So there is a trend going on with the youth these days.  Actually, it’s not just the youth, it’s pretty much anyone who owns a phone with a camera on it.  This trend started once camera phones came into existence.  The infamous selfie!  What is a “selfie” you ask?  Well, it’s a picture that a person takes of him/herself, particularly focusing on a close up of the face.

The reason why I am writing about this trend is because I was driving down my driveway about a week ago and noticed a young girl (probably about 14-16) stop right in the middle of the driveway to take a “selfie”.  This didn’t bother me in the least, it was just something that I noticed and was aware of.  The following day, I was again driving back home and noticed the very same girl stop in the exact same position as the day before, to take another “selfie”.  This time, however, it did bother me.  It made me wonder, what is the need for this young girl to take the exact same picture of herself, in the exact same pose, with the same background, just with a slight different look (as in different clothes), again.  It then made me think how many other pictures of herself did she take in the exact same position.  What is this obsessive need that people have these days of wanting to look at themselves over and over again? I mean carry a damn mirror if that’s the case!

I then started thinking about this trend that everyone is following.  Taking pictures of themselves looking exactly the same way they did in every picture they took.  This trend promotes low self-esteem and a heap of other negative things.  I am all for taking nice pictures and wanting to feel and look good.  I myself am a “selfie” taker when I feel I look extremely attractive or I want to show off.  But, what bothers me is that this trend is creating obsessive characteristics in people.  People are becoming vain, obsessive and needy for attention.

A picture is supposed to capture a moment in time that you want to remember.  How many times can a person look at themselves being captured in the same moment every moment?  It just doesn’t make any sense.  Once in a while, I understand.  Even every week I understand.  But taking a “selfie” every day, multiple times a day?  Is that even healthy?  If you are a notorious “selfie” taker, I suggest you get some help.

I think you may need to look into your soul and ask yourself a series of deep meaningful questions that require honesty about why you have such a need to take selfies.  This is not to insult you or make you feel like I’m judging you, it’s simply to bring awareness to a deep seated issue that maybe you’re not seeing at the moment.  I find people who are constantly taking selfies are trying to fulfill something that they are unaware of.  That is why I suggest, you ask yourself what it is you really need and want out of your life.  So, I end by saying, I cannot wait for this trend to be over, because I think many of us can be using our minds and talent for much greater things than taking “selfies”.

“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously.  A person may be proud without being vain.  Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us”. ~ Jane Austen