I signed onto Facebook so many years ago. It has been nice to reconnect with friends and acquaintances from the past and keep up with friends nearby whom I don't get to see frequently enough. I have enjoyed sending birthday wishes, seeing pictures of children and grandchildren. It has been a great way to catch up. Most often I have signed in to acknowledge milestones, laugh at a meme, get some inspiration from a sassy blonde who knows how to work a crown and wears a lot of pink, and just say hi!
Now it is time to tune it out for awhile. Facebook has become a battleground. It is not somewhere I need to linger. I know, I should be strong and skip over what I don't want to see, but I am guilty of getting sucked down the rabbit hole. And man, that hole can be sad and paralyzing. As we have sunk deeper into this pandemic it seems Facebook has become the platform for anger, meanness and fear mongering. I am a believer if something does not make you better, than it is time to put it aside. And, for me I think it is time for me to bow out of Facebook for awhile.
I do hope, if any of my Facebook friends are reading this, you might take pause to think about what is being shared and posted. I know how easy it is to sit behind a screen and feel anonymous. I do it here and on instagram, pretending to be a writer, a book reviewer or whatever I want to be at any given moment. I am guilty of sharing information I haven't fully checked out... last night trying to be super helpful I forwarded a phone number that ended up being a UK number. Friends, I get it! Perhaps before sharing we should ask: is it true... is it helpful... is it kind... am I being part of the solution.
More than any moment during my lifetime have I felt the need to really pay attention to those reading or listening to my ramblings. We are in a dark time. There is so much going on around us. I don't know when or if we will ever go back to exactly the way we were. I do know,
I want to be surrounded by light and I want to be a lighthouse.
Know behind this screen I am smiling and cheering you on. If you see me out and about, I promise there is a smile behind my mask just for you!
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Just a note to those who commented on my last post... it was so good to hear from you. Thank you for visiting and commenting. I have missed meeting you here. I really am going to try to do better. A couple of you ask if I am going to teach this year. Yes I am. I am not going to lie, I am a bit nervous, but I have an amazing Headmistress. I know we will be doing everything possible to stay safe. Thank you again! The new Blogger is sort of throwing me. Let me know if it is still possible to reply individually to comments. Hugs friends!
I agree, there is much ugliness and division on Facebook. I occasionally see something that I know is untrue but quickly fact check it from two sites. My inclination is to let that person know that they are wrong, but it will do no good and then I would be pulled into the nastiness. Besides, I am a coward and my feeling would get hurt. It angers me that so much spin, politics, and lies are passed around. We are living in desperate times and social media has made the bad even worse.
ReplyDeleteWe need each other to get thru this and we need more kindness.
So nice to have you back in Blogland, Bonnie. Your’s is always a lovely place to come and chat.
Loved seeing your post.
ReplyDeleteAnd your reflecting about Facebook.
I stay away from the political as much as I can.
My focus has been my family, flowers, positives.
And I still try and keep that focus.
I have loved connecting with high school, college friends.
I have loved listening, watching, enjoyed your story reading on IG.
Not a visitor there as often, I will look for you.
i missed your last post here, i will read it after i am finished here. i have not been on Facebook in several weeks and i miss it, but not enough right now. i always post positive notes and pictures of nature, birds and butterflies. but not everyone uses Facebook in the same way and i, like you, do not enjoy most of what i see/read there. i have been taking a break from it as it is not filling the need i once had for it.
ReplyDeletei have many friends and family who live far away and it was always a great way for me to connect with them there. perhaps i should be writing more snail mail notes!! good to see you today!!
Bonnie I agree with you about Facebook...it has nice rewards like you mentioned catching up with old friends and seeing photos of family who live far off, etc. In these times as well as any for that matter so important to stay uplifted and being encouraging to others. Glad to read you will be returning to the classroom. Take care friend. Hugs!
ReplyDelete