Why I'm Giving up Facebook in the Name of Peace

I once had a life changing conversation with a good friend of mine. It was one of those talks where I updated her on everything new that was happening, and about half way through I stopped and said, "I think the world is falling apart." Her response was so profound that I carry the thought with me everyday. She said, "You only think that because you watch the news."

Truth:
It is the sole purpose of any news station to share and dramatize any and everything wrong with the world. It's their job, and we can't fault them for it.

Truth: The world is a terrible, awful, mind numbingly terrifying place.

Lie: That's just the way it is.

I can't be the only person that gets absolutely heart broken each and every time the news is on. I'm talking heart broken to the point of tears that this is happening in the world, and I can't do anything to make it better. What's more terrible is that immediately after watching the day's most gut wrenching stories, I flip over and check Facebook. And what do I find there? Engagement announcements, new cars, job celebrations, baby pictures, etc. What a bipolar world we live in.

Now, I know it's not Facebook's fault. I don't blame it on them in the least. It's my fault. Facebook is a guilty pleasure of mine. It's where I go to read mind numbing stories about pointless things that happen in daily life, and I add to it. I'm guilty of my own string of ridiculously unhelpful STUPID status updates.

So I'm making a change. This year on December 15th I'm going to deactivate my Facebook. It won't be forever, just until New Years. I'm going to use the habitual tick of checking my Facebook to remind me that I'm going to be different this year. Instead of checking in on the "First World" incessantly I'm going to do something positive.

I'm going to bring extra food to work to make sure my students who are hungry have a little something extra. I'm going to make sure that I let people know that if they need me I'm here for them. I'm going to make the world around me better than "just the way it is."

I'm also going to challenge you to do the same. You don't have to get rid of Facebook or Twitter or anything like that. Heck you don't have to give anything up if you don't want to. I challenge you to make your immediate world better than it already is. (Unless you live in Pleasantville, in which case keep up the good work.)

Go make a difference, because I'm tired of crying every time the news is on.