"There's another new social networking site that I'm supposed to join?!"
So here it is, friends. I am struggling with the rat race that has become social media and there is one reason for it:
I don’t flipping have time.
I love blogging. This here little space of mine is where I often times work out what’s swirling around inside my head and heart. I don’t organize and plan my posts ahead of time. Maybe I should, but that’s not really how my brain operates. I process my emotions through the melodic clicking of the keyboard. It’s where my heart flows. And you want to know what?
Sometimes I don’t share everything I write.
Sometimes the emotions are too raw…too personal. But many times I can’t voice my heart unless I’m writing it out. So blogging? I totally get it.
Everything else? Exhausts me.
Amber from Crappy Pictures wrote about why being a mom makes her suck at Twitter. Through my tears of laughter I’m pretty sure I uttered a hearty “Amen” or two as I read her post. I can’t get into Twitter. My posts usually go like this: “I’m baaaaaack. How’s everyone doing to tonight? #finallybackontwitter”
No one will respond to this tweet, of course, because no one knows me on Twitter. And because, unless I’m writing an article that needs to be promoted for someone else, I usually only tweet about once everyone two weeks.
Because that’s all I have time for.
I mean, I guess I could check my twitter stream a little more every day and try to converse, but I never really know how to converse with Twitter followers without feeling like a creepy cyber-stalker.
I like Facebook…because I get it. I know most of the people on Facebook and they know me. I can post something on Facebook and come back hours later and respond to any comments, whereas with Twitter it seems you need to respond right away or else you’re like the rude neighbor who walks away mid-conversation and never returns.
The frustrating part in all of this is that marketers and others who may want to hire your services in social networking or online writing often look at how wide your impact is, and part of that is your activity on Twitter. They also look at how many Facebook friends you have, how many people are reading your blog, how many comments you get and what kind of toilet paper you use.
Hmph.
It starts to feel like a nasty competition and in the midst of all the running, I can easily lose focus on why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m writing because I love it. I’m writing because I’m good at it. I’m writing because I believe it is a form of praise, an offering back of that which I have been given.
I’m writing because it’s fun. Trying to keep up with the pack detracts from that and every once in awhile I have to tighten the reigns and remember what life is all about. And with so much to keep up with, it helps to simply unplug every once in awhile.
Part of the online madness stems from the fact that there is just so dang much to keep up with anymore. Now there’s Instagram, which sounds totally fun…if you have an iphone, which I don’t so I’m off the hook with that one. No temptation! Guh-lory!
There’s also StreamZoo and Google Plus and LinkedIn (yes, I know I have several invitations to Link up on LinkedIn, but I can’t remember my password so there’s a good chance I’m never going to accept those invitations for which I hereby sincerely apologize), and a whole host of other networking sites that are cropping up and my head just exploded.
I just want to make my kids a sandwich.
And write.
And maybe, just maybe, keep up with the constant flow of online craziness so that in a few years when my son comes prancing in the door and announces he wants to open up a ShowMyLifeToTheWorld account, I’ll know what it is and whether or not I want him partaking.
I’m trying to stay cool, folks! I mean, aside from my rockin’ minivan, I’ve got very little left with which to garner cool points.
So here it is, social media overwhelms me. Sometimes it’s just too much.
What are your thoughts?
I totally get you on this, hence my not being on Facebook. I love blogging but I just cant keep up with other social media sites. Nothing against them… I just cant keep up!
Exactly. Smetimes you have to step back. I mean, I guess if I didn’t have to sleep or eat, I could handle it, but…
“Show MyLife tothe World” ahahahahaaa 🙂 I’m pretty sure if your eldest and my eldest joined forces, they would be an unstoppable force over over-sharing. Lo-ove it!
Scary, isn’t it? 🙂
This has been a huge issue for me. As a matter of fact, about 2 years ago I deleted all of my ‘local’ friends. Now I just use FB to keep up with those who are far away. I am about to do another round of ‘cleaning’. BTW…saw your tweet last night and it made me laugh! Creativity at its best! 🙂
Have a GREAT day!!!!
Yeah…I’m a lame tweeter. I just can’t get into it. Part of me wants to, and the other part of me wants to run away screaming.
I’ve become addicted to Pinterest, and since there is not enough time in the day, I let go of my blog. Sometimes I miss it, but I enjoy keeping up with other people’s blogs. But pinterest is totally worth it. It has motivated me to cook more and craft more and accomplish more!
I haven’t gotten into pinterest…yet. actually I’ve never been on it. I’m afraid to try it out for fear I’ll get sucked in to the vortex. It’s only a matter of time, though, I’m sure. 🙂
I fully encourage a pinterest addiction.
We only have one Tweeter in our family and that is my husband who totally cracks himself up with his Tweets. Hope you are getting settled!
Well I can imagine your husband is hilarious. I should follow him so ever two weeks when I get on Twitter I can laugh along.
We are moderately settled. Enough that we’re able to do school today so that’s a bonus! Thanks friend!
I’ve become quite the Twitter addict lately and Pinterest, my dear, is amazing! Hubs is super thrilled about all the projects I am finding for him 🙂
You do what’s best for you girl!
Oh dear…Pinterest. The urge to check it out grows stronger all the time! Ack! 🙂
Kelli,
I am sure your blog fans would miss your comments if you cut back…but, there is another side of your writing that I fear may be getting short changed. Your friends that adore the poetry of you prose may feel cheated if you ignore that side of you and the promise of a beautiful novel must be kept.
You need more hours in a day, but you’ll have to go to Neptune to get it. Enjoy your beautiful family and new home and things will work out as God intends.
Thanks Jeff.
We did not hook up cable service in the new house, which means the TV is no kind of temptation at the end of the day. I’ve cleared myself a lovely little writing spot on the dining room table and I’m already digging back into the book. I feel the creative juices flowing. It’s exciting! 🙂
Oi,…being a communications major, one of the things I loved studying was how all this media affects our ability to communicate with one another. We are inundated with choices and overloaded with too much information at any given second of our lives.
At the risk of seeming like a fuddy-duddy, I say that I absolutely refuse to let technology rule me. I’ll do what works for me and no more. If it starts to become a chore than it is too much. All my friends are on Facebook and that’s why I’m there. Twitter has always seemed utterly and totally ridiculous to me. I have no desire to check up on what anyone else is doing and I’m seriously not interested in the free world being able to see what I’m doing. I like the blocking options of Facebook.
As for everything else out there, I say, remember Daniel-son, balance very important in life. Wax on. Wax off.
Yes, Sensai.
Seriously, though…wise advice. 🙂