In this day and age, everyone understands the power of a well-executed Valencia filter. But let’s get real: that morning muffin might have looked awash in a golden halo of soft light, but we all know that it was shoved into the depths of a purse about 60 seconds later for a crowded commute.
Everyday life is decidedly less glamorous than how many of us portray it on our various social media accounts – Instagram especially – and yet we are all guilty of liking and posting photos of beautifully arranged food/clothes/kids/flowers/selfies (the latter of which took no less than 25 failed attempts hidden inside an iPhone camera roll). So why not document the literal mess for once instead of the cropped and staged moments we’ve all come to expect from our friends and followers?
Real Simple Magazine has done just that by creating an Instagram account and hashtag campaign to, “[focus] on life’s messier moments,” which, rather ironically, somewhat contradicts its promise of a “Life Made Easier.” #WomenIRL, as a part of the account @WomenIRL, has taken Instagram by storm, sharing photos of women who shamelessly photograph the funny, messy and often-lackluster moments of everyday life that are not typically worthy of a social media share. Featuring chaotic toddlers, cooking fails and clothing mishaps, the account is a welcome reminder that what we share online is not the sum of our everyday experience; real life is much more chaotic, and in fact much more interesting, than what gets picked for a flattering filter. (I’m partial to Walden. It conveys the inner depths of my soul, but only when I try to make cleaning the litter box into a glamorous pastime).
Anyway, take a gander at @WomenIRL, hashtag the all-too-real seconds of your day, and remember that while there are times when a morning muffin is unbelievably poetic and lovely, so equally are those times when you get a blueberry stuck between your teeth. #Selfiegamestrong
images c/o: @WomenIRL
