Now and then, I find myself either loving or hating social media. This is one of those times. I cannot understand for the life of me why people would use this outlet for character assassination, airing one’s dirty laundry, or other such things that breed hurt, pain, and anger. It is just as bad as a church leader beating people up from the pulpit with authoritative words that can injure beyond repair. I grieve. It makes me sad, and it makes me angry. I am just an old-fashioned encourager. The best for people is what I want. I love God’s most precious creation and I love myself. Most of us have heard the saying, “If you have nothing good to say; then don’t say anything at all.” Now, I am wise enough to know that it is not always possible to remain silent. Sometimes some things just need to be said, but it is how the message is said that makes the difference.
I make it a point to not go on social media too regularly. A constant diet of it is enough to addict me to negativity and put things in my mind that I cannot soon forget. Once you see a thing, sometimes it is so hard to unsee it. On the positive side, it is also a way of keeping up with family and friends… watching how we are all aging either gracefully or not and encouraging others to be the best that they can be. I have desired, often, to shut down my personal page and only leave my professional page up. It is usually on those days that I am having thoughts of why? Why? Why? And so, the battle continues within. Do I, or don’t I?
We are living in a fast-paced world. It appears the days are getting shorter and shorter. Because of this, I intentionally want to live my best life and if I am to do that, I must change a lot of my habits. They say it takes at least six weeks to break an old habit and just as long to develop a new one. Maybe I will go on a six-week sabbatical from social media and see what that does for me. I wonder if I will go through withdrawal. Will I pace the floor with phone in hand, trembling as I wonder what I am missing?
I guess the moral of this blog is to make sure I have a hold on social media and that it does not have a hold on me. Any good thing can become a bad thing if used inappropriately. Oh, that I would gain wisdom beyond my years. All this gray hair has got to count for something!