In the fast-paced scrolls of Instagram land, it may be all too easy to consider the photos of happy married couples or a friend announcing her new engagement and never feel a twinge of sadness. Sometimes those posts leave me wondering when it is going to be my turn. When I catch that cry within my heart, I realize it's perhaps time for you to take a step from consuming the lives of others on social media.
Taking one step back sometimes is helpful to regain focus and peace of heart. When I return to Instagram, I often have a more close note of who I am following. I additionally make time to evaluate the way i feel and what I think after i see different posts.
Regardless of your own dating or relationship status, I have found some very helpful, strong single female voices to be a comfort in my experience like a Catholic single woman. Here are some of my favorite Instagram accounts. I hope you enjoy following and becoming to understand them as much as I do.
1. Marcia of stylishlycia
Marcia is really a bubbly lover of coffee and something from the hosts around the podcast Plaid Skirts & Basic Black. I really like her vibrant attitude and lifestyle. A strong minded single woman, she's some great things to say about embracing yourself just like you're with regards to dating and relationships. As a Catholic woman of color, she brings an essential and needed perspective to the Church that people need to learn more often.
Scroll through her feed and provide her a follow! Marcia leaves me feeling empowered and stronger only the way God made me.
2. Meg Hunter-Kilmer
Meg is a traveling Catholic writer, speaker, and hobo for Christ. She was once part of a religious community. Now, she’s dedicated to traveling round the country (and the globe!) speaking to parishes and categories of all sizes. She has fascinating insights. She also knows about saints you probably haven't heard of before! I feel like I am always learning something totally new from Meg concerning the communion of saints.
Lately, she's been intentionally sharing on pressing matters of the current day for example anti-racism, black saints, and diverse saint art. After i take a look at Meg's page, a lady whose life has gone in many different directions but still sees the hand of God vibrantly at the office.
3. Lauren Scharmer
Do you've those friends that you simply “know” through Instagram? Lauren is among those friends for me personally. Just a little more than a year ago, Lauren and I started following one another. Then, Lauren put me in contact with a nearby friend she thought I'd hit it off with. Go forward to this June, where Lauren and that i finally met personally at the home of some other mutual friend.
Lauren is among the brightest spots of hope and God's faithfulness on the ‘gram. A sparkling personality, she shares about all things in probably the most real, genuine way. Lauren shares about her act as a social worker, her love for her friends, the tales of home buying in 2022, and all sorts of priestly ordinations she goes to.
Lauren constantly reminds me from the loving kindness of God and to always be on the lookout for his faithfulness, because it is ever present. Watch Lauren’s stories and become inspired and full of hope like a single woman.
4. Mave of Designed to Live
Over the last year, Mave and I have bonded through our similar stage in life. We’re in our mid-thirties, navigating being single, dating, and desiring marriage and family. Mave is a life coach and her career is dedicated to helping women experience wholeness, peace, and joy in their lives, work, and dreams.
Mave is really a rare gem of the friend. She’s honest, genuine, and an incredible listener. From her work and own growth as a life coach, Mave has educated me in so much about when it comes to healthy dating as a single Catholic woman. I cannot start to let you know just how much I've learned from Mave and her own growth process. Because of her, I've learned and grown to date in new, healthier ways I never imagined.
5. Ali Hoffman of Oodles of Doodles
Ali is really a Texas girl who creates beautiful handmade doodles, works in youth ministry, and loves doughnuts. She’s a bright ray of sunshine for the Instagram feed. Also, she and her dad have several the funniest dance off parties on Instagram stories!
Ali's feed is mostly focused on her unique doodles. She shares things god says to her in prayer, promises of God's faithfulness in Scripture, and things she thinks we all need to become reminded about every so often. Be inspired and full of hope when you give Ali a follow!
6. Kate Bryan
Remember that local friend my friend Lauren wanted me to meet? Enter the lovely Kate!
Kate is really a local entrepreneur, works in PR, and is creator and founding father of the fir Girl Revolution brand and podcast. She lives locally within the metro Detroit area and it has constructed from the ground up an amazing podcast featuring all of the creative, amazing things woman are doing on the planet around us. If you are looking for a new, different of podcast, I would highly recommend what Kate does with 1 Girl Revolution!
She is a beautiful, strong example in my experience of what a Catholic single woman appears like in 2022 when she's living her best life.
7. Emily Stimpson Chapman
Emily is really a married, adoptive mom. However, her perspective is really ideal for single women. She get wed later in life and her dating story looked quite different from the typical story we see on social networking. She talks vulnerably concerning the nine year journey it took on her and her husband to obtain married. As an older single Catholic woman, I am incredibly grateful and appreciative of her story.
Catholics have to be reminded that not all dating stories and relationships engage in the same way. Sometimes the road to the altar looks much different than we imagined or desired. Emily's insight for single Catholic women, older women, and people whose relationships engage in differently are hopeful, real, and encouraging. Oh! Did I forget to let you know she's also an amazing writer and author?
Who are a few single Catholics feeling your social networking feed with hope and encouragement at this time?