When I practice piano, I start with a musical piece I’m familiar with or, dare I say, even relatively good at playing.
Then I segue into practicing and focusing on the details of learning the newest (to me) piece. I love playing piano. I love practicing the piano. After all, it’s still the number one item on my bucket list. Learning to play piano — a lifelong dream — soothes me, gives me satisfaction, feeds my soul. The feel of the keys, even looking at the piano produces soul-stirring endorphins. It buoys me up, and is a heartening and wholesome activity that contrasts against time spent on the stale and manic social media sites.
“Distracted from distraction by distraction” — T.S. Eliot
You see, since downsizing both yard and home, so much free time has had me going back to the internet therefore spending more time on social media. I’ve come to the realization that I’ve been using some of my very precious free time on social media and that has to stop. No I won’t be leaving Facebook and Twitter altogether, though I’ve certainly begun to wean myself. In an excellent article at the blog “On Being” John Metta said it best, “The arguments about community and personal connectedness fall flat when I realize no one is clamoring to lure me back. If they notice I am gone at all, it is a passing mention, quickly overshadowed by the latest viral retweet.”
More importantly John Metta goes on to state, “I’ve come to realize that the more I was connected on social media, the more I was disconnected from my life and myself.” I agree whole heartedly with Mr. Metta.
So as I wean myself from the drivel and regurgitated sayings and videos on Facebook, and the plethora of branding on Twitter, you’ll find me instead reading more novels, inviting friends over to share meals & conversation, meeting up with friends, exploring, observing, and learning to play piano.
With that, I shall now close this blog post and sit at my beautiful black beauty and allow myself to embrace the euphoria of a real life.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” — Mark Twain
You captured the feelings of more and more of us Diane — so beautifully. That is largely how I feel too and I refer to it in my latest blog post. I have cut back so much and for the most part it has been a great decision. The only downside is less contact with the bloggers and photographers that truly inspire me — like you!
I admire your goal to connect with other people more through sharing meals, coversation etc. I’d like to do the same.
I am one of those strange people who just doesn’t get the attraction of Facebook. My husband, on the other hand, loves it. I share my posts on Facebook, but days and days go by before I revisit the site. If I were a better, more successful blogger this wouldn’t be true.
Twitter is another one I never use. I have an account, but I have never fallen into the habit of tweeting.
My weaknesses are Instagram (I love pictures) and Youtube. I look forward to watching “Gardeners World” (a British gardening show) every Saturday morning on Youtube. One of my favourites Youtubers is a Canadian from B.C. She has a channel called Pick Up Limes. I love the way she smiles all the way through her uplifting videos. I think its one of the reasons she has quickly has grown her channel to 500K subscribers.
Podscasts and audiobooks are other favourites. I often play a CBC podcast on my iPad (like the Next Chapter) while I make dinner. It makes a dull chore go faster. I put an audiobook on after I get in bed at night. It’s like having someone read me a bedtime story. The girl inside the woman loves it.
Wise words, indeed.
Sounds like a good plan, Diane!
I do hope that you will stop by here from time to time though.
I would surely miss you if you didn’t.
Have a wonderful week, my friend.
xo.
Amen.