15 Comments

  1. So, Sandy, I was also going crazy checking FB several dozen times a day, including the minute I woke up in the morning to catch up with my friends in other time zones. I took FB off my phone, so now I actually have to walk to the computer in order to see what my friends are posting about the cold… and it stops me from checking FB whilst washing my daughter’s hair but I don’t feel completely out of touch.

    1. Rebekah, That’s a good idea. For this break, I removed email notifications and I moved the FB app from the first page on my phone to a screen a few pages back. That helps. But I think taking it off my phone altogether is a better option.

  2. I totally get it Sandy! I left Facebook altogether a couple years ago, and when I came back I was very choosy about who I ‘friended’. I decided that I would let go of old school friends and friends of friends. I tried to ask myself if I really cared what this person had for dinner or what so and so did on Saturday night. Even now, there are many friend requests that I ignore. I feel bad, but I don’t want FB to be more of a time sucker (or morale sucker) than it already is.
    If you decide to do the same, I hope you don’t delete me 😉

    1. I think we became friends about the time you came back or maybe you left and then came back? I think I remember you leaving once. Morale sucker is a huge issue for me. Because mixed with all the stuff I want to read is a lot of stuff I don’t want to read. Maybe hiding more people from my feed–I don’t have it in me to “unfriend” people.

      And don’t worry, friend–as I was writing this post, you were one of the people I was thinking, “even if I do leave FB forever, I could never just grab coffee with Kelly or even call.” Unless, of course, Kelly invites me back to speak at another conference. Just sayin.

  3. Have I told you lately how much I love you?! You make me laugh out loud! That is except for the fact that I know you are actually really stressing over some of these things! I just want to remind you how much all of your friends/followers love & appreciate YOU…all that you are, all that you think you are not! You remind us that yes, life gets crazy (so do we), we may not always react appropriately (the high road is NOT the road most traveled!), and yet…Jesus loves us!!! It’s true: I’m ok and You’re ok (even if we’re a little crazy and unbalanced at times) because of that little baby KING sleeping in a stinky hay trough 2000 years ago. He SEES us (Avatar-style) and thinks His kids are just the bee’s knees or the schnizzle-fanizzle (I refuse to say SIIIICK because I’ve recently been sick and it’s not cool in any way)! He knows that we’re on a journey. While we want to always be “running” this race called LIFE, I think at times He’s pleased that we’re just putting one foot in front of the other. We forget that He reminded us to run with patience (Heb 12:1); sometimes that’s being patient with ourselves! You are so transparent (which in itself is a sign that you’re healthy – not everyone can admit they’re less than perfect) and down-to-earth! I love you as a friend, a blogger, and most of all as my precious sister who is just as REAL as I am! Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving (belated…yes, I forgot to wish your family, who I LOVE, a Happy T’giving…shoot), Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!!

  4. Sandy, you are an amazing person. I know a lot of people that feel they “need” facebook. I can honestly say I am glad I am not one of those people. I could check my news feed once a week and it be too much. I just dont care what someone had for breakfast or a video of some kids fighting in school. The things that i am most concerned about are in my home and i dont need facebook to see that. When facebook, even tv or video games are given more attention than our spouses, kids, work, driving, and even God thats when we need to step back and look at what we are doing to the people around us. I know that I would not want to be the one being ignored by someone because of facebook or its comparable “evil”. I do like to see what old friends are up to or looking at cute pictures of puppies, but spending hours doing so is overboard. Managing time is the key, and family should fit at the top of the timeline for sure. I love you and everything you have done for me. You are an amazing mother and friend. Be true to youself and what you know is right for your family and friends, you will be blessed with their love beyond imagination.

    1. Oh, now see…I DO enjoy knowing what people ate for breakfast, as long as they post a picture and it’s awesome and yummy and gives me inspiration to create something awesome and yummy in my kitchen. I’m odd that way. 🙂 I agree that managing time wisely is key. Anything that sucks hours from your day should be closely monitored or reevaluated altogether. Anything that takes time away from your top priorities should be monitored as well. Great points. And Girl…YOU are one of the main reasons I am on FB. I am SOOOOO glad we reconnected there and absolutely adore seeing pictures of you and the kids. So, please don’t ever leave. I LOVE YOU.

  5. I have only taken breaks from social media for a week or so while on vacation with no wifi. It has always been relaxing not to feel the pressure to check in every 30 minutes. I also got that disconnected feeling you describe when logging back on.

    BTW, I enjoy your posts whenever they arrive. I’m always like “Great! Sandy’s back.”
    Lori

    1. Thanks, Lori. Up until very recently, I never even logged onto wifi on vacation or checked emails or anything. Before smart phones…I miss those days when a vacation was truly a break from the real world.

  6. I love Facebook and no longer feel sheepish admitting that. One of the funny things I have noticed about Facebook snobbies (those not on that make snide remarks about those that are) is that they have some habits that they will spend HOURS on (watching TV sports for hours at a time while doing nothing productive) but give grief to those who enjoy social media. As for FB, I can scroll through my feed in five minutes or less – I just bypass posts if I don’t have time to look at pictures, read thru posted articles, rants, etc.

    I also LOVE that I am friends with my beloved 5th grade teacher, a handful of friends that I had when I was 10 that I never would have dreamed of being able to keep in touch with since we had moved, and family connection with cousins who are spread out around the country. Plus, how many of us really even get to visit with our neighbors who are a mile away when life is so busy for all? But I get to keep up with their cute kids posts and photos and know at least a little bit of what is going on in their lives.

    Fun stuff, if you ask me. 🙂

    1. I have a close personal friend (*cough cough* my husband) who gives me grief about FB. But he will fall asleep in front of ESPN every night. And he often wants to know what’s going on with people we know who are my FB friends. Not to throw him under the bus or anything…just speaking truth.

      I like keeping up with real life friends via FB, even it’s a little bit, too. Jon and I work the nursery sign in table at church and it’s so funny how family after family comes in to chat with me and we are all talking about stuff we shared and saw on each other’s FB walls.

  7. I recently took a decent enough vacation from FB to break my habit of checking my newsfeed so often. I re-activated and found a tiny bit of important updates, a mild amount of entertainment, and a whole lot of irritation. Now I’m mildly irritated that the important information was mass-communicated instead of directly communicated to those who sincerely care the most.

    1. I am so glad you inspired me to take this break. 🙂 There are a lot of things that irritate me on FB, too. That will truly be the challenge for me when I go back. To be able to regulate my time and/or restrict my feed in such a way as to minimize irritation and still stay connected.

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