She writes on her blog about the freedom of not knowing so much. Not having too much information. Reclaiming her life.
And I'm tempted to follow suit...but...
Facebook has brought some amazing things into my life. I've reconnected with friends that I had lost touch with after moving from Saskatchewan to Toronto. I have shared mothering advice with my former party friends and virtually prayed with a friend facing an uphill battle. I have been offered jobs, "virtually" attended weddings and births (seeing pictures makes it seem like you were there, right?) and had the chance to right some wrongs with people that I never would have connected with without Facebook.
Yes, in many ways Facebook has been great and enriched my life.
But, sometimes it has been awful.
I know I'm not just speaking for myself when I say that I detest knowing every.single.time. I am left out of something...because I have had friends tell me stories about:
Finding out that the two couples you were once closest to still hang out all time...but never ask you to join in (you're always busy with your kids).
Knowing that a friend had time to visit someone 20 minutes from your house but never even bothered to contact you.
Consoling a friend who realizes her best friend has a fiancee that she didn't even know about.
Seeing people repost and support virtual stranger's artistic endeavours when they couldn't even tell you the title of one your published stories. (ok, that's about me...lol)
Reading 'super mom' posts about amazing and enriching days with a houseful of kids, while your kids are sitting, unwashed, on the couch eating soda crackers and watching hours of Toopy and Binoo just so you can guzzle a coffee and sneak in a shower. (guilty here too)
And so here I sit on the fence. Sure, you take the good/you take the bad. Sure, you would have found out anyway that certain new friendships were blossoming while old friendships are fading. Sure, you can't always be important to everyone. And yet, we all are relegated, at one time or another, to feeling like complete and utter crap because of Facebook. Admit it.
And so I'm left to wonder, is maintaining a few 'virtual' friendships and connections worth it all?
Is Facebook really that central to my life that the thought of deactivating my profile for even a month causes me panic?
Are self-portaits and potty training woes more important to me than my peace of mind?
