I did something ridiculous today. Something on a whim, something very few other people not concerned about government background checks have willingly done. Finally at the point where it seemed more beneficial to just make it go away altogether instead of attempting to hide or defriend every single person whose updates made me want to punch a baby, I made the ultimate sacrifice this morning: I deactivated my Facebook account.
I know what you’re thinking. It’s just a quarter-life crisis, a drama queen moment, a cry for attention. “I know Justin Timberlake’s acting was horribly painful in ‘The Social Network’ but that’s no reason to drop the entire system on which it was based”, you’re probably saying. Well, maybe. But really this serves two specific purposes: to give myself a break from 24/7 access to everyone I’ve ever met - for my own personal sanity – and to prove to myself that I’m actually capable of doing so, so that if I do return (if? let’s be serious) I can cut down on the dependency and find a better balance between the actual, tangible things in front of me and things floating out there in cyberspace. Also, it’s really hard to Facebook safely while floating in my new pool.
I have a sudden sense of relief that I no longer need to pretend I’m interested in someone’s vacation pictures (“Oh yeah, I saw those pictures from Disney World! They were amazing….amazingly similar to the other 14 albums of Disney World pictures people have posted this month”). I will no longer be annoyed by the fact that apparently 58% of everyone I know in this world is incapable of putting together a grammatically correct, coherent sentence. I can breathe easily knowing I will no longer feel stressed by whatever nonsense drama other people are experiencing, drama that ten years ago I never would have even KNOWN about, let alone had to suffer along with them. It’s a good feeling. I am confident and happy with my decision.
Of course, it’s only been an hour.
Ok so ignore my email. Thanks. I applaud you for this, really. You recognized something in your life that wasn’t working and you gave yourself permission to find the solution that worked for you. Even if it’s temporary…I say whoo hoo (although I don’t think I could do it, information junkie/stalker that I am)
There’s an awesome new Facebook Group called “Cupcakes for Cows” that trades in your used squishy cow stress relievers for delicious new cupcakes! I’d tell you to join but….ya know….