“You don't always have to try so hard to live each day to the fullest.
Each day is full all on its own. All you have to do is notice."
~ Emma Rose Tait ~
Mostly, I hate it. And, truthfully, I don't love it at all; I just like it a little. It's one of those things that I have some really strong opinions on. And no, I won't be spilling them here because, honestly, I know I would seriously offend a ton of people and I'm not here to do that. My opinions are things I feel strongly about, things that I believe very firmly, and am quite headstrong on. So that's not what today's post is about. If you were to come round for a cuppa, I would share them more willingly, in the close-knit company of kindred spirits. And if you know me in real life, you know very well what these thoughts are because they've been a topic of conversation often this last while, haven't they?
Today's post is for those of us who feel like we are playing tug-of-war with social media. Like you're on it and then you're not. Then you're on it again. Each time you go back, it's because you miss something good you found there, but when you return, you realize that the bad far outweighs the good and it just isn't worth it. Yeah, that's me. Maybe that's you, too?
For the sake of clarity, whenever I refer to "social media", I am talking about Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and the like. I am NOT referring to blogging. That is a much more controlled environment and literally the opposite of any of the other sites I mentioned.
Back in December, I bid social media farewell. I still very much feel what I wrote in that post and hold those same desires, beliefs, and thoughts. But, after about three weeks, I began to miss some of the good things that I found on social media. So I returned...a bit nervous and seriously reluctant. The previous eighteen months had shown me that it added negativity, stress, anxiety, and discouraging thoughts to my life. Those are not good things. But I also found a small circle of accounts that I enjoyed following for various reasons. I learned things that appealed to me on a variety of topics. I discovered new books and movies to try that eventually became new favorites. I saved many recipes to make in my own kitchen and had fun with them. Good and bad. Negative and positive. A tug-of-war ensued.
It's been seven months since I returned to Instagram and I'm currently on a break for the summertime. I desperately needed a break. My mind and heart and soul were begging me to step away and I finally listened...after months of being too stubborn to take that step. It's been almost three weeks since my break began, and the thing is...I don't miss it. Not one little bit.
I had originally planned to return at the beginning of autumn, but now? I don't know if I will. I'm taking this time to decide if it is a good thing for me.
The reason why I like, and prefer, blogging is that I am in total control of what is here. I share what I like and believe in and if others who share those thoughts gather here, that's fine. But also, if I write just for myself and one or two others, that's fine too. With Instagram, when you like an account, others similar to it come up in your search feed...and that's often where the trouble comes in. People also have the option to share posts from other accounts in their "stories" which introduces room for a variety of beliefs and thoughts. Blogs are totally not like that. They are safe and controlled environments.
I don't have the energy to respond to every single message out there, and social media often makes you feel like you have to. If you follow an account that doesn't mean you agree with everything that person writes or shares. But people assume things about you based on who you follow. And your search feed assumes things too. It gets exhausting having to explain every little thing in order to prevent assumptions from being made about you...which happens often. Social media drains me and sucks all my energy dry. Blogging is fun; social media is hell.
This splattering of thoughts is to say that social media is a tug-of-war. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels it...in fact, I know I'm not. I've seen countless people over the last 18 months come and go numerous times for these exact reasons. Maybe you feel this way too? I don't know. But I certainly do. And after this summer break, it's totally undecided at this point if I will go back to it or not. At this point, all I know is that I don't miss it one teeny bit. I've found so much more to do with my time. Like painting and listening to classical music, falling in love with the Harry Potter movies, reading novels slowly to savour every bit, baking bread with my mom and sister, and planning future writing projects for my blog here.
My mind is clearer, my soul free and my heart calm. And it's quite nice. Something I haven't felt in...well, I don't know how long. My sister says that social media is a curse and evil and I'm thinking she may very well be right. I do know that it is the most unauthentic, ingenuine, fake, superficial, stupidest thing that only has a tiny bit of good about it. Simply put, it is a boatload of hell, and this break is making me realize a lot of things. Far more than I even began to share here today.
I know this wasn't the most eloquent or well-organized post, but sometimes your brain just spews thoughts out in a messy sort of way. This was that.
Do you feel the tug-of-war with social media? Have you won the fight and abandoned it completely? Do tell me all the positive things that came from your stepping away from its grasp...I'd love to see if you share the same thoughts as I've come to realize.
Until next time...
May your day be wonder-filled and cheery!
♥