Why do I jump in and out of it? Why do I do this to myself?
Quite frankly, I always hate it, but sometimes I participate in the madness because I need it for business. It's hard to be able to reach ~500 (or however many) people every day otherwise. You can toss something out and get a good response almost all of the time because the people in your tribe want to support you and help you. When I ask for help, they are there to back me up. When I am feeling hilarious and like I need to get on stage, I pop on and say the funny thing I heard that day and then yay, oh yay, I get the laugh face. I love the laugh face.
But what is the cost? I'd say about one gajillion billion pounds of wasted time, energy, life, and motivation. I scroll through that sucker like nobody's business sometimes because for crying out loud, if you miss that your friend had a death in the family, you are going to be an insensitive jerk. And what about the people who are having health problems? You want to be there to support them for that.
To be honest, if you think about it, most of it is not that - most of it is people writing the ten concerts they went to, the meowquiz (or whatever it is), the passionate politicos, and pictures of people's children (playing soccer/football/baseball/etc.), dogs, coffee cups, inspirational quotes, and dinners. (Don't get me wrong, I love pictures of dinners. I will stop and look at that, no joke. I'll be analyzing it...hmm, you think that was cooked in avocado oil? Is that a Teflon pan? For heaven's sakes, these people are using a Teflon pan. Do I say something? Do I compliment the food and then tell them it would have tasted better in a cast iron pan? Am I seriously looking at a picture of someone's dinner for like three minutes right now? Good thing this isn't a waste of time...)
Then there is the fine line between what you can say and what you can't say. Do you want to be all political? Do you want to be obnoxious? Do you want to be hilarious but potentially offend people? So then what can you say? Am I going to have a boring page of saying nothing? I can't bear the thought of that, but I don't really want to offend my friends, either. Can I say what I want but in a way that won't offend them?
Okay, okay, okay, this is getting a little out of hand. What if I just have it to comment on other people's pages? What if I just kind of hide in the background and randomly comment? You know what, I'm not a hide in the background and randomly comment kind of girl. I'm more of a let's-see-if-this-crazy-thing-can-be-worded-so-they-know-I-still-love-them-while-I-say-something-totally-bananas. Yeah, that's still a time waster.
So, I'm out. I am on the facebook fast. I've purged it from my life. It's nice, I have to tell you. I don't have to check it, I don't have to wonder. I don't have to think, "Did anyone think that little girl who can't stand slow walkers was awesome? Did I get like 99 likes or what? Are people congratulating me at finding such a winning video? Are they reposting it because it is literally the best video they have ever seen in their life?" (Which, BY THE WAY, that video was seriously the best ever. Watch it. Are you type A? This was you as a child. In fact, this is you now, you just know how to conceal it better. No joke. This kid is my hero.)
I apologize to all of my dear friends who have to roll their eyes and my ups and downs with social media. I know, I'm sorry. It's tedious and horrible to watch someone go in and out of a relationship like that, but I really can't help it. Sometimes it just must be done, no matter the longing and call it puts out to you.
Yes, at first it's hard. It's like, wait, what do I even do when I go to the bathroom now? Slowly but surely, you can find coping mechanisms to deal with the new changes. They are hard and you don't like them, but since you've committed to the change, you have to just bite your lip and get through it. Thank you, sisu. (There are harder things in life. There are things that make you wonder if you really want to wake up in the morning. Dumping facebook should not be one of them.)
Do I miss it? I miss the connection, yes. I really do. I miss how easy it is to get in there and find someone to reach out to. People are posting funny things and some need the kind of help that you provide. That's the hard part. Not being able to swoop in and be that hand for someone. (Although, if you're reading this, please, just call me. You know I'll help you.)
But on the other hand, just imagine your level of productivity. In fact, I have to tell you something. I got down to ZERO emails in my inbox as a result of this change. I'm ahead in all of my work, and I even attended a PTA meeting, where I gave my opinion on not letting teachers have traditional desks (thumbs down - are you trying to kill them?).
Have you ever thought of it? Have you ever wished you could just give it all up and ditch social media entirely? It really is possible. It's the fastest way to lose 1000 pounds, or at least that's what it feels like.
I dare you to try.
Peace, love, and Luddites,
Ms. Daisy
p.s. Just because I'm gone doesn't mean I don't love you. I do. You know I do. xx
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