Facebook

Today's post will not be your typical Graham post. I will be talking about something that I have a love/hate relationship with. As of lately its mostly a hate relationship though. It is about Facebook. I first got Facebook back in 2007 before it was really popular. Everyone was still pretty hooked on Myspace.

After a year or so of having a Facebook I finally got used to it and knew how to use and I started liking it.  I will admit that I used to update my status constantly and upload tons of pictures, including 'selfies' which now I am rather embarrassed about. But I was young ... I was naive and I am sure I annoyed many people. But I lived and I learned and I don't do that anymore.

Before I had Graham I would go through phases of getting really tired of Facebook and deactivating my account for periods of time to give myself a break. One time I even deleted all my pictures, and all my friends at an attempt to give it up completely. But I eventually gave in once again and came crawling back requesting all my friends again and uploading pictures.

Also before I had Graham I didn't really use my Facebook to do anything other than get on and look to see what people were up to. I didn't really upload a lot of pictures and definitely didn't update my status. Now I admit I do upload a lot of pictures of my son and every time I do I regret it afterwards. It is so hard to break the habit but I am trying. Which is why I started this blog.

A quote one of my Facebook friends posted the other day:

"We live in an age where we feel guilt whenever we have to cut someone off but the reality is that some relationships do need to die, some people do need to be un-followed and de-friended. We aren’t meant to be this tethered to the people in our past. The Internet mandates that we don’t burn bridges and keep everyone around like relics but those expectations are unrealistic and unhealthy. Simply put, we don’t need to know what everyone else is up to. We’re allowed to be choosy about who we surround ourselves with online and in real life, even if it might hurt people’s feelings."-Thought Catalog

I couldn't agree more with this quote. I don't think we were meant to be so connected to the people in our past, the people we don't have personal relationships with. I don't need or really want to know what  someone I went to high school with or haven't seen in years is doing.. what he/she had for lunch, etc. I don't need to know the restaurants people go to, or where they are vacationing or a picture of your new car. For once I would like to go somewhere and not think/feel like "Oh I should take a picture of where I am and what I am doing to put on Facebook for everyone to see" I just want to live in the moment. I am tired of living through Facebook! (I do like to see what certain people are up to, people who I have relationships with) 

How freeing it would be to un-friend those people who really aren't putting any value into your life, or maybe those people who are clearly showing off/constantly bragging on Facebook. I am definitely not saying I haven't fallen prey to any of the above things because I have. Facebook makes it easy. 

I think Facebook also makes relationships too easy. I already know what so and so is up to so I really don't have to make an effort in my relationship with them. 

So you ask why I just don't deactivate my Facebook yet once again?? Well, I like to see what my family is up to that don't live near me or that I don't see a lot. (Andrea you should start a blog :) 

I started this blog in hopes that I could get out of Facebook. I made this blog private because I like to know who is reading my stuff, and I also only want people to read it who really want to and who really care about what we are up to. 

I do know that everyone will not have the same views as me about Facebook and that is completely okay. Some people think it is great to be connected to everyone and that is great.. but it isn't me and I will always have this constant battle in my head of "to delete it or not to delete it." 

If you made it to the end of this post thank you for reading my little rant of the day! :)

Also if you are reading this and we are friends on Facebook please don't think that I don't like to see what you guys are up to because everyone that reads this blog I enjoy having as my friend on facebook. Just wanted to put that out there ;)