Okay, there’s a lot going on this year, but the popularity of TikTok just might be a blessing in disguise. Aside from allowing people to express their creativity in a bunch of new ways, we’ve also got some great viral sounds that can make you laugh, make you feel confident … maybe even inspire you to be your best self?
For the record, this article is not meant to sound like a “Live, Laugh, Love” sign (perhaps more “Alive ahaha…. F*ck”), because let’s face it, this year has been an absolute garbage fire and things don’t seem to be getting all that much better anytime soon. But maybe, just maybe there’s some truth to romanticizing your life and treating yourself like the main character – maybe this is the new way to self-care as we know it.
A few months ago, everyone put on some sparkly, glossy-looking filters and started “romanticizing” their lives, with the audio by user Ashley Ward (“A Moment Apart – ODESZA”), telling us to do just this:
“You have to start romanticizing your life. You have to start thinking of yourself as the main character because if you don’t — life will continue to pass you by. And all the little things that make it so beautiful will continue to go unnoticed. So take a second, and look around and realize that it’s a blessing for you to be here right now.”
Okay, this totally sounds like a HomeGoods “Live, Laugh, Love” sign, but it’s kind of nice when you think about it. It encouraged a months-long “Are you the main character” trend, along with people posting their everyday moments with this sound and some glossy filters to make it a little more dreamy.
As a lover of aesthetics anyway, I’m a fan of the whole “romanticizing your life” idea; finding beauty in little moments in life, appreciating the mundane, the every day (it’s your only life, so you’ve gotta live it right?) – but trying to live in the moment is not as easy.
I think it’s easy to post about your life and living in the moment, but it’s easy to post the most interesting and pretty parts (especially when you’ve got filters that make your life look dreamy), but a reminder: not everyone’s life is as interesting as they make it.
That being said, I do think that there’s some truth to be had about this gentle, whimsical sound. Especially this year, we’ve all had a difficult time in one way or another (“2020 was the best year of my life” – said no one ever), and everyone’s mental health seems to be on the decline, there has to be a little something that sparks enjoyment. There has to be – otherwise, what’s the point?
Being positive, I suppose, is another way to put this, and listen, especially now, it really isn’t easy. But you only live once, and the world doesn’t (fully) stop in the middle of the pandemic. You can still enjoy things (safely!) and there are still ways to get enjoyment out of your life (again, safely). This year has been so incredibly hard, it’s worth enjoying the things that you can enjoy even when nothing is going right – it could help your mental health more than you think.
And whether it means doing the bare minimum to feel good or doing special little things for yourself, maybe TikTok has a point – maybe you should start romanticizing your life. Every moment is unique from your perspective, it’s not going to be like this forever, and it’s only yours. Find the good and the beauty in the mundane, see what happens. It’s worth it because even if it teaches you to love yourself and what you got just a little bit more, it might just make life feel a little more worth it in times like these when you need it most.