This year for Lent, I decided to give up social media (except Facebook, so that I can share this article, of course). Although I understand that not everyone is religious, I strongly suggest everyone take on this challenge at least once in their life. The removal of social media from daily existence has pushed me to think for myself in more ways than one. And after only 24 days of the process, here is what I have learned:
1. I compare myself to others way too often.
Every time I open up a social media app, I always see something that I don't have. Whether it be a cute relationship, a new dress, or perfect hair, I become jealous. What I fail to realize, however, is that I will never have someone else's life. And even if I do end up purchasing that new dress that she has, the purchase will not suddenly make me happy. If I dye my hair the same color as another girl, I will not suddenly acquire the rest of her, too. My life is mine, and I will never be able to live someone else's.
2. The number of followers we have does not equal the number of friends we have.
No matter how many pictures someone "likes" of you, or how many Tweets they "favorite," you two are not friends. Unless you have real life, up-close-and-personal conversations, your relationship doesn't mean much. They do not "love you so much, girl" because you told them they look cute in their new shoes. They love you if you care about them and talk to them and spend time with them.
3. I forgot that other people's lives are not affecting mine.
"Oh my goodness, do you see this sushi she just posted?"
Who cares? You are eating your meal in your house with the people you love. When did it ever start mattering what anyone else was doing? Is their meal affecting yours? Is their outfit affecting yours? The answer: not one bit.
4. I have stopped thinking for myself.
When I need inspiration for a project, I have stopped searching in my soul. I have ceased to use my own mind to determine my next art project. Pinterest has become my source of creativity. But Pinterest is someone else's work. It is collection of million's of other people's ideas. What happened to independence?
5. There is a world out there waiting for us.
There are coffee shops waiting for us on Sunday mornings. They are longing for us to get out of our beds and waiting patiently for us to stop liking people's Instagram pictures from last night. The world misses us so much. And it is willing to take us back at any given second.
So, I will present my challenge again: skip the social media for a while. No, not forever, just a week or two. Remember, the world wants us back, And we can put down the cell phones and take it whenever we please.
