Instagram. Twitter. Facebook. Scroll, scroll, scroll. Repeat.
When I find myself stuck in a state of boredom, social media is always there. I scroll through Instagram and look at all the posts of my "friends" and everyone I follow, which includes hundreds of people I do not even talk to or know very well. Nonetheless, I follow their lives through pictures. I see who they spend their time with, what they do on a day to day basis, and the places they go. I read through my twitter feed all the pointless posts made by, again, people who are not actively in my life. I know what songs people listen to by the lyrics they tweet. I know who just ate an incredible meal and felt the need to share it with the world. I acquire all this useless information, and for what?
A few months ago, I decided to delete my social media accounts. It was taking over my life. I spent so much of my time just reading about everyone else's lives and seeing all the great things they have been doing in their life. People are selective in what they share with the world. A majority of the social media network focuses on the good and doesn't reveal negative aspects going on in one's life. Watching others' lives progress often arises a need in me to compare myself to everyone else. Are they having more fun than me? Do they have better friends than me? Is everything they post about really true? I ask myself a million questions and worry that I am not living my life the right way and am not as happy and content as everyone else.
The deletion of these accounts opened my eyes to the world around me. I never realized how much I relied on social media to fill my time. Not having the pressures of what to post, when to post, how often, and what people will think of me for it was a feeling of relief. Why should I care what other people are doing and saying? I have arrived at a comfort level with myself that allows me to focus on me and only me. The life I live is mine and no one else's. I am happy and content with where I am and all I have accomplished thus far. Comparing myself to anyone else will do me no good and will only make me question my own self worth and happiness.
I love my life. I love who I am and all I've become. I will live my life to the fullest and encourage everyone to do they same, but I don't need to know about. The only lives I will follow are those of my friends and family; the people I care for and love to hear about how they are and what they are doing through word of mouth.
Modern society is moving towards a world centered around technology, creating a decline in face to face activity. Everyone's eyes are glued to their computer screens, causing them to forget the beauty of the world around them. They fail to step outside and reminisce on times before technology took over.
I encourage everyone to spend less time on social media and more time on enjoying the ride of life you are so blessed to have.
