What do country artist, Tim McGraw, and Facebook have in common?
I admit I enjoy social media. For one, it’s addicting, and secondly, there are lots stories to scroll and read through. But, it’s what I like to call, “A time sucker”. Just when you think it will take ten minutes to read and browse, ends up turning into an hour of wasted time.
I remember the ‘good ol’ days’ when reading a local paper, or thumbing through the Time magazine sitting in the waiting area of the dentist office was the “your time consumer”. You go into a doctor’s office now, and all the magazines and newspapers are untouched because everyone is on their phones.
Even more so, regarding Facebook, someone posts something on their wall and tons of comments follow. Some jokes, lots of personal opinions, and silly derogatory remarks. And frankly, I’ve gotten reeled in reading those commentaries.
The truth is, I’m tired of Facebook. It’s not because I’m on other social media like Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, or Twitter, but rather, I’ve been feeling out of touch lately. Something has been missing. Because while I have been busy “reading” the news feeds on Facebook, I have been missing the happenings of NOW.
It took me a while, but I realized I had to do something. I walked away from my Smartphone, PC, Tablet, and left Facebook. And then,
“I went skydiving,
I went Rocky Mountain climbing,
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu…”
Okay, not exactly that. I exercised, which I normally do, but didn’t stop when my phone beeped with news feed updates. I finished reading a book in three days rather than three months, I danced, I napped, and I played with my girls.
I didn’t feel the tug of grabbing my phone to read what I have been missing because what I was missing was time spent with my family, and time for myself.
If I want news, I can just turn on the TV. It’s not the greatest source of information, but I could catch what’s happening in a few minutes, rather than being glued to a chair in front of a screen for hours. It’s also easier to hear the news while multi-tasking because I’ve become a pro at doing just that with small children around.
Most importantly, I didn’t feel the pressure of wanting to be connected all the time. I think and this is my personal opinion, this “connection-thing” that people fear they may lose if not following or commenting is just a fear for not associating with others on another level—i.e., face to face communication, or phone conversation. Remember that?
Humans aren’t wired to be connected all the time. We need downtime; we need quiet, and an opportunity to hear our thoughts.
STOP BEING PLUGGED IN and PLUG OUT every so often.
Because, then you can go…
“I went skydiving,
I went Rocky Mountain climbing,
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu…”
Even, if it’s only in your mind.
So, take the Facebook challenge. Walk away and walk away without…Facebook, or any social media for a time.
Then, drop me note and let me know how that works out for you.
Connection is only as good as being in the moment of that connection.
Lyrics and Music Credit: Tim McGraw, “Live Like You Were Dying.”
