Omg I laughed so hard….
Jennifer Lawrence & Jimmy Fallon are the perfect combo for some Friday night down time! Enjoy. xx
Category Archives: Fun
Birthday Facebook deactivation. Do try it.
[Originally published 6th August 2013]
It was my birthday yesterday.
So I turned my Facebook off.
“But Jess! Your birthday is, like, the BEST day to have Facebook!”
Yeah maybe… or maybe not…. And here’s why…
Sarah Deutscher recently spoke about “The Great Addiction” we have in this world, aka the “like button culture”. The addiction to being liked, flattered, have followers, and in this case the frenzy of birthday posts we expect. So, as a bit of a personal experiment (and because I started to consider the effect social media has on me) I turned my Facebook off yesterday.
About a year ago I started intentionally removing social media from the centre of my closest friendships. These days, the majority of my communication with these people is outside of social media. We talk in real life. (Remember what that was like?)
In addition to this, I’ve also started deactivating my facebook whenever I am away, on leave, or just need to switch off and IT IS AWESOME. No notifications… No distractions… No obligation… Just real life, real people and real conversation.
So when my birthday rolled around this year, I decided I wanted to spend it with my husband, family and friends WITHOUT the subconscious “chatter” of birthday posts.
I’m sorry if I took away your chance to show me some birthday love, but I much prefer the effort of a birthday card than an overload of notifications. Also, I don’t want to feed my addiction to that “like button culture” I mentioned earlier.
Y’see, here’s the other thing – Facebook is not one of my love languages. Actually, I’m pretty sure it’s not anyone’s love language because it’s not actually a love language. (Say what now?)! It’s just an internet page that we think is personal but really isn’t. Social media is a great tool for communication and connection (that I do really enjoy most days) but for life’s important events I find it to be cold, tasteless and can often feel like an obligation. (Be honest, how many “HBD2U” messages have you sent to someone you’re not really friends with, wouldn’t invite to your own b’day party, and only know it’s their birthday because facebook told you?)
Am I over thinking it? Probably… Am I still happy I did it? You betcha. I love detoxing from the social media world and what better day to be fully present in the real world than my birthday?
Just sayin’.
Jess xo
P.s. Yes, I did turn 30 yesterday… No, I’m not upset about that. I’m actually really done with my 20’s and very excited to have entered the new decade.
P.p.s. This was obviously a personal choice and not one I expect anyone to convert to having read this blog. There’s no judgement here. Do what you want with your social media. My only encouragement is that you turn it off every once in a while.
Top 10 Newlywed realities.
[Originally published 8th July 2013]
It’s been just over two months now and as my Instagram followers would know, I’ve been making note of a few reality checks you get as a newlywed. It’s been a great journey and there’s no end to the lessons I am learning, but for now, let me share the first ten:
#1 – You buy bigger jars of stuff.
No longer do I feel like buying the big jar is wasteful. Grocery shopping for two instead of one is easier and more economical.
#2 – I had better things to do than post on Facebook.
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For the first few weeks of married life I pretty much didn’t post anything. What’s worse is that I actually tried… I even stared at a the blank status update field and tried to think of something worth posting. Truth is, my actual reality was so good I didn’t care much for my social media world.
#3 – Some moments aren’t very glamorous.
This picture is from bed-assembly-day. Darren and I would be AWFUL on one of those reality TV shows. We have A LOT to learn about working together on practical projects…
#4 – There are some perks. Like a new gigantic bed.
Other perks include: having a team mate for the rest of your life, someone to cuddle on the couch, all the extra ‘stuff’ you get (furniture, kitchen utensils etc)…
#5 – You look at your wedding photos ALL the time.
I was ridiculously excited the day we got our professional photos back. Not only did they look amazing, but our incredible photographer managed to tell the story and reflect every feeling of the day – that every time I look through them I get to revisit all of that!
#6 – You get some very cool presents!
For example, picture here is the Kre-o Transformers set and very cute little teapot we got from one of our good friends – awesome!!
#7 – You count your time married like a newborn baby – in weeks and months til you hit one year.
So until we reach the first of our yearly anniversaries, I will probably post overly romantic status tributes to my husband of ‘x’ months. (Sorry…)
#8 – You get very excited over a piece of paper.
For an administratively minded person like me, receiving this in the mail felt amazing. Finally I could legally change my name on stuff and sort out my personal administration!
#9 – You develop new skills.
I am now the resident scorer at my husbands social basketball. (Yes, I know it won’t last… In fact, I think it’s already fading out…)
#10 – Changing your name is both exciting and challenging.
For 29 years I was a Blesing. Now I’m a Bigg. It’s weird. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I never knew how much of my identity I had wrapped up in my name until now. They say it takes some adjusting. This is definitely true!
Phewf! And all of that just in the first couple of months! Perhaps I should keep taking notes and post progress reports along the way?
Much love,
Jess (aka Mrs Bigg) xo
Taking stock… A 12 month checkpoint.
[Originally published 15th March 2012]
I am sitting in the Sydney Entertainment Centre surrounded by thousands and thousands of women. It’s that time of year, again. The time when I brave my fear of large crowds, let go of my Hillsong skepticism, forget about my work emails and bask in the beauty of sitting still, being one of the many, and learning. Its time to plug in and soak it up!
This time last year I wrote this blog… And what a 12 months it has been since then! For the third year in a row I am facing significant change in work and I am bringing it to colour conference to lay it down, seek guidance, receive peace, renewal and restoration of the heart as I brace myself for a new level. (And a busier workload… Again!!)
As always, I am thankful for the journey that is my life, but I am particularly thankful for these past few years especially. I believe I have grown more in this time than any other season in my 28 years of life. For the third year in a row, these few days in Sydney will be a ‘marker’ in my year that launch me into the growth that lies ahead. Bring it on, I say.
It makes me wonder, what will I be writing about this time next year?
(For the record, I was battling identity issues last year as a single woman. I dealt with that at last years conference and met my now-boyfriend, Darren, a few weeks later… God has a wicked sense of humour.)
Top 10 memories of 2011
[Originally published 31st December 2011]
In no particular order….
1. Colour conference with Mum, Emma, Baby-C and friends.
2. Sadly leaving my role as conductor/accompanist at the Australian Youth Choir.
3. Meeting my Darren. (“You’re the Green Team chick, right?”)
4. Moving house.
5. Three funerals 😦
6. Increased hours at Encounter Youth and the launch of Hindley St Project
7. Community times at schoolies.
8. Two Immerse events – YITS in February and Perth in July.
9. Gospo choir
10. Most successful schoolies (Green Team) yet.
Thanks to everyone who made these memories what they are to me. My friends and family are in and through each of life’s experiences and nothing would be the same without you.
I wonder what 2012 has in store?
Happy New Year all.
J xo
jessicabigg 