#WriterRevelations: The Power of Being Positive (Social Media)

Lately, it seems to me that the trend on social media is to be negative, pessimistic, or bragging. Or all three if you are really popular on social media. Here I was hoping that those rude and hateful posts would go away following the election of 2016. Yet, here we are, in 2017, and people are really becoming as the Bible says they would in 2 Timothy 3.

I have started to post less on Facebook (or as I call it Fakebook) mostly because people don't see my posts or they just ignore my posts on there. I've heard from others that it's not just me and it has to do with the algorithm Facebook encrypted into its server in 2015. Now Twitter seems to also be suffering from the same problem, and that makes me even more sad because I really enjoyed tweeting. I have been an avid user since when it started up in 2009, and I even helped celebrities like Ryan Sheckler learn about it.

Now everyone uses it and I feel as though people ruined it.

It used to feel like a safe space but now, I get all types of judgement from whatever I post there.

The social media platform I never expected to like was Instagram. What I had heard from the media was that Instagram was full of Selfies. The media once again hit us with a bit of fake news.

Actually, the nicest, most sincere people I've never met (and some I have) are on Instagram. People will support whatever you post there and guess what was even more surprising?!

Positive people thrive there!

I went from starting my Instagram with 200 followers and now I have almost 800, and I truly believe that the sole reason for that is because I always post motivational and positive quotes.

In college, my walls were covered from ceiling to floor with motivational and positive confessions and quotes because

The funny thing was I caught a lot of flack for it. Some people were actually truly hateful toward my #positiveonly vibes. One guy I was friendly with once said to me,

"You truly believe and see good in everything?" 

I replied, Yeah, it's better to be that way.

He retorted with, "No, it's not. It's not realistic. It's better to see things for what they are instead of for what they can be." 

I've been through some serious shit and I'm sure most people reading this have too in some way, shape, or form. Or maybe you identify with being hated on for who you are. Let this post be your motivation to keep on being that same positive, extremely valuable, love-worthy human being no matter how people treat you. Turn it into a positive: Keep being a light.

We all do it. That subtle offense we take when someone ignores our text, our post on social media, or the major offense we take when someone questions or argues with us via our posts. Whether it's on social media or in real life, you are better to just love people and pay no mind to whether they give you recognition. Besides, that offense comes from our pride, and pride is a deceitful little beast we should all tell more often to be quiet and remind ourselves that it isn't all about ME! 

Stop being so gosh darn selfish and I promise you, good things will start chasing you down and your positivity will attract all the right people but even if it's slow in coming, God always loves you and that's a great foundational truth to build your life on. 

Last month I wrote about diligence and I have to update you all that I finally faced my fears and drove on the real road. For all the shenanigans, check it out here.

If you are having trouble facing a fear, call to mind Moses didn't think he was the right person to deliver the Israelites from out of Egypt but God knew he was not only called but chosen:

And I'm not saying I never have a sad day but I choose to never let a sad day define me or ruin God's great plans for me, and sometimes I even take my frustrations and use them to further motivate me. When life is difficult and you don't know where to turn or who to talk to, start with this confession, write it out on Tumblr, and talk to God or a close friend. And always remember, suicide is never the answer!

Until next time, remember I love you and pray for you daily!

Choose encouragement over offense and you will live a long and happy life, I can guarantee it!

If you read this blog and it gave you positive vibes, please feel free to share it or the graphics with your social media network. Let's create a wave of #positivevibesonly and see how it ripples around the entire world!

In Christ-Like Love and Confidence,

Chelsea

xoxo

#PoetryPower: Happy Medium

I was kinda quiet during the month of April because I was trying to work hard on my writing projects as well as other stuff. I decided that I was going to write a stanza every day in the month of April but once the flow of the piece I was working on took over, I ended up with 35 stanzas. I edited the piece and it follows below:

What's The Difference 

Between 

Keeping Quiet

and Suffering in Silence?

It's one breath between

swallowing

A thousand pins

While being stabbed 

Repeatedly in the gut

Trouble slams the door

repeatedly

while I sleep

There's nothing worse 

for me 

than an interrupted dream

I crave it like Godiva

Covered in whipped cream

A chocolate covered strawberry

Dripping in melted desire

I think I'm just hungry for love

I have no appetite for casual hook-ups

kissing and telling

Having my freak

out in the streets

no matter how good I turn out and up 

in the sheets

How long until I can finally be me?

Judgemental comments 

Pierce my ears

Judgemental 

Condescending eyes

Dirty looks

It seems my bae

found a new bae

that ain't me

Everyone moves on 

without me.

No one sticks around

to ride the waves of life with me;

They just stop hitting me up,

They just leave.

What makes people stay?

Giving them their own way

A healthy hookup of 

give and take,

heavily weighted compromise.

Look me in the eyes

See the betrayal

The frustration

The bitterness of being

through the ringer

Seeing things no young human 

should; not saying things I wished 

I would

Doing everything the critics

said I couldn't.

I know what they saying but I promise that

I'm cool tho

God says that I'm fearfully and wonderfully made

Plus he pays my bills, gives me chills, calms the thrills 

pulsing through my veins

I'm enough for him

For now I'm content

Heaven will send

Me a man who

loves me the same

Worships Jesus 

Loves me tenderly

Fanboys my writing

Kisses me softly in public

Hardly can stand the thought

of waking up without me

Entangled in sheets

Swaddled in love,

Just us becoming we.

Romances me

Sweeps me off my feet

Just with the way

He enunciates my name

Each syllable

a chord in

the love song; 

the love story.

A girl can dream

even if she never sleeps.

You must have an 

xylophone 

in your belly

because

every sentence

you symphonize

Each phrase

rings in my ears

on the right key

Making it hard to forget

your melody

Like a radio earworm

on repeat

I'm stuck between killing myself

or them 

Since either one of us is

better off dead.

I'm less interested

in the chase of having someone

More interested in someone 

who relentlessly pursues me

Oppressed by a system 

that tracks my every move

just to prove

I'm worth the cost of EBT

College graduate;

worthless degree

Not in the talking stage 

with anyone

as I mentioned before

bae got a new bae

So I showed him

the door

The most talking I do 

with anyone;

the drive-thru 

window 

at Dunkin Donuts.

All fat; no luck

My own ghetto

Starbucks.

I'm loving this detox.

Have you ever drank

kale through a straw

so the scale number 

wasn't so raw and ruthless?

Swimsuit season

Fast Approaching

Sweeping in faster

Than Florida humidity

in April

Wonder what a cold season is

As I thaw out from the ice just served to me

In the look my sister just steered straight for me

Like a zamboni with no brakes

All caked on make-up

No true face.

Guess I've got to let go of you;

The idea of you and I.

Not yet a we.

Separated by pride;

Stubborn point of view.

My thoughts have made my head

Heavy

Lately you've been on my mind

though we haven't spoken in years

All your fault 

must be another pride

thing

I should have never

written 

you that letter

With that letter in your hand

I severed our good karma

positive vibes

I never got a hello or goodbye

you just stopped coming to my

 neighborhood

Most likely because you don't want

the invisible leprosy 

I have all over me

It's so contagious

It's affected my mind

My perception 

of me

Am I really being myself or fooling myself

to think

this is the live I want to live

Did I ever 

Have a choice?

~Chelsea DeVries~

Love Times Infinity,

Chelsea

xoxo

God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

#WriterWednesday: Why I Deleted My Tinder

Spoiler Alert: It's not for the reasons you are thinking. No, I am not off the market. I am not settling down with a studly man and moving into his Great Gatsby style mansion.

I got a Tinder account because my sister basically put a metaphorical gun to my head and blatantly seemed like she was concerned that I don't put myself out there enough.

I was perfectly okay with creating one because I love meeting new people and I like talking to people. Yet, I knew when I made the account, that I was never going to go on a date with any of the guys I talked on there with.

Why?

I don't like dating. And I know that comes off really weird simply because I have no experience with dating but it's because for the most part, I already know what I am looking for in a man and can tell if he's someone I can develop a relationship with even before we go on a date.

What's the secret?

Tinder is known for being a sex app. And people every day use it for that sole purpose. Yet, I wasn't one of those people.

See, for every guy that messaged me on there, I could instantly tell if he was just on there for sex and to buy me a drank, or if he really wanted to get to know me.

It's no mystery that guys don't really like texting. Yet, for me, if a guy can hold a descent conversation via text or in this case, Tinder, I will not only give him my number but I will also open up to him.

The true test of whether a guy is worth my time is how he reacts when he finds out I'm not only a writer but I'm already published.

As a girl who since my teens has a habit of obsessing and fangirling over guys I like (celebrity or average joes alike), I finally realized why Tinder didn't work for me.

When it comes down to it, one trait I am looking for in a potential mate or date is that they are willing to become my biggest fan. As a writer and also as a person, I face rejection every single day. Now I know I'm not alone there but still, it's a little hard to be me.

The reason I decided to delete my Tinder is because I was snapping and texting a few guys from Tinder about a new poem I wrote. The reason I told everyone about it is because I figured it wasn't a crime to share my writing with them. I had talked to them for a good month or so and figured what would be the harm in sharing a poem with everyone. I mean it was on my public blog.

As a result, I found out that a lot of the guys were not supportive in the slightest. A few wrote back: "Are you looking for more followers? others said, "Is this an ad?" It really hurt at first because they showed absolutely no interest in my writing and my writing is a reflection of me especially when it comes to poetry. With poetry, I really release a lot of emotions I've been experiencing.

One guy texted me this: It's a thought provoking piece that may or may not intimidate a prospective lover.

It all comes down to me being too intimidating. Ahahaha story of my life.

Well at least that guy was honest. Which is why I've deleted my Tinder.

When it comes to love, I'm not interested in settling at being anyone less than who I am:

Bold
Colorful
Creative
Emotional
Mouthy (especially when I have too much coffee)
Addicted to coffee
and reading a good book
lover of Jesus
doesn't trust people too easily
because of the rejection I've faced throughout my life
College educated
Loves working out but likes a good cookie or brownie every now and then
Dog guru

Who also happens to be someone who refuses to settle inside a man's shadow and I set out every day to do something to make my dreams a reality and in the meantime, I hope I inspire you to do the same, and be all you are and never let anyone tell you that you intimidate them or to tone down who you are for them.

Speaking of not giving up or toning myself down for anyone, I recently shared that I left Chanillo.com. Yet, I know a lot of you wanted to read my new re-write project, Kickflip My Heart.

You can do that here. ABSOLUTELY FREE I MIGHT ADD. So far, only the first two chapters are up but once I reach 100 views, I will add another installment.

Until next time remember,

Love Times Infinity,

Chelsea

xoxo

God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~