Instagram, you've done it again.
The most addictive social media app has changed the way I enjoy seasonal activities, like hiking up a mountain in nearby Connecticut to enjoy the foliage and October air. Instead, I end up rushing Jake from work to drive us 40 minutes over the state line to hopefully catch a glimpse of the sunset against the colorful trees that are fall. Our outing turned out to be anything but that.
The most addictive social media app has changed the way I enjoy seasonal activities, like hiking up a mountain in nearby Connecticut to enjoy the foliage and October air. Instead, I end up rushing Jake from work to drive us 40 minutes over the state line to hopefully catch a glimpse of the sunset against the colorful trees that are fall. Our outing turned out to be anything but that.
Rushing to Ross's Cliffs, also known as Old Furnace State Park, we were hoping to get to the top of the small mountain before the sunsets, and according to Siri, sunset on Thursday was at 6:04p.m., which gave us 57 minutes to make the drive and get to the top of the mountain (when I say mountain, I mean a cliff...mountain makes it sound more adventurous). This left no room for error...but of course something went wrong. We got lost.

The GPS had the wrong address but after a minor freak out about missing the view before sun down, we turned around and made our way. There was something about racing against the clock sun that instantly got me thinking about prehistoric times when humans relied on the sun for everything, like for its energy or for telling time. Here we go, Anita. Get your ass up that mountain to see the glorious light we call sun. If cavemen can do it, so can you. After pumping myself up like an Arnold Swartzenager movie, we make our way into the park half lit park, having 15 minutes before it got dark. So we start trekking, frantically. Damn you Instagram. This once calming activity is now an anxiety attack waiting to happen.
You've got this Anita. A little hike won't kill you.
Well it did. I was panting like dog five minutes in. You're so incredibly out of shape, Anita...I know, it is something I'm working on.
The lighting was TERRIBLE for a good Instagram picture. I'm so wired into social media, that Jake had to yell at me to enjoy the view then analyzing the few good pictures I took at the top of the mountain. The resolution was all off and all photos were blurry, like a photo pre-iPhone time. What the eff?
That's it. This whole trip was't worth it because I couldn't get a good Insta pic. Let's get out of here.
^^^ I mean, come on, the resolution is awful
I'm so pathetic. There I was, overlooking the best of fall foliage with my fiance and all I can do it be down in the dumps because I couldn't take a good enough Instagram photo. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? Now I have to use the main photo in this blog post of someone else's picture I found on the internet. Great, I have failed you, blog.
We stayed at the top enjoying the view (once I was told to put my phone away before it was thrown off the edge) and realizing the diminishing light and flashing back to all of the horror film trailers on T.V. all month, paranoia set in.
I can barely see in front of me and keep tripping on tree branches that are covered in fallen leaves. As most women would, I let Jake lead the way to fend off any serial killers that found us wondering in the woods at night. And I seriously watch WAY too much Law & Order SUV. It's as if I was in a scene from the show when a body turns up in the woods, except, it's mine. Get it together.
There was faint laughter coming from a group of stoners who headed down the mountain before us. I probably looked behind me three dozen times during the walk down. I have serious paranoia issues.
Long story short, we got to enjoy the nice view and a much needed physical activity to get my lazy ass of my couch and my face out of my iPhone. Although Instagram made an otherwise calming experience a stressful one because I couldn't get a good picture, at least I got a blog post out of it. Isn't that what life's about, getting a great Instagram photo?
Now you tell me, how has Instagram affected your last outing?
^^^
At least I got one decent panorama of me pretending to meditate
Now I can rest easy.
I think all social media does this. I fail so hard at getting photos for my blog now because all I ever used to do was take photos of everything to share but then I realize half the time I was out doing something I was seeing it through my phone because I need to have that perfect photo! I think its good to remember that the experience is more important than the quality of the photo to show you did it.
ReplyDeleteFor sure. The thrill of getting a great photo, though, is priceless.
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