Confessions of a [former] Facebook Addict

On Dec 5th, I went to the dentist for a regular cleaning. My blood pressure was unusually high, but we chalked it up to my finger-being-smashed-in-the-door story. We took it again at the end of my visit, and it was even higher! My dentist kinda freaked out at me and scared me into action!

I went to the gym the next day and even scheduled it into my calendar every day for the next couple of months. Research showed that I needed to change some stuff so I cut out salt and caffeine. I made a doctors appointment(!!!). I missed my husband terribly (he was out of the country). Heck, I even cried on a friends shoulder because I felt so lost. I was scared and stressed (which NEVER helps to lower your numbers) and trying my hardest to lean on Jesus. During this time, I noticed that when I logged into Facebook, I felt even more stressed. I started to realize that I saw way more into people’s lives than I needed to. Reading comments that actually personally impact me and information that I should never really know. So I immediately deleted the app off my phone and got rid of the tab in my web browser.

Since then, I’ve learned a few things about being away from Facebook.

1 – 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says : “and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,”. I did none of these things while I was actively on FB.

2 – People don’t “miss” you when you “leave”. And that’s ok. I’m re-learning to invest in the people directly in front of me. People I can see, hear and touch.

3 – I don’t really miss it. Yes, there are a few people and sites I miss following, but for the most part, I don’t crave mindlessly scrolling through countless pages of drama.

4 – I am investing more time in Bible journaling, prayer journaling, reading the Bible and my prayer life! I also want to start REALLY taking pictures again. Not just snapshots. And blogging my thoughts. …why not?

I haven’t gotten rid of all social media. I’m still posting and following people on Instagram. It’s waaaaayyyyy less drama. And I am hopelessly addicted to Pinterest. Because where else can I find pescatarian friendly meals for my half meat eating / partial pescatarian eating family?

[photo by Courtney Burton Photography]

Looking forward, 2018 will be here in a week. This coming year, my word is deliberate. I want to be more deliberate in everything that I do. This will be a year to challenge myself to do this and it will be hard. I’m actually not very deliberate. I fly by the seat of my pants. And go at most thing half-cocked. So, sticking with 1 Thessalonians 4:11, I will keep to myself and work with my own hands and mind my own affairs. At least that’s my goal. By God’s grace, I will let Him work in me and see what He does with me this coming year!! Merry Christmas friends and a very blessed New Year!!

****UPDATE – 1/2/18****

I went to see my doctor today on a follow up visit.  After cutting out all the things I cut out, monitoring my BP at home, working out and PRAYING, I got a clean bill of health today.  I firmly believe that God is healing my body.   I will be monitoring it a couple of times a month just to keep an eye on it.  Buuutttttt, tomorrow I plan on having caffeine for breakfast!  LOL!!  Happy New Year friends.  God is ALWAYS good!!  Always!