perspective

I've seen fb posts asking for pictures of smiling mothers, or cute pets, or friendship messages to 'flood facebook with positivity', in an effort to blot out the negative posts. Not one to post much myself, I usually don't respond, but it got me to thinking, what do people usually see in facebook? I can imagine a lot of trolling, bad news, anger and frustration, but I don't see much of it when I scroll, and I certainly don't click to zoom if I do. I see lots of jokes, people laughing, food shots (some not so appetizing). And of course, the token vanity selfies. 

When I read the news, there's a lot of greed, corruption, abuse, and now, sickness and death. It is depressing, and makes me think, what a horrible world this is, I just want to hide under a rock.

But I think again, to the last time I was "out there", and remember.. the bank teller who always has a smile for everyone (and it's not plastered on). the man at the checkout counter who let me pay first because I had just a couple of items. the driver that let me pass as I tried to cross the street. And then I see, that no, it's not a horrible world, at least not where I live. 

Not to say that we should put blinders on, and pretend the horror isn't there. But if we put it in perspective, and act nevertheless with kindness, see with understanding rather than bias, then the horror becomes small and distant, almost unreal. 

Same thing happens on facebook. If you focus on the posts that give joy, then that's what you get as well.

As with the world, facebook is what you make it.