The Life Lessons A Break From Social Media Taught Me
Psychological detoxing is not only freeing, it’s eye-opening.
When life gets difficult, I’m the type of person who goes ghost. Not with those nearest to me, but my online presence all but disappears. I learned in the early days of social media, not everyone is there to lift you up so much as they’re waiting to watch you fall.
As a born storyteller, it’s built into my DNA to want to express myself. If I’m happy, I shout it from the rooftops. If I’m not, I’ll whisper it from the depths of depression. I’ve been ‘in my feelings’ since before Drake was in a wheelchair on Degrassi.
But with social media, this isn’t always a good thing. Sure, the little avatars represent actual people, but not always good intentions. When we didn’t have social media, it forced people to say the things they needed to say in person. Now, hiding behind a keyboard has made people a lot bolder. It gives them the courage to say things they likely wouldn’t if it was a person-to-person conversation.
When the election was impending, I left Facebook early on. Politics are part of life, but I choose not to discuss them with people who live in an echo chamber. I’ve seen relationships destroyed and lives ruined over political discourse, and I refuse to be a part of that…
