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Life without Facebook

About 1 month ago I deleted my Facebook app on my phone. I found that for ME it was very addicting. It's the first time in my life where I really think I was addicted to something, like I couldn't stop myself from getting on it, and couldn't pull myself off, and was constantly having urges to check it. It was a scary moment pressing "delete", and I wondered how long I could go before reinstalling it, and if I would feel I was missing out on stuff.  I am happy to say I have resisted the urge to reinstall my app several times now and have  gone for a whole month without it on my phone. That's not to say that I haven't been on Facebook, just that I can only access it through my computer, which I don't use very often, and I no longer have access to it every second of the day.  What have I learned so far from this?

1. Socializing online is not very fulfilling. I much prefer face-to-face interaction because I get an immediate response with a current emotion. 

2. I am lonely. That's why I think Facebook is addicting for me. I get on and I'm "with" friends. I get off and I am alone again, so I never want to get off. There's an emptiness to it because when I walk away I don't feel fulfilled. I keep wanting more.  

3. I don't need so many pseudo-friends, I just need real friends. Friends that are involved in my life, whether from far or near.  Friends that I keep in touch with outside of Facebook. Those are the real ones that bring me joy. 

4. Having technology at our fingertips teaches us to be impatient. I realized that every spare moment I had (stoplight, school pickup, waiting at dr office, etc) was filled with checking Facebook.  I couldn't sit still and just be with myself for a moment without filling my head with something. It's been surprisingly hard to retrain myself to just sit still and think. It's really good for you. 

5. Wanting everyone to know what I am doing and thinking all the time made me self-centered. I got so wrapped up in wanting everyone to know what was going on in my life that I was neglecting the people in my life! (like my kids) and then I felt bad when not enough people seemed interested or commented on my stuff, probably because they were wrapped up in wanting to share their OWN lives. Ironic huh. 

6. My everyday experiences were always coupled with the thought of how I could share them with others. Now I am finding personal fulfillment in just living my life and not in wondering what other people will think about it.

7. I was comparing myself with others too much.  I still do it, but at least now my pool of comparisons consists of just the people in my life and doesn't include the 100+ others, most of which I only see the positive. 

I could go on but all-in-all I am learning that I can live life without Facebook, and live happier. Blogging on the other hand...I don't think I could do without that ;). It's my family journal, and my way of sharing my life with the people I love most!  I do it for me and my posterity and it makes me happy :)


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