To All of My Dear Friends,
I hope this letter finds all of you in good spirits and health. I write to you now hoping that you have watched the video I posted back in February. If not, please watch it before you proceed, as it will help you to understand more why I am writing what I am. This is my “Farewell" to Facebook.
First, I can safely say that I am glad to have cut FB out of my digital routine. It was difficult at first, I admit, but the longer I was away, the better I felt. In a way, I went through withdrawal. The first few days were the worst. I felt this perceived need to check in and when I didn’t, I felt weird. There were times where I was checking in just to pass the time. I never saw anything new or interesting, yet this was a habit I had formed. And thanks to knowing the science behind how social media works on the brain, I knew why I felt better the more I checked in.
Next is the matter of time spent on FB. While I did not use an official app tracker to see exactly how much time I spent on FB, I knew it was a considerable amount. There were even instances where I was so involved in scrolling and swiping that I lost track of time and was late a few times to planned events. That bothered me. I wondered: If something that is meant to be social causes me to be late for something that is actually social, is it worth keeping? Also, in the video, one of the speakers talks about people’s excessive use of Social Media simply because they lack something better to do. I came to realize that for myself, there were too many things I wanted to do, explore, try, or learn that it’s just not worth putting those things aside for merely scrolling, liking, sharing, etc.
Please know that I do not think ill of anyone who is able to keep a balance here. FB can be a valuable tool, and is being used responsibly by many, many people. You are probably one of them. So don’t think I condemn anyone who wishes to remain active on FB or any other social media. Because I don’t. My decision in this matter is based solely on personal reflection on my own set of circumstances and thinking about what truly is best for me. Nothing more.
So, you may wonder …… what’s next? Well, I plan on focusing more on my blog, of which, this is a post as you are aware. My blog has the ability to post links to FB, something you also are aware of; and so I will use that option to keep in touch with all of you. I can promise you that there will be no blurbs there. Posts like this one will be the order of the day; complete with pictures, videos, and whatever else I feel like adding. However, I will not be logging in to FB anymore. So even as you read this, I will never see again if you like my post or comment on it. And I'm ok with that…. No offense.
I thank you all for sharing in this with me. I look forward to seeing you in person sometime, or perhaps I might hear from you in a text, email, or snail mail. Feel free to send one or another, or perhaps any combination, from time to time.
Your Friend and Family Member,
James
