A Work in Progress

            I’m going off the grid, off the wall, off my rocker, or whatever else you might consider it.  I’m quitting Facebook and social text messaging!

Why you might ask?! I’m tired of typing “lol” instead of actually laughing out loud.  I’m tired of being in a room with living, breathing human beings and still feel like I’m sitting alone as the Sherwood Forest theme sounds aloud and another text is received by one of my friends. I’m tired of having to instate a “no cell phone rule” when out to dinner with anyone or having a party. And although I’m sick of so many things about technology, what makes me the most passionate about quitting is the stress that accompanies phones in general. Something doesn’t work like the 4G network or my autocorrect changes every word ending in –ing to Nguyen (supposedly one of the most common Vietnamese last names, and apparently one my phone thinks I want to type all the time). That, however, is a rant that I would rather not inflict on the readers.  Basically, in a complex society I want a little simplicity.

 I miss the spontaneity of setting a meeting time and trusting that that person will be there at the specified time. I miss in-depth conversations, not just about life, but our opinions and views of the world. I miss having a conversation with the person in front of me. Lately, I end up having a conversation with myself, while they converse with five other people and respond with “yeah” to everything I say. And yes, I am guilty too!

After everything above, I’m choosing to change my current path and a potentially disturbing future by eliminating social texting (conversations about life) and Facebook. If I want to be social, I’ll have to call someone the old-fashioned way or email them or even send them a piece of snail mail. I want to be excited to talk to my friends and I want them to be excited to talk to me. As opposed to the occasional text of “how are you?” and the response “good, how are you?” and the same response “good.”

The point is, what else could I be doing, learning, or enjoying in place of texting, checking my Facebook account at least four times a day, and even checking my phone’s screen for any sort of notification?

No, I’m not going to judge you if you keep a Facebook account or text for the entirety of the day.  I plainly want to learn about myself, my friends, my family, and the world.  I’ve spent way too much time reading posts about how this person is going on a trip to Africa or how this person is having a baby with this person, and forget that I have a life I want to live too.  I don’t want to look back one day and say what the heck did I do with my life? Did I really spend a quarter of it on Facebook? I should have hiked this mountain when I was young or traveled to the east coast before I had a brood of children to look after. There have been numerous stories lately about people getting diagnosed with some incurable illness, or a car wreck at a young age.  If I were in their shoes, I would have wanted to do everything I possibly could to live a full life before it was gone with the snap of my fingers. This could even mean the little things left unfinished while I check my Facebook for a fifth time.

Here’s the idea behind my madness: stop making excuses! Mine included “I have to have my Facebook to keep in touch with everyone.” Well guess what? I don’t keep in touch with people via Facebook and it’s as simple as typing in their name and sending a message. Friend’s pictures and posts may speak to us, but by simply hitting a “thumbs-up like button” we’re communicating poorly.

This is my plan:

1.       Get shit done! (all those projects left unfinished)

2.       Research stuff (I don’t even know the capitol of every US state, and that’s just the beginning. Sad right?)

3.       Spend more time with my family and friends (in person or over the phone in conversation)

4.       Learn new activities (such as snowshoeing) and have fun doing so

5.       LIVE!

If you would like to follow along on my most-likely-not epic journey, then feel free. I have yet to quit Facebook, but I have not checked it in a couple days (hardest thing ever since there is a reflex built in to my body).  Now that I have started my own way to “keep in touch” with people, I will be closing my Facebook and ignoring social texts but answering them with a phone conversation. I hope to inspire a generation who seems to be lost in technology, but more importantly, I want to live!

Here’s to doing just that…or at least trying!

Disclaimer: If potentially bad grammar, poor sentence structure, and average thought processes bother you, then this is not the blog for you. Yes, there will be the occasional run-on, because this is how I think. If you don’t like it, then don’t read it.  If I misquote, misspeak, or even say something completely incorrect, feel free to criticize.  Don’t however bash me because you don’t like my opinions. No one is forcing you to read this blog.