Social Saturday – July 15, 2023 Edition: Seeking Personal Balance

(I have been wanting to write this for several weeks, but I never seem able to get to it! This week I. Am. Determined!)

I need peace. I need to calm my mind and my heart. Keep my blood pressure low. Avoid inputting stress about things I can’t change. Not get upset about those things that aren’t in my sphere of influence. Social media seems to teem with stories and warnings and shocking “news” about every wrong, or perceived wrong, that may or may not be occurring in the world today. And, depending on your perspective and world view, these can include nearly EVERYTHING happening out there!

I can’t deal with that any longer. We all HAVE to, to a certain degree. But I gave up on reading the news, watching it, or listening to it not too long ago. That was step one. Knowing that heaven and earth will pass away – that this is all temporary – helps a great deal. Keeping my eyes on Jesus and my heart flooded with His Word helps enormously. And changing how I do social media is the icing on the cake.

Because of my moderating duties for our Christian Mastodon instance I have to see a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff that is frustrating, hurtful, and sometimes evil. The majority of what I have to look through is definitely worldly, and goes against the teachings in the Word – that which I believe in with my whole heart and soul, and live by. And I choose to do this job. I’ve always divided it up into smaller doses: an hour or so with my morning coffee…and hour or so during a mid-day break…a few minutes in a waiting room or in a checkout line…a couple of hours while watching TV in the evening. BUT it is very satisfying to do what I do, I very much enjoy finding the many MANY great people while doing it that I wouldn’t otherwise get to “meet”!

(TO BE CLEAR: I LOVE our instance and the people there. And I love the users of Mastodon! I don’t want to lead anyone astray – just like anywhere else, there are all sorts of people with differing ideologies and ways of expressing themselves and value systems. And it is a good work I do there even though it is difficult to see sometimes. I am dedicated to it. There are lots of opportunities for prayer, lots of opportunities to show that I care, and lots of opportunities to chat with people I wouldn’t normally run into in my daily life. And I don’t dislike anyone…just seeing the pain and anger and ridicule and derision and division and even hatred that is out there, that’s what hurts my heart.)

The other place I spend online time is Gab, of course. Don’t believe everything you read or hear. People find what they are looking for – and then write about it. And at Gab it doesn’t matter what you may be looking for; if it is legal, you will find it. And for me that is a wonderful thing! Because, well, see the first paragraph, above.

I have written in the past about how to make Gab what you want it to be; it is wonderful for that!* Find your passions and then surround yourself with people who share them. For me that is others who love Jesus…humor…uplifting stories…beauty in photos…nature…memes…spiritual matters…gardening…music…and that is exactly my Gab experience! I do not see the things that the enemies of the site say is what it’s about. Ever. What I experience is not the same site as what the haters claim it is. If one is looking for anger and hate, they will find it everywhere.

*as is Mastodon, for the average user! It has great muting and blocking controls so your timeline and include – or mute – anyone and anything you’d like – the Fediverse overall, and in particular Mastodon as discussed here, is wonderful for that, and so many other things!

So I now start out my days at The Good Morning Brigade with the people who see the beauty in life, and Gardening & Farming Within the Creator’s Care with the people who have a deep connection with the land and its blessings and bounties, and God’s purposes. I have created my own timeline with hundreds of good souls who also don’t dwell on the pain and evil that permeates much of our world right now and when I’ve had enough of my moderation duties that my soul starts to sag, I head to the Doggos. Or the Grumpy Old Boomers. Or the Carnivore and Keto folks. Or any of the others I enjoy. And where I can experience peace and laughter.

I love both of my chosen online media sites, for different reasons; they are both perfect for me, and I rarely go anywhere else online anymore (unless I’m out meme hunting!). I don’t need to. I feel fulfillment from doing a necessary job – and doing it well – for our instance on Mastodon. And I enjoy peace and uplifting content at Gab. Perfect!

FINALLY?! BALANCE!