I’m sorry, I don’t want to write this. However, I feel obligated to write something because I set this blog up with “Embracing Social Media Part 2“. I attempted to post on social media everyday and learn how to have fun with it. Instead I struggled through the process and about halfway through the month, I decided to give up. Yet I still learned a very valuable lesson.

It’s pathetic, I know, but it’s the truth and when it came down to some of the simple things I was posting, it probably wasn’t a bad thing that I ended early. Mostly because my heart wasn’t in my social media posts. I know a lot of people post out of obligation to their jobs and their aspirations. However after becoming one of them, I don’t see how they gain much of a following.

I think we care about the people who are passionate about what they do. I think we follow and like and comment when we feel that people actually care.

Doing this experiment I struggled hard to find my voice, and determine what I thought was worth saying. Granted I have the same problems in life, I’ve learned over time that not saying everything you think is actually an introverted trait. We tend not to point everything out and instead we internalize our thoughts. Why does it have to be said out loud? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked that question.

Photo by Pratik Gupta on Unsplash

I think if I learned anything from my failed attempt, it was that sharing thoughts and repeating praise isn’t the worst idea. It actually really important. When I started sharing things I genuinely liked, that’s when I got reactions from people. And not just any people, I was getting reactions from the people I wanted to thank for creating great things. That part of social media, that felt good. Me trying to force something I wasn’t excited about just to participate along with everyone else, that felt awful.

…So if I’m honest, I’m still not on great terms with social media. I’m still trying to find out how we can mesh together. I know it’s possible, but I also know I have to start being honest on there too. On this blog it’s easy to be brave. Mostly because I don’t expect anyone to read the whole thing. I write to make myself feel better. To let things go. When I think of social media, I’m writing to be heard.

It’s not that I need everything I post to be profound. I need it to be true to me. I’m still working on figuring that out. I probably always will be. I just know it’s time I start acting like me, and not like everyone else.

Love,

Shannon