The Impact of Social Media on Real-Life Connections

Colors and experiences come together over time, no truth is in the now, it shows up in the experience over time. (This is often realized through a social media detox reflection.)

~Kerri-Elizabeth~

Thoughts

I have some thoughts I’d love some input on. This won’t be my normal poem post. Instead, I’d like to share something that’s been on my heart and mind.

I recently took all of my apps for SM (I just had two) off my phone. I am seriously contemplating closing both and forever being done with it. This was a step towards my own social media detox reflection.

I’m not sure if our blogs are considered SM but they sure feel more personal. They are connected to our real life experiences and emotions. Sharing and conversing with you all has been enlightening. It’s more of the reality of life experiences rather than the fluff, it resonates. 

If you resonate this may also:

I just have a feeling. There so many beautiful connections I’ve created over the years, great friends all over the world. Its a mission to reach out to many and actually talk personally. Thus, I had a sense of who the person was I was following and being influenced by. Influence is now influencer. What’s real now is harder to see and feel. This reflection solidified my plans for a social media detox.

Connections

I didn’t want to have just digital connections. Instead, I wanted to take the time to see why they chose me or share why I chose them to follow. I made it a mission and made so many great connections. It was not just to do business with, with no agenda except to connect authentically. This thoughtful reflection encouraged my social media detox.

Over the years it seems less and less possible to make those connections authentically. (I have wonderful friends I’ve made, both in business and personally over the years.) Nothing wrong with the business or personal ideas model, except it doesn’t resonate with me right now anyways.

There is a manipulation to it all now that has taken away the fun of it. 

Maybe this is a fleeting feeling. So I am just taking some space away to see what that prompts for me. Part of my social media detox reflection involves understanding these feelings.

If this speaks to you, this may as well:

Whirlwind

I notice if I post then I’m in a trap, a whirlwind of seeing things I can’t un-see. The list of things I think I need, places I want to travel, and painting ideas I can dive into. An hour passes or more. My bum is numb from sitting too long and I lift my head. Reality conflicts with the entire scene in my dream world I didn’t even realize I was in.

 I then have a list of things I want to buy. Our home in my mind has been remodeled and completely redone with all the DIY ideas. I have gardens that look like a fairytale land and I have a new wardrobe. It fits snuggly and beautifully in our new walk-in closet, all organized. In my mind of course, NOT my reality. I guess it really does happen though; that’s what SM says anyways.

I have an awesome life, blessed with love and happiness and challenges. Challenges that would curl your hair. Who doesn’t? I just don’t want to see the fluff right now. It makes the real challenges seem like there is a quick fix if you just follow THEIR recipe to success. 

It’s exhausting!!

Some words to inspire:

Purpose or Confusion

I’ve heard so many coaches and counselors’ videos online. They give advice on how life would be better if I did it their way. Honestly, I have many times. I have a coach and I wouldn’t be where I am without her expertise. This is not to discount the importance of help and guidance.

I am authentically being led to a social media detox reflection. When you know, it doesn’t quit pushing you until you observe and listen, do you ever feel that?

After a few minutes scrolling, my mind is reeling on every emotion life has blessed me with. BUT, none seem correct. Sheesh 🙄 I started feeling pulled so far out of reality. I started missing what’s really happening and appreciating what IS my absolute AMAZING reality. 

Limits

I actually put limits on my phone. 1 hour collectively a day is all I’d allow to be on my screen. Some days I never came close. On others, an hour was like two seconds. 

That was an amazing experiment. Even down to how many times I went to grab my phone consciously instead of unconsciously. As part of reflecting on my need for a social media detox, I started observing these behaviors more.

Then I wondered why I was sharing anything about my life. Did it really matter or change anyone’s life for the better? Did it connect me to anything worth spending the time on it? Even business, of course it works for many, it’s not that I don’t agree with all that. I just asked myself, is this the way for me at this point? 

A Decision

So I decided at least for now it’s NOT. A social media detox reflection has allowed me to come to this realization.

What are your experiences and thoughts about your space in the SM world?

Here are a few ideas that have been helpful along my path:

https://insighttimer.com and as Judy says so beautifully, music saved her and in turn it helps save me.

Separately Found While Always Connected

Whether separate or connected both become defined purely by experience
and emotion.

~Kerri-Elizabeth~

Present in the connection

River roaring to its chosen audience

Birds performing a soul moving orchestra

Trees adding their own rhythm practiced daily with precision 

While the breeze so eloquently smooths every tune into an inner song

All echoing from the majestic mountains offering a priceless concert

An invitation is not needed

A willingness to enter  is

Intense scents of pine inspire your deepest senses

Sweetly journeying through every fiber of pain transforming it into gratitude

Resting freely a top one of nature’s boulder strengths

Love and connection are found

Separate and clearly joined

Birds sing to one another as if love is all that really exists

Is it…..

The sound of the river takes no space, instead joyfully takes ownership of its existence to nurture presence

It carries wounds down that never return

It erases hardship without asking

The aroma of the river and pine create a tea for you and nature to thrive upon

Each needle left upon the ground leaving a legacy of its time here

Burn marks upon the trees carry a wisdom into healing and regeneration

Sunshine

Madrone View

 

madrone tree

It is within the layers all things exist and it is within the layers we learn to live among the experiences that created the strength to grow.

~Kerri-Elizabeth~

Under a shade tree where leaves are dancing with the peaceful melody of nature

Crackling through the small breeze I can hear them wrestling with one another in harmony

Madrone tree, you have won my heart in this moment

Feeling your presence offers protection

Standing with all that surrounds you in such beauty

Breathing life with your unaltered energy

Free to believe, to stand, to bend, to flow, to grow

Gratitude is running deep for the confidence you radiate so freely

Thank you for sharing 

For shading

Thank you for the cracks you so proudly show as warrior wounds of your life

Thank you for sharing space with the earth’s delicate growth around you

Thank you for the soul food

Thank you for speaking such volume

Thank you for the confidence to stand beyond any doubts

Thank you for the invitation into this sacred space, to be loved, to sit with the uncomfortable and linger in your zesty energy 

SUNSHINE

When I lost my son 3 years ago , I had no idea the roller coaster of emotions that would take over my body, mind and soul. I had no idea that even with so much love imbedded inside me that grief has its own path and respecting it, is vital. Healing occurs daily, but what I found out most in this 3rd year , that isn’t different than the prior years, I just didn’t figure it out until this year. That all pain lingers within grief, so when anything else hurts it opens the loss of my son again and again.

Maybe next year it’ll be different now that I figured that part out, but mostly what I want to share is that pain needs a place to feel freedom to fly, to soar and change and to grow and heal. All love remains even when pain shows up, however for someone looking in without the experience, it often is uncomfortable to see, to watch, to be patient in the process.

It is not something that is meant to be hurried or told to let go of or change. It is a personal process and every person is so different. Let it be, so it can see, so it can feel, let it be, so it move and not get stuck.

Pain is also a protector, something we hang on to in fear of letting go and being undone, or without, fear and pain dance a beautiful dance, awareness is a beautiful addition. You can dance with it or you can hold it so tight along with fear that you become unaware you’re not moving.

Move, create or find a space you feel free to feel, to think, to be all of who you are with all your emotions and feelings and then a new way will begin.

Connection

 

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An experience requires presence, presence requires connection, both dance together on a foundation of trust and truth, without one of these a gap is left to chance.

~Kerri-Elizabeth~

When paths cross 

Memories are etched in time

History is created

Lessons are learned

While the heart logs every turn

Nothing remains but an experience

In the experience we have created

Through the experience purpose is build

Among the experience shifts take place

Growth takes on new meanings

Purpose becomes more important

Loss trickles in and reminds you nothing remains

Where the heart remembers the experience you gained

Calling you to be more 

To let go of fear and failures 

To believe in your truth

To live more

To love more

To connect more

To look into life with eyes from heaven

Sunshine

In this unsettled time in life and a global distress, an awakening of emotions and connection has become clear. We want more connection, more authenticity, more of each other and less separation. We only have this moment, what is next is unknown and if this moment is left without true and trusting connection, we have chosen to be alone. For some this may be exactly what you want. For most I see an awakening for deeper connections with family and friends and ourselves. 

Connect with the joys of life, pets, family, adventure, faith, believing in oneself more, growth, learning, education and so much more….. When you lay your head down at night, are you proud of yourself for all you have shared, were you kind, loving, compassionate, truthful and did you learn something new? 

Did you treat the ones you love with an inspired attitude and love, to create the love you want in return? 

Human Design

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In the letting go, you’ll find, holding on was just a design leading you back to letting go!

~Kerri-Elizabeth~

In the heat of the day
The sun pours its radiance upon you
Reminding us we don’t need anything to shine
The rays carry the breeze effortlessly
Filling your lungs to capacity
Offering sustained healing
Creating space to shine
Nature is where harmony lives
Peace is what nature gives

Sunshine

 

Being lead into nature is always the calling on my soul, where I find my center, where I ground myself and find peace and letting go is always the process. I realize that life is just that, a continuation of letting go. It’s designed that way, a continual trial and error and learning and growing. 

Reaching your best is part of reaching your worst and allowing yourself to know the difference. To choose your destination and your attitude, to find solutions under the sun and give yourself the grace you need to get there.