I'm only passing through...
And Other Life Changes
Published on May 10, 2013 By new-age nomad In Life, the Universe and Everything

The irony of this post is not lost on me.   I couldn't wait to share my thoughts with my fb friends about how social media is destroying us.  I should say "our use of social media", as the invention is quite spectacular and useful in ways most don't utilize. 

I'm obviously not the first to observe this, but it's ignored on such a huge level that it bears repeating. Smart phones, Facebook, Texting.....all of it, is making us dull.   It takes so much away from the feeling and observation of actual life that our personalities are gradually dimmed to make room for vanity.

And if one considers how their time is spent daily, and unpretentiously evaluates their motives, it's mostly just begging for acknowledgment, love, acceptance.....which isn't a shameful thing.   It's natural. But it's easy.  

And this new world we live in makes it so easy to CHOOSE easy.   If you don't make an arduous effort to separate yourself and think, it will swallow you whole on a tide of temporary feelings and overindulgence.  And you will believe that happiness is that shitty little piece of life because you were never brazen enough to demand more.

So none of that is what I learned.  That's just WHY I took a break.   No...no....HERE is what I learned:

- Sunflower looks amazing behind a swinging glow stick.   And while I'm not bogged down with maintaining my virtual self, I notice her grin when I slip her name into "You are my Sunshine", even though it's quick because she's learning how to hide her feelings already, for all the reasons we do.   And I allowed myself grief over losing another piece of my baby, a milestone I would have missed burried in my own self interest. 

- Running is amazing.   I can't go very far, yet, but I can already appreciate the movement of my limbs and the energy from the air moving past me.....the being ok with being alone in my own mind for a while.  People aren't comfortable with that anymore.   

- My husband loves me.   And I love him.   And that gets ignored too often.   We are so lucky to have our lives.   I am so lucky to have a man willing to work against himself to be a man that makes me happy.  He's clawing his way up from a dark reality he created, and he's so brave.  And he inspires me.

- It's well known that I'm not a phone talker.   For me, and I assume the majority, it's much easier to text, especially when what you're trying to convey is deeper than surface level.   But, I learned that simple text takes away emotion, takes away the sound of our voice, and the gift we give another person when we say they're important enough for us to feel self-concious for a moment. 

 
There are so many things we can do, big and small.    But this generation is choosing the perspicuous path, and that makes us the worst one yet when we're equipped with so many tools.


Comments (Page 1)
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on May 11, 2013

It can indeed be quite disconcerting how the younger generations seem to digest and define reality through doped-up, dumbed-down digital glasses.

Nice to meet you , and welcome back to the land of the living.  Seven and Neo showed us just how difficult waking up can be.

Although I take a small amount of pride in never getting caught up in the social networking wave, I do find it increasingly difficult to relate to the modern world with every passing day.  It's reassuring to meet another appreciator of the organic experience.

on May 11, 2013

Very nice 

on May 11, 2013

Human interaction has become a lost tool in this digital age. I for one prefer to talk to someone face to face if possible, if not I will choose calling over texting every time.

It amazes me how much some people are imursed into thier social networking and texting that they do not even realize what is going on around them.

A few weeks a ago I almost hit 2 young people who were so imursed in thier phones that when they got to the intersection they did not even look up, They just kept walking even though the do not walk signal was on.

on May 11, 2013

nice to meet you cardinal.    I use to write on here in highschool, and I come back every now and again to relive the sense of family I found here.    It was pretty different 10 years ago.  Then again, facebook didn't exist.

 

nice to meet you guys

on May 11, 2013

It's a good tip for a healthy lifestyle.

Turn off facebook and go outside - the real world is far more interesting

on May 11, 2013

Fuzzy Logic
Turn off facebook

Did that a week ago. Haven't missed it one bit.

on May 11, 2013

new-age nomad
It was pretty different 10 years ago.

Some of us are still here....nothing really changes....just the bodies ache a little more....

on May 12, 2013

You can't miss something you never had. therefore, since I have never desired to participate in any type of social networking, I don't miss anything and my natural organic lifestyle is still intact thankfully. My idea of social networking is jumping on "Matilda" and cruising with Rolling Thunder down some twisty curvey country road out in the middle of nowhere, then stopping at some roadside general store for a hot dog & soda and good conversation with some awesome fellow bikers.           -- Ace --

on May 12, 2013

I've often wondered why its called 'social' media. There isn't anything social about it. My interpretation of social is going out there physically to meet people, face to face, shaking hands and knocking back a brew or two. Somehow being anonymous, a virtual voice relegated to text on a screen, takes away a little bit of our humanity. There is no comparison when it comes to sunshine, fresh air and seeing the world one on one. Pity this new generation seems to have lost that.

on May 12, 2013

I've restricted my Facebook use to a moniker (not related to Steven Aus) that I use very rarely to communicate to one of my friends who is hard to contact otherwise.  But other than that I don't use it.  I might log in two to three times a year, maybe one more in extreme cases.

I still use emails and forums a lot though.  A well-moderated forum that encourages sharing and prevents most griefing is more than worth its weight in golden Stardock trophies.  And by and large, Stardock forums are very friendly.

on May 12, 2013

Ace:   I like  the sound of your life a lot. 

Steven:  The reason I'm not able to go turn off facebook completely is because I'm a traveler, and it's my only connection to dozens of people I would otherwise lose contact with.

 

on May 12, 2013

StevenAus

I've restricted my Facebook use to a moniker (not related to Steven Aus) that I use very rarely to communicate to one of my friends who is hard to contact otherwise.  But other than that I don't use it.  I might log in two to three times a year, maybe one more in extreme cases.

I still use emails and forums a lot though.  A well-moderated forum that encourages sharing and prevents most griefing is more than worth its weight in golden Stardock trophies.  And by and large, Stardock forums are very friendly.

 

I read a post the other day telling me how hateful and bias the Stardock forums are. Cool how perspective changes depending on the viewpoint.

Apart from that statement, I'd disagree with the OP. To me social media provides very helpful contacts around the world. There's nothing wrong with it unless you are addicted and spend every other second on there. Just like anything else, use in moderation.

on May 12, 2013

Necaradan666
I read a post the other day telling me how hateful and bias the Stardock forums are. Cool how perspective changes depending on the viewpoint.
Indeed it does. Just like with any community, you generally get what you give.

As for Facebook, my only interaction with it is when my wife needs help with something or has a question that I can hopefully answer. She's been on it for about a year now and has gotten in touch with friends, family and classmates she hasn't seen or spoken to in decades. I don't see that as a bad thing and she certainly doesn't either.. If the wife is happy, then so am I.

on May 12, 2013

Somehow being anonymous, a virtual voice relegated to text on a screen, takes away a little bit of our humanity
My wife and most of her FB friends use their real names, locations and pictures. How anonymous is that? Stardock forums are far more anonymous than FB.

on May 12, 2013

It really isn't Facebook or any other social networking site that is the problem. It is the people that are so wrapped up in them,that they have lost touch with reality.

I work with several people who spend thier breaks and lunch time with thier faces stuck in thier facebook apps.

I believe most people are blaming facebook,but it is more the people who have become addicted to these things where they do not ever call any one they text or facebook message people and that is thier main form of communication.

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