Bringing it back to center, back to home
Recently I caught up with several good friends over lunch and, within 20 minutes, we divulged huge life news that was surprising to the rest of the group. As I sat there with these ladies who I know very well, I realized how strange it is that as a society we’ve come to know more about what’s going on across the world than across the street.
Similarly, if social media is meant to keep us socializing with each other, it’s no longer working.
This group of friends and I had not shared any of our news on social media because social media is becoming a volatile place. Long gone is the space for easy breezy organic content and innocently keeping up with family and friends. What’s sad is many people still pop on there to see what’s going on in the lives of people they care about only to be slapped in the face with the latest fake news or real news, both of which are stressful. What’s interesting is that even the most even-tempered folks can get emotionally charged by something they see on Facebook and spend hours crafting a rebuttal or unfriending everyone who doesn't agree with them. It’s truly toxic.
After a month taking a break from Facebook, I got back on in late January, just in time for the insanity that ended up being February. It wasn’t just political diatribes. It was post after post analyzing the Super Bowl halftime show or about Beyonce’s Grammy for “Best Country Album.” Some were thrilled, some were irate. Then, of course,
the plane crashes and the wildfires and the conspiracy theories surrounding those events.
And there I was, instead of reading a book or taking my dog on a walk or engaging with an actual human, I was scrolling and getting sucked in, my lips pursed and my brows furrowed, feeling anxious and agitated by almost every post in my feed.
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Driving away from that lunch date, I decided I’d had enough of all of it. The desire to be well-informed had left my body. I currently have zero interest in reading the national news or getting on social media for other reasons than to look at pictures of flowers or inspiring quotes or my friends’ kids. Instead, I'm going to focus on local news and regional news. I’m sure enough of the national and global news will trickle in, but I don’t need to willingly dive headfirst into it day after day.
This week we honor Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and along with giving up caffeine after 10 a.m., I’ve decided to give up posting anything on social media that comes from a place other than joy and inspiration. If I’m passionate about making a difference on a certain matter or issue, it would be more helpful to speak with people in person, call my representatives or encourage my friends and followers online to simply be good people and get off their devices in favor of giving back to their communities. I’m also giving up news channels such as CNN or Fox News in favor of local news, regional news or outlets such as BBC and Al Jazeera which are significantly more objective and less corrupt when it comes to reporting on the U.S.
I’ve learned that when life feels overwhelming, the only antidote is to come back to center, to come home. And for me, “home” includes my family, friends and community. If we all focused on taking care of our family, friends and community, what a wonderful world this would be.
(Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and social media specialist. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
