Several weeks ago, I wrote on this very blog about the positive effect Facebook has had on my life. The context of that blog was the most important part of my assertion. You see, I was hospitalized recovering from my first heart attack and the subsequent surgery to install two stents in my heart. I can honestly say that it was the support and best wishes from some of my Facebook friends that pulled me through. I've even commented on other blogs about aspects of Facebook that bring me untold joy in my somewhat uneventful (by my standards) life.
So why did I deactivate my Facebook account?
I think the ball may have gotten rolling when Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live. Stay with me....
She thanked Facebook for the campaign that led to her being selected as a host. She made the comment that, once she found out what Facebook was, it seemed like "...a waste of time". I started thinking about the amount of time I spent on Facebook, and the negative aspects of not using that same amount of time for something useful. I have a full-time job, am currently a full-time college student, and since my episode have been spending hours every week in cardiac rehab therapy, not to mention the number of doctor's visits. It began to dawn on me that Facebook was taking up too much time that I could be using for my college studies, for one thing. I looked at my friends list. This is another subject I blogged about, very recently in fact. I hadn't been in contact with most of these people for thirty years!
I knew it was time when I started noticing I was having emotional reactions to comments on some of my friend's statuses. That is when I decided I had to do something about this problem. So I deactivated my Facebook account. It has been 24 hours now. So far, I have found myself resisting the urge to log back in. I am now developing an understanding of people with addiction issues.
There is only one thing that really bothers me about not being on Facebook. What's that, you ask?
Alas, I no,longer get the vicarious thrill of receiving that e-mail "You have been Poked by _______ on Facebook."
Oh well. Maybe someone can text or e-mail me a "Poke". That will ease my Facebook withdrawal. Or at least I hope it does.
Until next time, take care my friends.
