When viewing social media posts recently or reading online articles, one thing becomes very clear – the world is ending, and everybody is a fucking asshole.
This is the only obvious conclusion to come to. Especially over the past few months, when every corner of the internet seemed to be full of content showing us how bad things are.
But… I had my doubts that the world was actually ending. So I did some investigation and walked out my front door. And sure enough… The world is not ending, and most of the people around me were pretty nice.
It turns out that the offline world is not the same as the online world.
While there are some real challenges that we face right now, it’s important to keep a level head.
Try taking some time offline. Get out and spend more time in the immediate world around you. Be with people you care about. Focus on what’s in your control.
I needed this to be written, and to read it, especially this week. We all need to remind ourselves of this on a weekly and daily basis, especially now.
Thanks
Glad it resonated Ed!
Amen! I spend more time outdoors & little time on social media & sometimes not at all! You have to .. or will drive ourselves nuts in the alternate universe we currently live in, based on mainstream media negative coverage of covid cases 24/7, or inner cities chaos & mayhem 🤪
Absolutely! Despite some hot weather here, I’ve been getting outside as much as possible.
Best thing I have read “online” this week!
Thanks Traci!
But check your privilege before you walk out the door. It’s much easier to let the world go if you are in the majority where you live, you have a steady income, and you’ve done the work needed to help protect the disadvantaged.
There is getting caught up in the endless left vs. right news cycle and in doomscrolling — and there is the belief that “none of this affects me materially so I can ignore it.” Everyone needs to take a break, but taking a permanent break is as bad as everything you see on-line.
Replying to Steve! Believe what you want! But
The enlightened message doesn’t say permanently, read it again!
It says ‘some time’! & your comment ‘check your privilege before you go out’! 🙄Really? I’m surprised you didn’t throw the word ‘white’ in there! 🙀
Another 🤬 apologist! 🤢
Thanks for commenting Steve. I’d disagree that this is a matter of privilege. And without getting into detail, the events of 2020 have certainly had an impact on my life/income in significant ways.
My main goal is to focus more on what is immediately in front us – things that are within our control. That can mean intentionally making decisions in regards to the actions we take, the content we consume, how we vote, and the way we manage our emotions.
No matter what your situation is, I think it’s important to understand the difference between what’s happening “online”, versus what is going on in your direct life.
I had pretty much come to the same conclusion. I gave up social media and stopped reading the news (my husband agreed to tell me if anything important happened). Everything was starting to feel hopeless and I was beginning to dislike/fear random strangers, vague others out there somewhere in the world. Now I live much more of real life. I’m spending time with my family and a few close friends inside my bubble, I’m reading non-fiction books written long before the last few months, and my equilibrium is being restored as much as it can be.
Isn’t that crazy how much your life can improve by living more in the real world?