In a world full of likes, Is anyone their authentic self anymore? I recently watched an episode of Black Mirror. A Netflix series that offers a series of different stories about how technology could possibly affect mankind if we stay on our current path. In the episode titled Nosedive, people are able to rate you with an app based on your interaction with them. You can receive up to 5 stars, and then you are given an average. With people being at least a 4.5 or higher looked as at as the social elite, while those with 2.5 and below looked as an the bottom tier of the social ladder. The episode revolves around the main character trying to go from a 3.5 to a 3.8 in order to receive a 20% discount on a nice new apartment. At first everything seemed feasible. She would make a great speech as the made of honor in her old friends wedding and the guest, all 4.5 or higher, would be so impressed with her speech that they would give her at least 4 stars raising her rating. Murphy’s Law took hold and nothing went to plan. Without spoiling the episode, everything that could go wrong went wrong and she actually ended up hurting her rating more than she helped it.

Watching the episode got me to thinking. What if we evolved to a point where likes became our currency? We consume so much content as it is, and we all know that one person who seems like they would post anything for a like. Receiving likes is really nothing new. The only thing that has changed is now we have a way to quantify those likes. It may not be said, but there is an underlying rule that the more likes you get the more popular you are.

My question is, with people seeking likes, and some willing to do anything to get one. Does authenticity still exist? Is anyone their authentic self anymore. Social Media gives us the ability to show only the aspects of our lives we would like to share. For example, I got my nickname “Champagne Dame” from my IG because there are several pictures of me popping bottles. What’s rarely seen is my more difficult moments. This isn’t necessarily bad. Most people are hesitant to show the more vulnerable side of themselves on social media.

I believe their are some people who do show their authentic selves on social media. I know I try my best too. I try to share Dash as much as I share Damein. My point is, don’t loose yourself. We want likes on social media because we want to be liked in real life. There is nothing wrong with that. Human beings need that affirmation, but don’t lose yourself in the process. I once saw a kid eat a piece of shit on vine because he got 500 likes. We should never get to that point. He literally grabbed a piece of shit from the toilet and ate it for 500 likes. Some call it sick, I call it sad. We can’t lose ourselves or our self respect for likes because at that point you are no longer your authentic self. You are who you think, people want you to be.

I recently watched an interview with Ace Hood on The Breakfast Club.  In the interview he touched briefly on why he decided to split from DJ Khaled.  Of course The Breakfast Club hosts were puzzled as to why he would want to leave such a successful situation.  Ace Hood has enjoyed platinum level success while working with and under DJ Khaled. They were wondering why any artist would want to leave arguably one of the most successful DJs in the world right now.  Listening to Ace Hood explain his situation reminded me of another  situation captivating people right now.   Kyrie Irving requested to be traded from the Cleveland Cavilers.   Since LeBron’s return to Cleveland the Cav’s have made it to three straight NBA finals, and even came back from being down 3-1 in the 2016 NBA finals to win it all.

Kyrie requesting a trade left many people confused and wondering why. Why would you leave a team and an opportunity to play with arguably the best player in the league.  You’ve went to 3 straight NBA Finals and you were looking like a lock for the finals next year and the year after that.  Why would you leave a position like that? The word was that Kyrie left because he wanted to be “the man.” He wanted his own show.

Watching Ace Hood’s interview and Kyrie Irving’s story unfold, it got me to thinking.  I understand why both men would want to leave such a successful situation, working with two of the best people in their respective crafts.  Ace Hood explained that he had no ill will toward DJ Khaled and he would always consider DJ Khaled a friend and brother.  He would always be appreciative of what DJ Khaled  did for him and his career.  Ace Hood wanted to forge his own path. He felt like he had more to offer and he wouldn’t be able to do that under DJ Khaled.  He had to strike out on his own.  I think Kyrie had the same sentiment as Ace Hood.  Kyrie had more to offer and he felt like he would never be able to do that playing with LeBron James.

I completely understand that feeling.  Sometimes in order for us to reach our full potential we have to step out on faith.  This may mean leaving a very successful known situation for a very rocky unknown situation.  Comfort breeds complacency, and complacency can lead to laziness.  Being to comfortable can cause us to stop striving or stop pushing ourselves to get better.  Sometimes it takes being in an uncomfortable situation to test who and what you really are.  Never be afraid to step out on faith. Maybe it will make you better, maybe it wont, but in the end you will learn from the situation.

https://youtu.be/rLN2FaYIHv4 

I recently returned home from a year and a half deployment overseas.  Being gone so long taught me so much about life, myself, and people.  Now the true test begins As to be expected, there were some struggles with reintegrating and reacclimatizing myself back into what used to be my normal routine.  It has truly been a challenge.

The toughest part is feeling so in place, but out of place. You feel like you belong, but then you don’t.  You think you’ve missed out on so much that simple things are now a bit foreign.  You’ve missed so many great moments, that you’re an outsider to people and things that used to be so familiar. The look in people’s eyes when they see you is a strange one.  Friends and family look at you different, but you want them to see you the same.  At times you catch them looking into your eyes and they can tell that a part of you has changed.  You don’t see the world the same.

All in all, I truly have to take it one day at a time.  Everyday is a challenge, but it is also a new opportunity to get better.  Reintegrating is a process that doesn’t happen over night.  Like all processes it takes time and we have to let the process work itself.