#STOPDROPANDSPIN!.... NOW!!

Hoopers had quite an exciting week in social media! On Tuesday afternoon I received notifications from several people ordering me to '#stopdropandspin'. It was pretty self-explanatory. I stopped and dropped whatever it was that I was doing, grabbed a hoop, made and uploaded a Bassnectar video to my Instagram, then tagged 3 more hoopers with the same instructions. 

This ingenious idea spread faster than chain emails, and as long as hoopers keep posting their videos I don't see it stopping anytime soon. People (myself included) are being tagged over and over again, and I don't think they have a problem participating more than once. I mean, if someone's way of intruding on my day involves telling me to stop whatever it is I'm doing and grab a hula hoop, be my guest--and favorite person ever. The second day of #stopdropandspin, I woke up to several demands. Being that I was still in bed, I turned my video camera on and started filming this little excursion. Starting with the view of my ceiling, I moved on to my alarm clock showing it was only 8:03 a.m., grabbed a hoop, got back in bed, and spun it around my foot. In my opinion, this was a hilarious and great start to my day. 

No matter what time it is, I think it's a great addition to anyone's day. Considering most Instagram hoopers don't know each other personally, it's amazing that we are comfortable passing this chain around to random people because we know they share our passion. 

One of the greatest things about #stopdropandspin is that it is bringing new faces into the realms of social media's hula hoopers. Hashtags are the primary requisite for networking and finding people who share your interests. Hoopers who dedicate a lot of time to social media and connecting with others usually have several preferred hashtags that they will check regularly and/or more often than others. When #stopdropandspin busted loose, I noticed many people I had never seen before, and there were a lot of hoopers I see regularly that had yet to catch the buzz. When they did, familiar faces came flowing into the circle as quickly as the new. Even if people stop following directions when they #stopdropandspin, they still pass on the vibes hoopers will continue looking for. Tagging someone in a hoop video isn't necessary when it comes to inspiration. People can watch hoop videos on any link, website, or hashtag and still feel the inspiration and urge to stop what they're doing and hula hoop. However, it is pretty fun when you're really in the middle of something and you receive a notification from a stranger summoning you to hula hoop. It's kind of an addiction--but that's another story for another kind of day. So, bottom line, if you're reading this and have a hoop, I suggest that you go grab it, because you have just been ordered to #stopdropandspin!

Take Another Shot

Our lives are a series of captured moments in our minds, photographs, home movies, etc. Sometimes they are dark or out of focus, but if you take the time to edit and try again, you have an opportunity to recapture and repair those moments. If the negatives are not worth saving, discard them and start a new roll of film. Look around, find the perfect picture, and don't miss the chance to take it. 

Let Your Dreams Grow.

Social norms have a very dangerous potential when it comes to our creativity and big dreams. All over the world, people are born into different societies with their own set of rules and/or expectations. Where these countless ideals of normalcy come from, I'm not sure, but they form a vision in our minds telling us who we are supposed to be. Many people grow up finding themselves displaced and at times rejected because they don’t behave or see things the same as the rest of their peers. When children dream of growing up to become famous performers, artists, writers, athletes, etc. more often than not, people will tell them that they can’t. Why not? These dreams exist and came true for others, so why can’t they be just as real for anyone else? The way I see it, normalcy is the ideal that doesn't exist. No two people are exactly the same. Therefore, no one should live a life believing that they are wrong for being themselves and expressing ideas that the majority finds strange or unacceptable.

As difficult as it may seem, the most important thing to remember is to ignore anyone who doesn't believe in, appreciate, or understand you and your dreams. It is impossible to avoid these people, but it is up to the dreamer to keep their negativity at bay. Only you can keep your dreams alive, and we are solely responsible for killing them as well. We can’t blame other people or circumstances for holding us back. Those are the tools that we must use to build upon. No matter how small wishes and dreams may seem, they are not pointless. They form in our minds for a reason, and it is up to us to create and project them. Taking on a career like a Lawyer or an Office Executive may seem like a more reasonable route, but that doesn't mean we have to take it. You’re not wrong for being different, but it’s wrong to ignore what makes us different. Our individuality is composed of tiny seeds helping us grow into someone beautiful and unique. Ignoring your imagination and dreams is ignoring who you truly are.  

2014 Photo Challenge!

Last night I discovered this list among many others for January Photo Challenges. What a great new way to start off a new year! Simply tag #JanuaryPhotoChallenge to your photos everyday and join the photo fun! It's only day 3, so it's not too late to catch up! There are quite a few options to choose from. Find your favorite and CHALLENGE YOURSELF! Start your year with a simple and self-gratifying accomplishment!