Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Regarding Facebook, Part 1.

(Here's where I impressively gloss over the fact that I haven't updated this blog in, oh, 100 years)


Nearly a week ago, I deactivated my Facebook account. It was sort of an impulsive decision, but in many ways a long time coming.

Here's the thing with Facebook: It can really screw with your head. This became evident for me in two ways :

1. Comparison

The pastor at my church frequently says that "Comparison is the thief of joy." And it is, truly. Nothing destroys happiness, or contentment with all that you have, like comparing it to what someone ELSE has. And Facebook, when you think about it, is nothing more than a 24/7, front-row seat to just that: What everyone else has. And with the exception of the whiners, who have nothing to post about except for getting only 1 inch of cold soy in their latte vs. the 2 inches they requested (ahem, www.whitewhine.com) most people only post the good stuff.

You know, the good stuff. The "Omg my boyfriend surprised me with flowers! And lunch! And a puppy!", or "Woot, down another 5 pounds this week!", or my personal favorite: "I said YES! We're engaged!"...Those kinds of posts. The ones that make you look at your body, your job, your relationship, your Pinterest boards--with disappointment. Because they obviously aren't as great as those belonging to some girl from high school who was always a bitch to you but you accepted her friend request anyway, just in case she got really fat. She didn't, of course, but her engagement ring sure is.

Essentially, it's like watching everyone else's highlight reel, and comparing it to the blooper reel your life always seems to be, never stopping to consider that maybe we're ALL drawing these ridiculous contrasts, because we fail to be REAL for our 100, 300, 1000+ "friends." It was taking it's toll on me, to be sure.


Anyway, reason 2: (Real) Friends

In the busyness of my life, I've been neglecting mine. And I have kickass friends. With the constant stream of information Facebook afforded me, I never had to make the effort to really care about my friends. Just a scroll through my newsfeed, and that was it, save a text here and there. I broke from FB to be an intentional friend to the people who have been intentionally and faithfully mine.

So there's that. It's been challenging, liberating, a little terrifying, and only 5 days.

More to come.

2 comments:

Pedro and Megan said...

Now I get why Stacy and I couldn't find you on FB anymore! Congrats on actually doing it, something I've been thinking about for awhile and just haven't done yet. Stacy however was trying to get ahold of you to send you a baby shower invitation, she just needed your address. I totally forgot that I followed your blog:) Could you send it to me/her if you have her contact info. Hope to see you there! Megan

Jess said...

Hey Megan! I don't actually have her contact info! Could you e-mail it to me? JessicaReid121@hotmail.com!