Turning your face to the sun

I read this on my Facebook feed a few days ago...

"A private life is a happy life."

 First of all, this is obviously not always true. However, I understand what whoever said it is trying to say. It can especially be true with all of the social media pervading our lives nowadays. To keep your life private may simply mean you are not on all of these sites. That in itself could easily lead to a happier life. More fulfilling and meaningful days.

 There IS real value in sharing though.

Like everything else, it's about balance (not balance as in 50/50 but balance as in 95/5). It is also about respecting your kids. Things spread like wildfire on the internet. I think keeping to one platform is best. For example, if I am blogging I should not also be on Facebook.

No Facebook!

 I think it's good to share (with kids you have to think about them obviously), but Facebook is more of a waste of time in my opinion. Also, I cannot stand all of the advertising. As soon as I googled how to fix my toilet there were toilet ads all over my feed. I don't like that. It's creepy.

So I got contacts and I seriously plan on hanging out more and writing mail. Lot's of mail! Real letters with real sharing in them. Making real friends and having real relationships. I look forward to having a box of letters from friends to go back and reread in the future. The kids will also get in on the action. We love decorating envelopes in new and exciting ways too.

I do not want "friends" you only see through a screen. I want friends like this!

So what do you do if you find yourself with a minute and there is no Facebook to check?

 I have quit Facebook numerous times in the past by the way, but I am determined to make this time the last! It's awesome! Deleting a Facebook account is such a great feeling (maybe that is why I do it so much)!

So what to do?

 Usually I read a book, but maybe I should pick up knitting...no I actually do not enjoy it. Plus we do not have need of much knitted items in this part of Texas. I've always wanted to make a habit of cross stitch. It may not have much use, but it is nice to look at. Reading, cross stitch, letter writing, scrapbooking, playing a card game with the kids, going for a walk, sitting on the porch.

Being present.

There is so much left to do without social media taking up every nook and cranny of your life! If you have an account, but do not get on much, good for you! If you have one and are always on, delete it! A lot of people use the excuse that family is on Facebook and they never get to see them or they live so far away. Come on people! Facebook has not been around that long but somehow friends and family stayed in touch! There are so many ways to stay in touch and more meaningful ways too!

So stop looking down at your computer screen, tablet and/or phone AND...

The End of Facebook

Ahhhhhh. That's the sigh of relief. I deleted my facebook account. No more accidentally offending people, no more worrying if I offended people, no more drama. A clear head. It is truly great. My true friends will stay in touch whether I have a facebook account or not.

So now I am truly on a new path. My drama free path. We may be attending a new gym which will also release some more drama from my life. I plan to stay clear of parents and gossip and coaches. No facebook will really help with that. Since the practices are 4 hours long I think I might start taking Naia on one day and Taven on the other. I can have one on one time with them to read, do some sort of activity, puzzles, whatever. On the Saturday practice we could probably just go bug my mom. She will love that! Or they can have time with my husband and I can have a little free time. Who knows. I just hope it all works out.

An interesting thing. My son broke the tv we had in the living room and so we took the one from my bedroom to take its place. I went maybe a month or two with no tv at night (which was the only time I was watching it). Well, of course, my husband had to have another tv, so the old one was returned to my room. I don't want to watch it! It's great! I turned it on that first night and was totally bored with everything I might watch. It all felt like a waste of time.

My life feels good!