Well, I have yet to have a seizure, but if I said it was easy to stay away from Facebook, I'd be a big liar. It's not that I can't function or anything--in fact, I've accomplished more in the last 3 days than I probably have all summer. And it is serving its purpose. I'm avoiding a lot of false security in relationship that I know I'd be wallowing in this week. And, I don't miss anyone. These people who I would talk to non-stop are suddenly "out there," accessible by email but not at the instant a thought pops into my head. And, no one has died for me not being able to update my status with any of my random thoughts.
In fact, being forced to hear my own random thoughts without commentary, analysis, humor or disparaging has led to me doing quite a bit of thinking. And writing. Yep, this girl has actually laid pen to paper again for the first time since becoming a Facebook addict. Fascinating.
I'm still planning to go back to FB at some point, but for right now I'm enjoying reading books, writing, and thinking again. Kind of nifty.
I am who I am, which is too many things to have one specific title. That's why I need a blog.
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Friday, August 03, 2012
Goodbye, Facebook....hello, ??
Wednesday night I deactivated my Facebook page. I've been thinking for awhile about how Facebook gives people--me--such a false sense of friendship and relationships. The idea that I have 700+ friends is ludicrous. A few weeks ago I posted a status saying I was going to cull my friends list. I got 40+ messages from people saying "please don't defriend me!" When I deactivated a few days ago? Not a single person has taken the "extra" step to email me to find out where I've run off to. I'm not upset about it; in fact, it proves my point. It's easy, passive, and lazy to scroll down a page and "like" things and comment--but to have this be a measure by which I count my friendships? No. I can't do it anymore.
On the contrary, though the last week has been...um...a difficult one, people who are my true friends have stepped out to support me in a way that I kind of forgot exists because of Facebook. A few of them knew I was having a hard week; a few of them didn't. And, their kindness and love even when they didn't know I needed extra kindness and love was affirming in a way that no amount of "liking" could ever do on FB.
And the universe is taking care of me. Last night Amy and her husband fed me cocktails and dinner, laughter and advice, until I was so grateful I thought I'd burst. Tonight was a night I've been dreading most of the week, and I got a random, spontaneous invitation this morning to a party. I went, laughed for a few hours, and got to meet some new people.
Will I go back to Facebook? Sure. Facebook is fine. And there are definitely people I want to stay connected with, where Facebook is the only logical place to do that. But, when I started up on Facebook back in...2007? I've kind of rolled along as it morphed into this gigantic, time-sucking, socially-demoralizing monster. Now that I've pulled away---been FB free for two whole days, whoohoo!---I'm starting to see it as more of what it is. And, who knows....it may bring me back to blogging!
On the contrary, though the last week has been...um...a difficult one, people who are my true friends have stepped out to support me in a way that I kind of forgot exists because of Facebook. A few of them knew I was having a hard week; a few of them didn't. And, their kindness and love even when they didn't know I needed extra kindness and love was affirming in a way that no amount of "liking" could ever do on FB.
And the universe is taking care of me. Last night Amy and her husband fed me cocktails and dinner, laughter and advice, until I was so grateful I thought I'd burst. Tonight was a night I've been dreading most of the week, and I got a random, spontaneous invitation this morning to a party. I went, laughed for a few hours, and got to meet some new people.
Will I go back to Facebook? Sure. Facebook is fine. And there are definitely people I want to stay connected with, where Facebook is the only logical place to do that. But, when I started up on Facebook back in...2007? I've kind of rolled along as it morphed into this gigantic, time-sucking, socially-demoralizing monster. Now that I've pulled away---been FB free for two whole days, whoohoo!---I'm starting to see it as more of what it is. And, who knows....it may bring me back to blogging!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Wow...the horoscope world is right!
Now, I realize that probably everyone who subscribes to DailyOM gets the same horoscope...maybe not, but I'll assume so. Usually I read it with a mixture of interest and amusement, and mostly subscribe so I can get good ideas for yoga themes. Today's horoscope gave me pause, though:
"You may feel somewhat aloof today as you endeavor to meet your regular goals. As you retreat deeper into the solitude beckoning so sweetly to you, the people closest to you as well as those who rely on you may express their displeasure at what they deem your detached demeanor. Your desire for isolation more likely than not has little to do with your feelings for your loved ones and colleagues. If you explain to these individuals that you simply want to spend some time reconnecting with yourself away from the distractions of your outer-world concerns today, they will likely reframe their opinions on your decision to withdraw from social contact."
Stepping away from Facebook seemed to surprise some people...and I was surprised at their surprise. Immediately I had a few people tell me they would miss my status updates, and I've gotten a few "come back and talk to me!" messages via email. It's interesting...Facebook is the most isolated "community". I put my words out there and really assume no one really cares except for 2-3 people that I already see every day anyway. The idea that there are people in my life out there who seek me out to find out how I'm doing is, well, both nifty and a little unnerving.
"You may feel somewhat aloof today as you endeavor to meet your regular goals. As you retreat deeper into the solitude beckoning so sweetly to you, the people closest to you as well as those who rely on you may express their displeasure at what they deem your detached demeanor. Your desire for isolation more likely than not has little to do with your feelings for your loved ones and colleagues. If you explain to these individuals that you simply want to spend some time reconnecting with yourself away from the distractions of your outer-world concerns today, they will likely reframe their opinions on your decision to withdraw from social contact."
Stepping away from Facebook seemed to surprise some people...and I was surprised at their surprise. Immediately I had a few people tell me they would miss my status updates, and I've gotten a few "come back and talk to me!" messages via email. It's interesting...Facebook is the most isolated "community". I put my words out there and really assume no one really cares except for 2-3 people that I already see every day anyway. The idea that there are people in my life out there who seek me out to find out how I'm doing is, well, both nifty and a little unnerving.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Status updates I would have if I wasn't self-grounded from Facebook
Kelly...
...thinks she works with the filthiest people in the world.
...got her otterbox today and a nifty sleeve for her phone!
...is excited for the weekend. Yoga, hockey game, slumber party in St. Paul.
...can't decide where to eat dinner Sat night.
...just had the yummiest popcorn EVER for dinner.
...is still sore from Wed yoga but loved every second of it.
And a few others that have slipped my mind.
...thinks she works with the filthiest people in the world.
...got her otterbox today and a nifty sleeve for her phone!
...is excited for the weekend. Yoga, hockey game, slumber party in St. Paul.
...can't decide where to eat dinner Sat night.
...just had the yummiest popcorn EVER for dinner.
...is still sore from Wed yoga but loved every second of it.
And a few others that have slipped my mind.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Grounded from Facebook, Day 1
I've gone 21 hours without access to Facebook and, fortunately, have not been twitching too badly. And, interestingly enough, my plan seems to be actually accomplishing what it was supposed to. I'm blogging, for one, and I've got my psych book open next to me so I can write my final paper.
It sounds stupid, I know, to be addicted to something like Facebook. And I'm not going to go so far as to say I'm addicted--after all, I did get through the day without tremors, freaking out, sneaking a peek, or even really thinking about it too much. But, if I'm doing anything for 3-4 hours a day, it better be studying. It's easy, especially when you live alone, to fall into the Facebook habit.
Tomorrow is day 2. So far, so good.
It sounds stupid, I know, to be addicted to something like Facebook. And I'm not going to go so far as to say I'm addicted--after all, I did get through the day without tremors, freaking out, sneaking a peek, or even really thinking about it too much. But, if I'm doing anything for 3-4 hours a day, it better be studying. It's easy, especially when you live alone, to fall into the Facebook habit.
Tomorrow is day 2. So far, so good.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Drawing myself out of the Facebook vortex...for a week
I used to have a life. I used to accomplish things. I used to be a writer, a yogi, a teacher who occasionally caught up on her grading. Heck, I used to be an introvert! Not anymore. Now, I'm a Facebook whore. And it needs to stop.
People, I have things I need to do. Like writing on this blog, for one. And grading papers. And watching movies. And doing something other than playing Zuma Blitz and constantly refreshing the page so I have the up-to-the-second updates on what everyone I've ever met (and some people I haven't) are doing. So, I'm grounding myself from Facebook. One week. I need to get my act together and stop using Facebook as my lifeline to an outside world I'm too busy to currently be a part of. I need to get my work done and play later.
Thursday, Feb 10th through Wednesday, Feb. 17th I declare myself totally grounded from Facebook. If I behave myself, I can come back on Thursday the 18th. If not, well, I don't even know what I could do to punish myself further, so I probably just better abide by the rule, right?
We'll see how it goes....
People, I have things I need to do. Like writing on this blog, for one. And grading papers. And watching movies. And doing something other than playing Zuma Blitz and constantly refreshing the page so I have the up-to-the-second updates on what everyone I've ever met (and some people I haven't) are doing. So, I'm grounding myself from Facebook. One week. I need to get my act together and stop using Facebook as my lifeline to an outside world I'm too busy to currently be a part of. I need to get my work done and play later.
Thursday, Feb 10th through Wednesday, Feb. 17th I declare myself totally grounded from Facebook. If I behave myself, I can come back on Thursday the 18th. If not, well, I don't even know what I could do to punish myself further, so I probably just better abide by the rule, right?
We'll see how it goes....
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