Choosing the kind of company you keep can save your sanity
I am not going to name the Facebook group I was part of but it's been a couple of days since I finally decided and actually clicked "Leave Group" and what a relief that was. I have rid myself of the drama and the insensitive and spoiled comments and being constantly receiving notifications from it. You see it also happens to be a very active group too. I've just had it. I've been noticing my increasing disappointment over the reactions of people. It's too histrionic for me. It's too ironic for such people to react over something in very biased manners without even giving it a chance or at least try or explore the possibilities before condemning something just because the pictures don't appeal to them.
It's annoying that ever since the high dependence on social media outlets that we have become a society of whiners and overreactionists. People don't even bother reading whole articles now. We take headlines for truths. We look at a picture and we suddenly just gang up on it without analyzing it first or examining the facts. Yes, there are very grotesque images that abound everywhere but one must not always assume that it's all there is to it. How about taking the time to appreciate some of its merits and possibilities? Why zero in on one tiny aspect and waste so much time ridiculing it without taking a bit more time to look further, to look over the entire image before spewing hate and negativity. Hate is such a strong emotion. It's such a strong word yet kids these days say it like candy. What kind of life must you lead to have so many so-called haters? Really? Who are they? Whatever happened to giving people and things a chance? Too busy or too lazy for that?
Life is short and I certainly do not want to live out the rest of my time to accommodate negativity. I've had enough sadness and my share of tragedies and pain, it is my aim to seek out what will inspire me. To seek out light in my own way at my own pace. I do not like conflict but I will fight back if I have to. I prefer peace. I like calmness. I am generally a quiet person even leaning towards shyness. I am private and I like to keep my thoughts coded and mine. I do not subscribe to the notion that being very outspoken reflects one's intelligence. Not all bright people come out the same nor do dumb people either. I feel a lightness after leaving that group and I don't see myself join it again in the future. I am not saying that I am going to stop joining groups and interaction with different people but I will be wiser. I will not deprive myself of attention and giving my attention to others. As human beings, we live for that. Attention is as natural as air, water, food and shelter. We crave for it. We live for it but if we allow ourselves to get dragged into other people's nonsense then it's no better than starvation or malnutrition. It's ridiculous, exhausting and boring.
I have made this choice. I will be more selective with the groups I choose to follow in the future. Heck, even posts to follow. I have the right to unfollow posts even from people I know. I won't go as far as unfriending UNLESS I really have to but I can choose what I allow myself to digest in my mind and body. the kind of information that should flood in my newsfeed. I am not being insensitive here nor am I being selfish but one's life should never revolve around another. It's good to be passionate about something but if it consumes your very nature and you get lost in it then it's pointless.