Unplugging

I’ve been reflecting and thinking about things as of late – mainly, THE INTERNETS. Like most people, I have this blog, my saving money blog, Facebook, and some side projects. I’ve been praying a lot about my use of THE INTERNETS, this blog in particular. I enjoy writing it (even if I can’t find time to update it as often as I would like) and it’s been a help to me. But I wonder the direction it’s going and how to keep it going in that direction – from Catholic convert in process to college Catholic to married Catholic with not one but two kids.

Another thing I worry about is the visual noise that THE INTERNETS provides. It’s hard to find God in noise, even if the noise isn’t audible but visual. Over the last six months I’ve been making small steps in order to cut back on the information overload that I’ve been drowning in. I’ve cut back significantly the number of blogs I read in order to be able to comment more and appreciate the writers better. That was hard to do because I’m a total blog addict and LOVE reading them. I still need to whittle down more.

I have been toying significantly of killing off my Facebook. It’s hard because that is the main venue I use to share photos and information with family members who are far flung, especially my Dad’s side. I’ve loved reconnecting with them, as we never really got together when I was growing up. But, there are those Serial Facebook Adders that drive me insane – the ones that are all “hey, we looked at each other briefly in Mrs. Smith’s 6th grade class, add me?” Uhm, no. I don’t add every person ever to Facebook, including some family that I don’t consider “far-flung”. But sometimes I wonder if I should gather email addresses of far-flung family members and just email out photos and news of the kids as opposed to Facebook. I like being able to send out tons of pictures and information and know who it’s going to.

Why don’t I just point people here? That’s a good question. I guess I have qualms about people I know, especially family; reading my blog. If they find it via Google, fine; but I don’t exactly tell people to come visit. Maria, you’re the exception to that, though; since I did tell you to come visit.

I know I need to do something – to be able to focus better here, to focus better on God, and to be less burdened with THE INTERNETS in general. Things like Facebook and my blog at times make me narcissistic, which isn’t a good thing. So something has to give – I need to find a way to use THE INTERNETS that doesn’t make me narcissistic. And maybe Facebook is a good place to start.