This year, I have to say, has been a bit of a roller coaster. It started out tumultuous and didn't really level out until just recently. Relationships with friends, co-workers, family, employers, all were tested. I'm happy to say that most had happy resolutions, but still, the stress took its toll on me for a while, and I'm still feeling the after effects of some fallouts.
If I've learned one thing this year it's the importance--nay, necessity--of trusting yourself. Say it with me, now, because I'm can't stress the momentousness of this information:
TRUST YOURSELF
Have a bad feeling about a person or a business deal? Walk away. Before it gets too deep or complicated: walk away. Say no, even if you feel bad. You may hurt feelings, but that's so much better than dragging out a bad thing and STILL having to hurt feelings later.
Another thing I've learned this year is how important it is to have quality friends. When you're going through hard times that no one wants to deal with, it tends to weed out your lesser quality friends, which, while painful, is a GOOD thing. Shitty friends are time-wasters. Life is short, and your time is precious.
Anyway, I could keep going on this "Things I learned this year" kick, but I really just wanted to write about the exciting things that NOT being on Facebook all month has allowed me to do!
Now, it's not like I was on facebook 24/7. In fact, I didn't really think I needed a break. I checked it every now and then, I thought. But as soon as I wasn't "allowed" to be on facebook, I realized just how often I habitually searched it out. The first day of my facebook fast had me stopping myself from opening the app on my phone every few hours. I still have messenger, so it sent me messages, and when I would check my business pages, I think it showed me as active on chat. But I never checked my newsfeed, I never responded to personal messages. It freed up SO MUCH TIME. But the greatest advantage of cutting out facebook was the mental space it freed up.
I didn't realize how mindless my intake of information had become. I didn't look things up, I just scrolled through facebook and read whatever anyone else posted. I took in information, watched funny memes and videos, saw the newest movie trailers, but WHY? In God's name, WHY did I care about half of the stuff I was putting into my brain? The answer is: I didn't. And without it being funneled to me constantly, I had the freedom to seek out things I was genuinely interested in.
The mental space and additional free time made December perhaps the most productive month of the year for me. I am EXCITED about the things I'm choosing to do with my time. I am happier to hear from friends now because when I do, it's an actual personal connection, not just seeing their post on facebook, or them liking one of mine.
My creativity is thriving, my relationships are thriving, and I am so ready for 2015.
And remember, friends:
TRUST YOURSELVES
If I've learned one thing this year it's the importance--nay, necessity--of trusting yourself. Say it with me, now, because I'm can't stress the momentousness of this information:
TRUST YOURSELF
Have a bad feeling about a person or a business deal? Walk away. Before it gets too deep or complicated: walk away. Say no, even if you feel bad. You may hurt feelings, but that's so much better than dragging out a bad thing and STILL having to hurt feelings later.
Another thing I've learned this year is how important it is to have quality friends. When you're going through hard times that no one wants to deal with, it tends to weed out your lesser quality friends, which, while painful, is a GOOD thing. Shitty friends are time-wasters. Life is short, and your time is precious.
Anyway, I could keep going on this "Things I learned this year" kick, but I really just wanted to write about the exciting things that NOT being on Facebook all month has allowed me to do!
Now, it's not like I was on facebook 24/7. In fact, I didn't really think I needed a break. I checked it every now and then, I thought. But as soon as I wasn't "allowed" to be on facebook, I realized just how often I habitually searched it out. The first day of my facebook fast had me stopping myself from opening the app on my phone every few hours. I still have messenger, so it sent me messages, and when I would check my business pages, I think it showed me as active on chat. But I never checked my newsfeed, I never responded to personal messages. It freed up SO MUCH TIME. But the greatest advantage of cutting out facebook was the mental space it freed up.
I didn't realize how mindless my intake of information had become. I didn't look things up, I just scrolled through facebook and read whatever anyone else posted. I took in information, watched funny memes and videos, saw the newest movie trailers, but WHY? In God's name, WHY did I care about half of the stuff I was putting into my brain? The answer is: I didn't. And without it being funneled to me constantly, I had the freedom to seek out things I was genuinely interested in.
The mental space and additional free time made December perhaps the most productive month of the year for me. I am EXCITED about the things I'm choosing to do with my time. I am happier to hear from friends now because when I do, it's an actual personal connection, not just seeing their post on facebook, or them liking one of mine.
My creativity is thriving, my relationships are thriving, and I am so ready for 2015.
And remember, friends:
TRUST YOURSELVES