Facebook Break

I've always been more of the letter-writing, phone call type. So, back in 2006, sitting in a restaurant with two of my closest high school friends, I was rather skeptical when they talked with me about a new social networking site called Facebook. The whole thing sounded rather stupid to me. What was this Facebook? But my friends convinced me it was the new in thing, so I tried it. At 18, it was fun. The rules back then were simple: go out, get drunk, take pictures. Meet hot guys, take pictures. Post to Facebook so that you impress your friends. Rinse and repeat.

Years after that I traveled abroad and stayed on Facebook simply because it was easier to stay in touch with family. But recently I've gotten tired of constantly being in contact with people that I don't necessarily care about, and this whole Facebook thing has gotten to a point of insanity. People communicate almost solely through an online social network. You may not see your friends for months, but you feel you're still connected b/c of their status updates and private messages. That's all well and good, until you meet up with them for the first time in forever and have absolutely nothing to say to each other. Getting married? Facebook already told me that. Oh you and your fiance have created a gift registry? Didn't I read that somewhere? Oh yes, on Facebook. That sex change your brother is having? Yes, I've read all about him becoming a new woman on Facebook. You see these statuses, these links, and they are for everyone to read. There is nothing personal about them.

How is E-mail different? E-mails tend to be more like letters-they are sent less often and tend to be more personal. Facebook is more like putting your life on display for everyone that is on your friend's list to judge. All of these things have lead to my most recent challenge for myself: 3 1/2 months without Facebook.

The past 1 1/2 years have resulted in amazing changes in my life. I've traveled the world, developed more self-confidence, and lost 19 pounds, and become the person I've always wanted to be. So why not say goodbye to Facebook for a while and see if that allows me to have more time for things/people that matter?

Which brings me to another point. Those that are my true friends will still e-mail, still call, and still find ways to communicate with me other than via Facebook. Those that don't didn't matter in the first place. I'm excited to see what will happen ;-)

-Molly

PS-To contact me over my facebook break e-mail me at Molly.Rowland@hotmail.de

;)