Get the Picture

Get the picture.  Special moments are worth capturing.  Moments that can vanish before our eyes, for good.

Get the Picture

This past weekend, I had an opportunity to spend some quality time with my daughter in Savannah, Georgia.  I had some training to complete through the Georgia Municipal Association, so her and her friend accompanied me on the trip.

While I was in class during the day, these college girls had two objectives: shop and take pictures.  Savannah has an abundance of locations to do both. 

The city has a rich history, which makes it ideal for photography.  There are beautifully landscaped squares strategically placed throughout the city, a lively riverfront, majestic large oaks draped with Spanish moss, and incredible historic architecture.

Here are a few lessons I learned about life and leadership from my weekend with Ashtyn and her friend: 

Pursuit of Affirmation

The effort the girls put into staging their pictures was something to watch.  There was intentional thought behind the angles, the sunlight, the backdrop, the outfits, and of course the pose!  Their purpose was to be able to post the result on their Instagram page.         

No doubt, the girls were certainly seeking their “likes,” a practice that I can struggle with at times with this generation.  I worry that it is a constant attempt to seek the affirmation of others.  It also serves as an easy target for my generation to pick at these young people.

My time with them taught me that this criticism is unfair.  Every generation is equality guilty of this pursuit, the picture just looks different.  We all seek “likes” in this world.  We seek it in our job performance, our service to the community, and most all endeavors along our journey of life and leadership.

Regardless of age, we should exercise great caution in the pursuit of affirmation.  It’s not always a pretty picture.      

Care What They Think

Caring about “likes” runs the risk of caring about what other people think.  Kids these days will quickly pull down a post that doesn’t get the “likes” they desire or the positive feedback in the comment section they wish.  What other people think matters to them.      

I often hear adults say, “I don’t care what other people think.”  There are two thoughts that generally run through my mind when they say this to me.  One, the statement is true and they are a complete jerk.  Two, they are good person presenting a tough, but false façade.

Let me share some truth with you.  While we are frequently given the advice to not care about what other people think, we should.

Here me out.  I’m not suggesting we care about what people think about our appearances, our choices, or our status.  We should not care one bit about that. 

What we should care about is whether they know that we love them, care for them, and support them.  That we will be there for them not only when the picture turns out good, but on the days it doesn’t. 

How we make other people feel matters. When they think of us, it’s the most important picture they can have. 

Don’t Fake It

The perfect picture posted on social media isn’t always the picture of reality.

Faking it has no generational boundaries.  We can scroll endlessly on our preferred social media platform, seeing everyone’s apparent best.  It puts perceived joy on full display for the world to see.    

If we are not careful, it can lead to envy and discouragement.  For some, it can lead to full blown depression.

I often wonder what the world of social media would look like if we all posted our junk.

What if we posted when our kid went 0 for 3?  What if we posted the household tension rushing out of the door to get everyone to church on time?  What if we shared the home cooked meal that turned out inedible?  What if we shared when we lost our cool over something that just didn’t matter?  What if we posted pictures of our messy house? 

I could go on about the things I have never posted!      

Whether it’s life or leadership, humans connect with relatable.  What we generally think is most unique to us is the most universal picture to everyone else.  All of us lead imperfect lives.  We all have junk, don’t fake it.      

Conclusion

The best part of the trip was when work ended.  I would take the girls out and we would wander the city.

It wasn’t until the last night that I learned my greatest lesson from them.

We were walking along River Street.  They would stop and take pictures, shop, stop and take pictures, and shop.  Ashtyn made a comment that equated to an apology for dragging me through all of it.

Maybe she thought I was bored, but I was just taking pictures too.  Not with a camera, not with my phone, but with the memory bank.  I had the perfect angle on my beautiful daughter who radiates personality.  She has an infectious spirit that draws people to her. 

I didn’t need perfect lighting or the ideal backdrop, I just needed unscripted time with her.

Often, we strive for perfection in life and leadership, more often we fall short of the mark.  The kids we raise and the leaders we grow don’t need a perfect picture of us.  They just need the real thing.  The flaws, imperfections, and everything that makes us, us. 

Create experiences.  Make memories.  Capture the moment.  Do it with the people that matter most.  With a camera or without…get the picture?