About four days ago, I decided I was sick of the toxic ideals, vocabulary, and morals of pop culture and America in general. I'm sick of seeing the words "bae" and "goals" and "selfie". I'm sick of hearing about how "thigh gaps" are life goals for different people. I'm sick of hearing about the Kardashians and Bruce/Caitlin and how make up can change your life. I'm sick of hearing about how pastel hair is the new "thing".
I needed a break from main stream America and Pop Culture and trends and fads. I needed to take a moment and come back to what I believe, what I know is right, and what is important to me.
So, I signed out of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Kik, and Twitter (all the social media platforms I use) and I turned off the notifications for all five. Yes, you read that right. I turned off the notifications. And the result was shocking.
What did I find? you might ask. Well, here it is.
Day 1 was torture. I checked my phone every ten minutes, on the dot, like an addict going through withdrawals in desperate need for their drug of choice. I couldn't focus, I couldn't sit still. I was restless, I was bored, I was irritable. It was terrifying. Technology and Social Media have weaseled themselves into our lives, convincing us we need the newest, biggest, touch screen. Or that we NEED to know who wore it best, or what tragic fashion mistake Kim Kardashian made or who the latest celebrities to get divorced are. We need it like we need air in our lungs. We HAVE to know what that cute guy from high school is up to or what that crazy girl turned out to be or we'll just die.
But guess what: I'm still living. I'm right here sucking in oxygen like I have every other day of my life. And I'm not dead.
Day 2 was a whole new world. I checked my phone every few hours, but it wasn't nearly as heartbreaking to remember I logged out of everything. I could focus on chores and laundry and doing the dishes. I found things that needed to be done and GET THIS: I actually had a good time.
By day 3, my IPod was missing almost 24/7 and I didn't really care where it was. I only picked up my phone the two times it rang. I got to spend an entire day enjoying the REAL company of my family, not obsessed with the virtual and insignificant lives of people I will never ever meet.
Today is day 4 and the benefits are really hitting me hard. Not only is it perfectly okay not being tied to Facebook, or Instagram, but my mood has improved. I'm not looking at photo shopped or even real pictures of girls who are naturally thin and thinking "man I really need to work out" or looking at filtered versions of selfies that took seventy takes to get perfect and thinking "man I'm never going to be as pretty as her". I'm not looking at other peoples stomachs and thinking "I wish mine was that small" or looking at other people's relationships and thinking "gosh I'm so alone".
I've stopped comparing myself to everyone else. I can look in the mirror, or into my heart, and think "hey, God made me beautiful and smart and talented and funny and outgoing and I rock it." I think "man I'm blessed to have this life."
Without the constant shove of media trying to tell me who I should act like or what I should look like or what "pretty" is, I can find myself and become confident in the things God gave me.
I guess the point I'm trying to make in all of this, is that we don't realize how attached we are to our Faceboook profiles, or how many likes we get on Instagram or how many Snapchat friends we have. We don't see the negative effect that Social Media is having on our emotions and our mentalities. It is only when we chose to take two steps back that the real world and the reality of the nature of mass media can hit us square in the chest. And folks, that isn't a good feeling. It's scary, and unnerving. It's like someone's had a hold on your mind and your heart that you never even knew about.
So I challenge you to become a Social Media Exile, try for just a week. Sign out of all Social Media platforms; Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Periscope, Vine, Tumblr. Sign out, and don't sign back in for an entire week. Fight through the urge to check your notifications, turn them off completely. If someone really needs you, they'll call or text or email. You'll be amazed at the results and the mindset you find yourself in. If you don't believe me, just try it,
