want everything to reflect who I am on the inside and wardrobe can help with that.

For years I was subscribed to Elle magazine and Canada’s Fashion magazine. I unsubscribed because magazines now are mostly filled with advertising. But I always wanted to feel good in what I’m wearing and to share that even when they aren’t from luxury stores is important to show people wherever you shop whatever your budget is you can look and feel good about yourself.

I live with chronic pain. Daily my back acts up on me and by the end of the day I’m in varying amounts of pain. My right leg has nerve damage so my toes burn and I get pain in my calf, knee. My muscles in my back hurt for varying reasons but I don’t let it ruin my life. Some nights are harder then others but overall I’m happy with the life I’m living and the path I’m on.

I have many interests but decided to focus on the three that bring me the most joy, books, inspiring words and fashion. I don’t have a state of the art camera and I don’t take artsy pictures. I take simple selfies and simple book stacks using my condo and furniture as the back drop because this is my world I’m in everyday, my life and sharing part of that, how simple it is I hope will inspire people who aren’t happy because their life isn’t luxurious. Iced Tea or Lemonade on your porch or in the backyard can be luxurious. Tea on your couch can be cozy like a winter getaway. In these economic times with inflation and war prices are skyrocketing so knowing how to make the simple luxurious is important. Practicing gratitude daily is important to focus on the good in your life. We are still in a global pandemic no matter how you look at it people are still getting sick. So much is happening in the world right now that focusing on all this negative will bring you down, stress you out, give you anxiety. People are trying to keep food on the table. Companies are still trying to stay afloat in this new landscape. Yet here I am having a luxurious night in with my partner. Watching our stories and drinking honey lemon teas cozied up on the couch. Like there is nothing wrong in the world.