I’ve been feeling really conflicted lately about being on Facebook. I really like being able to share family pictures and events, and I do like some of the content, but I also find myself mindlessly scrolling at times. And I really don’t like it when I do that. I know the app is very addictive, and all addictions can be harmful. Can anyone else relate to this?
As far as sharing Young Living Essential Oils, my Facebook and Instagram account is where I do a lot of that. I have a Facebook group where I post a lot of great information, and news about Young Living sales, new products, and so on.
I honestly wish I could just communicate on my own website, or via emails, or even better, face to face.
So, it’s a love/hate relationship I have with the online platforms. I know that’s where the people are, and I need to be there, but I find it hard, sometimes to continuously contribute to a platform that I know can be harmful to some.
So, what I’ve done, as sort of a compromise, is I’ve taken the app off my phone. At least this way, I have to go on my computer to post anything, and to check out posts. I’m hoping this reduces the amount of time I’m spending online. After all, life is not meant to be lived online. It’s meant to be experienced in the company of other actual humans, or in the quiet moments when you just decompress on your own.
Anyway, I’m telling you all of this to say, I would really rather just have a conversation with you. So if you want to chat about these wonderful essential oils, I am open to doing that with you. Send me a message if you’d like to connect. We can chat on the phone, on Zoom, or even in person, if you live nearby.
I was born in the early sixties. I grew up without the internet, without social media, without apps. If you wanted to hang out with a friend, you went over and knocked on their door, or called their house, on a rotary phone. There were no emails, no texts, no messaging, no DM's.
I also grew up in a very small town, so kids just got together at the park, or at someone's house and figured out what they wanted to do from there. There were no mobile phones with cameras capturing everything we did. Thank goodness! Hahaha!
So, if you missed it, you missed it! You couldn't go on Facebook to see the reel.
I know there's both good and bad with social media. It's great for seeing my kids' adventures, and for seeing instant photos of my granddaughter. It's great for keeping connected, albeit virtually, to old friends and family. It's just the sneaky way it seems to take over your free time that's problematic. And of course, there are always ways that abusive people will use the platforms to harm others, which is absolutely abhorrent and depressing. Yet, I have also seen good people share GoFundMe posts to help support friends and families in need, and with the reach of social media, they have raised thousands of dollars to help those families.
Anyway, I guess I’m probably not going to get rid of my Facebook or Instagram accounts any time soon, but the amount time I spend on there is going to be less and less. I’ll try to post things first thing in the morning, and then not look at it again until the next day. And I’ll be taking occasional breaks from social media throughout the year. I think this is a healthy practice for everyone to employ. Reconnect with friends in person, take a walk in nature, enjoy dinner with family. All those good things can happen without the use of social media and you’ll feel better for it.
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