I did it.

I took it to heart. I listened and I decided to move forward.

I have unfriended someone on Facebook that brought me great distress at times. It’s something I had never done before in all my years on this social media source. In fact, I used to think I would never delete anyone because I wanted to be accepting of all. I wanted to see what those with different beliefs thought about and…. you know, I just wanted to try to like everyone. I prided myself for a long while on having discussions, and debates, and I felt it might enlighten me. Oh sure, I secretly hoped it might enlighten the others too. I have never wanted to be stuck in the past, unwilling to move forward… to learn… To discuss… To offer opinions. I have always wanted to be an active participant.

Some will most certainly say I am hard-hearted at times, and that I can be slow to change. So, this might be a late move for me to make – to unfriend a person. I should have done it a long, long time ago. But, hey, better late than never, right ?

It’s weird because I have mixed emotions about this unfriending thing that I did. I feel a bit defeated. I was unable to keep a relationship going – and unable to smooth over the rough spots. Finally, tho, There was too much hurt and division, and lots of talk that went around in circles, and it got me to a place of saying ‘that’s enough.’ I had said it before but then I kept coming back. This time: REALLY ENOUGH! I didn’t like that so many people jumped in and the comments also became unbearable. So this time it is final… and I am glad I am here.

Life in cyberspace is so unique – different from any other way to interact. It’s an open door to research, to learning, to reuniting with friends, to sharing opinions (like I do here), and to seeing the talents of people through music and photography. Of course, it’s a beautiful way to share family and friend pictures. But as we know it has an evil side too. People rant and photo-shop fake pictures. False websites are created. Stories are tilted and sometimes total lies are spread. I even call some of it propaganda, used to harm a whole group of people. I don’t have tough skin and I get hurt easily on line because I see so much of spewing lies, of calling people names, and being vicious – because it is just so easy to do. Too many people are typing from home, alone and angry.

I know people who will never use social media at all for that very reason. And, I get it is their choice, and that’s fine. I believe with anything and with everything there is a goodness, and social media has positive attributes, and there is evil, and we need to learn to root out the bad, and to try to use only the good. I have fallen short on that sometimes. I know that. Still – Social media is not going away and it’s part of our world now and in the future.

But!! Politics – oh politics! Sometimes I truly wish it would go away. Most of the time I wish it had a ‘truth monitor’ that registered on every post… from lying, to honest to goodness truth. How nice would that be? I don’t mind “policing” social media because I think it needs to be done. I’m tired of all the personal freedom talk and want some sense of community restored. Social media and politics mixed together have torn us apart. It has made us see the sides of others we didn’t ever want to see – or believe existed. It’s been eye opening for sure – with our eyes often hurting and crying from the outcome. Wide eyed – and astonished! Once you see it you can’t unsee it. Humanity shows the good and bad on social media. And we look at people differently because of it.

So… Here’s what I believe:

To live without social media is missing out on some pretty awesome connections, so I won’t give up on that part of it. Facebook posts give me daily pep talks, and many shared messages of love, and some days I laugh at jokes, and smile at dog videos, and children… they are the best! I love many things about being online. I still believe in the worth of social media.

But, yes, I have taken to heart the advice of others recently, and one in particular, who said to hang with those of like minds. Even on Facebook. It’s what I intend to do. I follow some pretty awesome groups that lift me up, and I enjoy reading articles that pop up. Facebook knows my algorithms… and therefore I see some great things online. But: Will I unfriend anyone else? Should I block more people for my own sanity and for the good of those who follow me and worry about me? I hope not but I don’t know.

One thing I do know though is that I took a step. And I’m glad I did.