There have been some bizarre things happening in the world lately. It’s easy to keep up with everything nowadays because of social media.
But it can also be anxiety inducing to read everyone’s opinions on the world’s current events.
The majority of my Facebook friends hold different views and opinions about life than I do. Diversity of thought is something I value both in my feed and in my real life.
However, I noticed that all the chaos was draining me.
I was frequently checking Facebook to see if I had notifications or if there were new posts in any of my Groups (I only stay on Facebook for the Crunchy mom groups honestly). While checking that, I would start mindlessly scrolling. While scrolling, I would be bombarded with all the opinions that all of my “friends” hastily shared about what was happening in the world.
I got sick of seeing people fighting.
I got sick of seeing people comment smart remarks on their friends’ posts.
Let’s be real, the majority of our Facebook “friends”, are not real life friends. They could be people you went to High School with, people that go to your mom’s church, people that you met at random events and haven’t talked to since that event, etc.
So why do we care to read their opinion? Why do we think they care to read ours? Why comment and argue and fuss over it?
If we didn’t have Facebook, would we even care what this random person thought?
Probably not.
I was fed up with it all.
Tired of the anxiety and the chatter.
Tired of the dopamine rush I was getting when I saw that little red notification.
So I deleted the app and took a break from my phone the next day.
I spent more time cuddling my baby.
I focused on ONE THING at a time.
I decided to try to create my own dinner recipe instead of looking one up on Pinterest.
I nursed my baby and literally just looked into her eyes and played with her hair the entire time. No distractions.
I started thinking about how special and fleeting these moments are with my baby.
How she feels so safe with me and just wants my presence.
How lucky I am to be her mom.
And honesty how stupid everything else going on in the world seems in comparison to that.
Thinking about that made me hate social media – particularly Facebook. For giving any ounce of my energy to being “annoyed” by something I saw on Facebook, when I have this incredible soul as my daughter, who just wants ME to BE with her.
Life is so fleeting. These moments are so sacred.
So I decided to just delete the app and be intentional to not check it on Safari. As I type that, I’m chuckling at how crazy it seems that I’m writing an article about deleting an app – a teeny tiny thing that isn’t even tangible and yet we are almost all addicted to it in some way, shape or form.
Welcome to the modern age, I guess.
But anyways, I deleted it.
It’s been four weeks now.
I never want to go back.
wow.
Looking back at myself, I’m so repulsed. I want to give myself grace, I truly do, but I also want to bring up some points…
Think of all the moments you’re missing because of that app.
Think of the things you haven’t noticed because of that app.
Did you miss out on the beautiful hummingbird buzzing by the window, because you were on the app?
Did you miss out on your baby finally getting a puzzle piece to fit and proudly looking up at you, only to find you NOT looking at her – because you were on that app?
Did you miss out on CONNECTING with another human in line at the grocery store in front of you, because you were on that app?
Did you miss out on seeing the old man crossing the street in front of your car, waving to you, while you were stopped at a stoplight, because you were on that app?
People are beautiful.
Nature is beautiful.
The earth is beautiful.
Your child is beautiful.
Your LIFE is beautiful.
Do NOT fool yourself into thinking you need this app to “keep in touch” with everyone.
Sure, maybe keep the account for the occasional announcement – but that doesn’t mean keeping the app to check every single day, multiple times a day.
Is it really bringing joy to your life?
I thought maybe it was bringing joy to mine.
Until it wasn’t anymore.
And I have not missed it for one second.
I challenge you to try it. Delete the app. Or if you’re feeling particularly DONE, delete the whole account.
Spend today being present with your babies.
Put your phone on airplane mode and read a book instead.
Bake a dessert.
Create Art.
Slow down.
Live present.
Because these moments don’t last and the quick dopamine rush we get from checking Facebook isn’t worth missing these moments of our actual life.
Because these moments right here- they’re the ones that matter.
