Hope you all are well. We’re knee-deep in getting-out-of-school mode, so things are busy. Good busy, but my already limited organizational skills are being stretched to capacity.
I was feeling slightly stressed this morning, but then I came across the above article, and it gave me some peace.
It’s so easy to get caught up in how others are doing things and then second guess ourselves. I am SO guilty of this!
I try to remind myself of my own values and usually as long as I recognize that my actions are consistent with my values, I can bring myself back from the metaphorical cliff.
I logged onto Facebook this morning and was bombarded with all the Honor’s Day posts. I’m as proud of my kids as the next person, but seriously, when did it become okay to post your kids’ report card for the world to see? Is it just me or is that a bit much?
Regardless, I had to let it go. It’s my responsibility to not allow myself to feel less-than simply because I’m witnessing another’s success. I enjoy peeking into my friends’ lives via social media and I like to celebrate others’ accomplishments, but I don’t know, this morning seemed a bit excessive. Additionally there were a couple of snarky remarks that I let affect me emotionally.
Yesterday, after one particular social media interaction between a close friend and her coworker got a little nasty, my friend called me to vent and she was obviously very upset about the whole thing. I walked away from the conversation wondering when we got to this point of valuing achievement over civility. I’m trying to keep this short, so forgive me for being vague.
So this morning I logged off of Facebook and felt better instantly.
Does social media ever do a number on you emotionally? How do you handle it?
In addition to shutting down Facebook, I came up with a mantra for the day:
Be true to yourself and be kind.
Happy Wednesday, y’all!
Grief Happens 
I love your thought about not being less than b/c of someone else’s success.
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Thanks. For what it’s worth, I have to remind myself of this frequently and at times I flat out fail. I have learned to view it as a practice — some days are easier than others and on days when I fail, I just commit to trying again tomorrow and the next day and on and on…
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Also, parents who live their lives through their kids successes need a life. And done! 🙂
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Curse those parents who shared their kids’ report card successes on Facebook. Bet that makes parents whose kids don’t get straight A’s feel awesome. As if those kids need more pressure. Ak. Ak. Ak. By the time I retired, we were sending the kids’ report cards home via e-mail. So much better.
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Thank you for your follow! I have only had a quick look at yours but shall be delighted to follow your posts. 😀
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Thanks. I look forward to reading more of your blog.
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I closed my facebook, because of it. I had to reluctantly reopen it because I realized I had used it as a log in identifier to spotify and flickr. I’m going to start new accounts based on my email and then close it again. In the meantime I put everyone on a restricted list, turned off chat, and deleted the app off of my phone. Instantly a little more peace. It made me depressed because it was just filled with acquaintances, that frankly don’t really give a damn about me – and I would get depressed seeing people have fun with each other, events, and such and I never get invited. Sucked. I feel so much more love in the blogging community that I ever feel in my day to day. Good luck with your organization, I’m organizationally challenged, as well.
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I like your advice. I try to stick to the rule of checking it once a day, but I need to go through my friends and put them in lists. I did lots of un-friending last year — that helped even though I felt kind of guilty. I took the app off my phone a long time ago and that made a huge difference in my mood. Most days I feel like I’m able to strike a balance. I guess yesterday I just allowed it to annoy me. Thanks for your comment.
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I like your mantra!
And I can’t stand Facebook. I know the stuff you’re describing isn’t limited to Facebook. The issue IS (I agree) the greater problem of putting value on the wrong things – and feeling less compelled to reach for civility in your interactions with people, because you’re not actually in physical space with the person on the other end of what you’re saying. That’s definitely a problem – and goes beyond Facebook. But Facebook seems (to me anyway) to be such a stronghold for that sort of thing! Facebook interactions (when I was on Facebook) just felt too much like high school – the dumb, clique-y, competitive side of high school.
I’ve enjoyed Twitter a lot more. I don’t know if it’s the 140-character limit that makes the difference, or if it’s some mental difference between “friending” and “following” (and un-friending and un-following) that affects the culture, or what – but Twitter seems to be more about spreading news than it is about bragging about your kid and so on. Which I prefer!
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Good point about Twitter. I struggle with filtering and already feel overloaded by a constant influx of information which is why I’ve stayed away from Twitter, but I know lots of people who feel the same as you about it — prefer it to Facebook and consider it a kinder and more intelligent online culture.
Normally Facebook doesn’t get to me and I do my best to stay off the main newsfeed, but yesterday seemed over the top. I get more aggravated with myself when I let it get to me — I’m taking it as a sign that I need a break.
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I don’t “do” social media for these exact reasons. Totally detest who I become when I’m feeling like I have to compete. Ugh!
Also, I loved the link! Growing through a rough patch & seriously doubting my choices. Your post really gave me that timely affirmation I so needed.
Thank you!
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I’m so glad it helped. Sending you love as you grow through your rough patch. I have no doubt you’ll come out stronger and wiser. And yes, I also dislike who I become when I feel like I have to compete.
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