Why I love social networks and deactivated my Facebook account anyway

Facebook. 

Ah, Facebook. 

If Mark Zuckerberg knew how much of my life I waste on his creation, he'd hire me...or pay me...I'm certain I keep it in business. I spend hours of every single day surfing through fb. I read every status, every comment, every post. I click every link and read every article. I love Facebook in nearly every way a person can. 

There are a couple things that happen to a person when they are like me. There are ways facebook influences a person...reasons that make taking breaks absolutely necessary. In the many years I've had an active fb account, I've never taken a break. Until now. Today I deactivated my fb account. Here's why:

1. Every morning I wake up, and the first thing I do is check fb. It's the first thing on my mind...wondering what the world is doing (or was doing while I slept.) There is so little time in my day when I'm not thinking about Facebook and that idea makes me sick to my stomach. I don't want fb to be in the forefront of my mind. I don't want it to dominate my thoughts...my emotions...my time. 

2. Once upon a time fb was fun. It was an opportunity to share things with friends and family...it was lighthearted. Over the past year not a day goes by where there aren't dozens of people complaining about their stupid first world problems. It's become a soapbox for individual misery and I'm embarrassed to admit that I've taken part too. Its not okay, guys. We throw our misery into the social world with hopes we may catch some empathy or sympathy, and more often than not, it's not actual misery. I don't want to be the person who has a place in the virtual world to voice my petty and ridiculous complaints. I wanna shut my mouth and be grateful. I wanna be prayerful. I wanna be quiet and still...bringing my requests before The Lord instead of 500 of my closest friends and family. 

3. I'm tired. Exhausted really. My sister said it best when she told me it's important to be in some control of what you let "in"...I was letting "in" the opinions and thoughts of hundreds of people. Some good, some bad, but regardless, it was affecting my mood and my heart. When something of the world has that much control over you, it's time to cut the ties. 

I'm starting with a month fast from my beloved Facebook. I'm hopeful (and prayerful) that I will find a million more enriching activities to fill my time with...and not miss it at all. Maybe I'll even lose my desire to be on it altogether. There is a part of me that REALLY hopes that comes to be. So for now, goodbye my dear Facebook. Don't go getting all exciting while I'm gone. 

Xo

Lindsey 

Ps. You can still find me on Instagram and twitter...though not nearly as often :)