The Ups and Downs of Social Media

Whether we like it or not, social media is part of this new generation and society we live in. It exploded into being with websites like Classmates.com and sixdegrees.com, but got really popular with sites like Linkedn, Friendster, Myspace, and of course, Facebook. The goal with these sites was always the same: Get connected with people. That's what its always been about, whether its about reconnecting with people you once knew, or meeting entirely new people. 

These days (with Facebook being the queen of all social media), while the goal is still to be 'connected', it seems to do just the opposite. We see people on their phones, tablets, or computers just about anywhere: waiting in the doctor's office, in line at the grocery store, in church... everywhere. It can be so easy to get pulled into the online community where many people post all the good things about their lives (leading us to start hating our life or wishing it was more like what we see). We can spend all of our time on social media and miss the everyday things happening around us. Or, we can spend all of our time trying to take the 'perfect' picture to post to social media that we are completely missing the moment to cherish forever. 

I've definitely done my fair share of  'Facebook Bashing', mainly because I feel convicted about the time I spend on the site. These days, however, while I still need to make sure to live in the moment and not spend all of my extra time on it, I have come to be thankful for Facebook, and use it for the true reason it was created: to stay connected.

Living 2400 miles away from our family and friends has proven to be no easy task, and it has only been about two weeks since we have officially moved. Facebook helps us to be a part of their everyday lives and for them to be a part of ours. I love that! 

I also love the accountability Facebook can give me. I don't put up post-run photos of my nasty sweaty self because I think it looks nice, or because I want people to feel bad about themselves: I post them because by posting them, it holds me accountable. When I don't post them, my runner friends can go, "um, where is your nasty sweaty running shot? Go get your run in!" Or they can motivate me if I had a particularly rough workout. If anything, I am going to be able to look back at all of my nasty sweaty pictures of myself and know that I am making a change for the better in my life. 

I guess I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. I will keep posting photos of my family, though, and not feel like I am OVER posting.. Because after all, if you are my friend on Facebook, I am assuming you are interested in what is going on with my life :) 

**I apologize if this is scattered and not well put together... I am trying to write it while feeding children and answering the daily 100,000 questions that my four year old asks :)