Hermit Mode

There are so many things spinning around in my mind lately, that it has been hard to choose one thing to focus on long enough to write about it.   I have actually been avoiding writing at all since I finished the outline of my new story.  There has been a need to purge, and knitting has been a good distraction while I work out what to say.

Ultimately, the decision on what to write about has come down to a simple question: do I want to write about dark, depressing things, or do I want to write about hopeful, happy things?  The Internet is already so saturated with violence, hurt, hate, and corruption so blatant that it has become a caricature of itself.  Do I need to add to that?

When I was on my social media hiatus, I avoided American news.  I avoided all news except for the tornado warnings that came directly to my phone (no funnel clouds where we were, thank goodness).  I spent a lot of time purposely not thinking.  I spent a lot of time doing.  A lot of time enjoying my family, my books, the weather (I am a storm nut, so rain is something I love), making things with my hands — from finishing old craft projects to making potstickers, stews, caramel all from scratch, to just ordinary dinners and a perfect cup of tea.

It really helped me to realize that what I want out of life, what I’ve always wanted, was simplicity — peace.  In the 10 days that I have been back on FB, it has been really driven home that I don’t have the stomach for the nebulous Internet anymore.  The rage, the trolls, the wilful blindness, is just too much — and at the same time, the syrupy, wishful thinking of the small enclaves of inspiration memes shoved down your throat has too much of a Stepford feeling for me.

I think that the only viable option is to step away from social media again.  What do I want to think about?  I want to think about my life — my family, my neighbourhood, my town, my plans, and that little stone cottage by the sea.

I have things set up so that my blog posts will seed out to where folks can see them, and I always try to respond to comments made here, but I have been out of balance for far too long.  I need to find a new equilibrium, and it’s going to take more than a month.

I’m not going off the grid, so those who need to get in touch with me will still be able to do so.  They say it takes three weeks to form a new habit.  Standing outside of the social media storm is my new habit.

Someday, maybe putting the laundry away after it’s folded will be a new habit (though, if I did that, my family would wander around naked trying to find their hidden clothes).  For now, I am diving down the rabbit hole of my own imagination.  Hopefully I will come back with a good story.  Wish me luck.