Yes, it’s a filter. So what?

Here's my take on filters.

I really don’t care if people use them in their photos. I do sometimes and I could really care less if my family or friends agree with it. I don’t even care if you agree with it. You don’t have to. You don’t have to like the picture or even acknowledge it. I didn’t publish it for you. I published it for me. Chances are, so did most people who use them. It’s not always about being vain. Everyone is entitled to feel good when they look at themsleves.

Perhaps that is the only beauty they believe they see in themselves because someone made them feel ugly, unloved or unwanted. You don’t know a person’s damage or their traumas. You don’t know what they carry and maybe they don’t feel beautiful inside because there is where they are hurt or egregiously injured.

Everyone doesn’t have the confidence you do and not every one can have it. It’s easy to sit back and judge when you love yourself but not everyone is capable of the same. Not everyone has healed from wounds inflicted, it doesn’t matter by life or by person.

Clearly, someone or some event made that person look in the mirror and not feel good about who is looking back. It doesn't matter if there's a scar that only they see. It doesn't matter if there are new wrinkles or a chipped tooth.

For example, maybe that chipped tooth is a reminder of someone or something that hurt them. Maybe that scar is too and filters are the only thing that made them smile through the memory of that very moment. (<--This is me. When I look in the mirror, sometimes, I only notice the busted lip or split eyebrow and my heart feels the pain of that attack.)

If that is what it takes for a person to see who they need to see looking back, who am I or even you to judge? In the grand scheme of things, we are no one.

Maybe they need that to help heal until they can comfortably look in the mirror and feel good about the image staring back.

Maybe they want to feel pretty or handsome in the moment, without going through all the trouble of an hour long make up session. Newsflash: This is usually me. Aside from not wanting to see the scars and feel the pain, I’ve just gotten lazy. 🤣

Stop with the animosity. Let people be happy. Let them see who they believe they are. It’s not all about you. Their life is about them. Your life is about you. Stop being critical of others and get busy living.