Four months left and we are going to say adieu to another year once more, and yet, it seems the inevitable is still here to stay. The pandemic has become a 360 degree turn in all of our lives; neverending lockdowns, quarantines, tests and whatnot. I don’t know about you but I’m pretty convinced that this is something that we can never get used to and we are just so done with the cycle. But, as I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and stories as per usual, I came across this post from an influencer’s story with a seemingly long caption (that felt like a drag at first) but when I gave it a read, I somehow knew it was the universe telling me something:
The caption of the photo said, “What’s your headline today?”
The post was a conversation of a younger guy and an 87-year-old man: who has survived, mind you, through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam protests and, now currently living in the time of Covid.
“I learned a long time ago to NOT see the world through the printed headlines. I see the world through the people that surround me and the realization that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines.”
Imagine living in a time of adversity, when the technology we have right now hasn’t even existed yet. From time to time, I’d think about the future and my thoughts would go spiraling like a rollercoaster — turning highkey hopeful then going down lowkey sad-girl-melancholic then circling back again. I guess that’s why seeing posts like these sporadically became a sort of comfort for a resident overthinker like me. So, how can one make the most out of the world we are living in right now?
Social media is continuously evolving. Nowadays, you can use it as a research tool for your school or work. It even has a marketplace (courtesy of Facebook) and Instagram checkout, where anyone can sell just about anything, shop with ease or discover new brands which share your principles.
Just as how you get inspired and voice out your authentic self with SMART’s UNLI Stories 149 where you can indulge in diverse contents or make one your own! Unli Giga Stories includes 2GB of open access data and unlimited data for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Kumu for 7 days. Get creative, inspire and share your passions on TikTok — create life hacks, showcase your hidden talents or make videos with your fam. Pave the way for your Instagram and Facebook accounts to spread awareness for your followers. Make your Instagram an outlet to showcase WIP contents and, just a creative space you can be comfortable and be intimate with your inner circle. Go on and be extra with your daily memes on Facebook. A little bit of positivity — and a potentially good meme goes a long way.
Stay updated with real time news through twitter and help spread the word along to build awareness. Plus, there is an app called Kumu (derived from ‘Kumusta’ which is an app made by Pinoys for Pinoys) where you can livestream, play live games or just chill & have fun. Give it a try and you might just find the ultimate lit ‘tambayan’ that you didn’t know you were looking for.
You never know who will cheer up or get inspired by some of the stories you posted. Utilize these platforms to become a space where you can share your thoughts, passion, purpose or just simply, march to the beat of your own drum.
In the course of the quarantine period, I’ve felt a lot of deja vu moments most of the time (probably from all the on-and-off lockdowns). To beat the ever-so-changing ‘quarantine blues’, I tried out all sorts of stuff to level up my life skills and led me to my new-found passion — cooking! Finding recipes and the 'how-tos' on search engines or textbooks can be a drag most of the time (with the long procedures to read and all). As an avid visual learner myself, I turn to videos to save me from my undeniable predicament — which is my own laziness (LOL).
With SMART’s UNLI Video 149, I get to maximize my 2GB data and gain access to different kinds of video apps, such as Youtube, iWantTFC, Cignal Play, NBA League Pass, for a whole week! Here I am, lowkey flexing my cooking ventures (following *chef’s kiss* recipes that I discovered via Youtube):
Home baked cookies featuring my curious cat, Blaire and my attempt at a Chicken Noodle Soup (J-HOPE inspired)
ive more of your best life through curated shows from iWantTFC and Cignal Play if you’re feeling adventurous about what to watch next with your fam. For the NBA stans, you’re in for a treat because this promo also includes NBA TV via NBA.Smart and NBA League Pass, ‘where amazing happens’ as they say.
It’s a brave new world now. What we know then is far more different than what we know now. Feelings of FOMO have become more existent than ever. I feel like a lot of us are experiencing a netflix episode phenomenon, where we somehow skip some part in our lives, over what life should have been. But I digress. We should embrace these feelings and tell ourselves that what we’re feeling is valid.
Continue staying woke, make a difference and advocate sustainability. Create memories (no matter how insignificant you think it may be now), or a time capsule of some sort. In the future when we get past this rife, it’ll remind you that we beat all odds and that we too, made our own headlines. Life is a series of trial and error and I’m feeling hopeful that Gen Z’s today are redefining their own lives, daring to be limitless with the power of their stories — the SMART way.
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