I actually revel in my insignificance. I know who and what I am. A small and vulnerable creature among billions (and many billions before me). That’s what we all are. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that because it’s true and it can’t be changed. Doesn’t mean we can’t be curious and look at our lives and this crazy setting with wonderment, but ego wants us to think we are somehow exceptional when we are in fact by far the most tragic creatures in the universe.
Accurate, honest & relatable. Thanks for writing. I highly suggest reading Dave Eggers novel THE CIRCLE. Written in 2013 taking place in Silicon Valley, he describes the digital culture we live in today.
You wrote
“And in 2025, maybe the better version is:
If I experience something but don’t post about it - Does it still matter?”
The Circle is fiction but shows how technology was designed to make us feel trapped on its platforms. It’s a good read.
I read a book recently that talked about how you retire on your memories. What do we remember? The pictures. The videos. Whatever we wrote about. My kids and I recently watched some old home videos. I couldn’t believe how much I had forgotten and was so glad I had documented it. It made us connect as a family to reminisce. The likes and sharing on social media - it can definitely be validating. It also creates connection. Like this post and all these comments. - Love your work.
“If I experience something but don’t post about it - Does it still matter?” — the answer is an emphatic YES and even more deeply because your attention is fully on THAT particular experience and not bifurcated with the thought of posting said experience.
I stopped posting on social media 7 months ago, and deleted the apps off my phone. Best decision. I gained my time and attention back to do the things that matter most to me and be fully present in them.
But the struggle and the tension is real…I felt that for many years.
One day I caught myself thinking about how a particular book would look like in my Insta stories before thinking about why I really wanted to read it, that's how I knew things got really f#cked up in my relationship with social media.
Ahhh this sums up my thought process surrounding social media, especially instagram, recently.
I keep deleting and redownloading the app (ugh). I know it’s a time sink and I can’t really control myself from opening the app and scrolling. I’m also questioning how much I should share. There’s something alluring about keeping your photo memories to yourself or sharing only with your close friends and family who you text them to versus posting on stories or on the grid. Not to mention the time it takes to craft worthwhile posts. But at the same time, I’m pretty introverted and social media is a way to engage with my friends and keep up with what they’re doing, sometimes daily. Posting and sharing does make me feel relevant to friends and people I engage with less regularly. But then I really don’t like being on the app and seeing ads and comparing myself etc etc etc etc.
Considering buying a Brick, so I can lock myself out of IG and limit the doom scrolling. Ugh what a time to be alive.
I have a bad memory, and for years it's haunted me. I have to document, scrapbook, journal every thing in my life, every moment, so I Know What Happened. So I remember it if I need it. But then I learned that memory itself lies in your skin, your unconscious thoughts. So like maybe you don't really forget. Maybe if you don't tell anyone and so you forget it happened, maybe it's still a piece of you. Maybe being forgotten is inevitable but maybe you'll still be there.
This post really resonated with me. I am often caught between going mia from social media but also have those moments of wanting to be the creator through posting and sharing cool things. I am always caught between because they both bring me joy. I often struggle to find the balance
Best thing I ever did was quit social media. My mental health is just so much better and after a while you even forget that it was such a big thing. just saying…
I actually revel in my insignificance. I know who and what I am. A small and vulnerable creature among billions (and many billions before me). That’s what we all are. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that because it’s true and it can’t be changed. Doesn’t mean we can’t be curious and look at our lives and this crazy setting with wonderment, but ego wants us to think we are somehow exceptional when we are in fact by far the most tragic creatures in the universe.
Accurate, honest & relatable. Thanks for writing. I highly suggest reading Dave Eggers novel THE CIRCLE. Written in 2013 taking place in Silicon Valley, he describes the digital culture we live in today.
You wrote
“And in 2025, maybe the better version is:
If I experience something but don’t post about it - Does it still matter?”
The Circle is fiction but shows how technology was designed to make us feel trapped on its platforms. It’s a good read.
Thanks so much for the recc! I’ll absolutely check that out - thanks for reading!
I read a book recently that talked about how you retire on your memories. What do we remember? The pictures. The videos. Whatever we wrote about. My kids and I recently watched some old home videos. I couldn’t believe how much I had forgotten and was so glad I had documented it. It made us connect as a family to reminisce. The likes and sharing on social media - it can definitely be validating. It also creates connection. Like this post and all these comments. - Love your work.
What’s the book?
Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
“If I experience something but don’t post about it - Does it still matter?” — the answer is an emphatic YES and even more deeply because your attention is fully on THAT particular experience and not bifurcated with the thought of posting said experience.
I stopped posting on social media 7 months ago, and deleted the apps off my phone. Best decision. I gained my time and attention back to do the things that matter most to me and be fully present in them.
But the struggle and the tension is real…I felt that for many years.
This tension really resonates. Thank you for expressing it - especially the part about it being possibly to do both quietly x
One day I caught myself thinking about how a particular book would look like in my Insta stories before thinking about why I really wanted to read it, that's how I knew things got really f#cked up in my relationship with social media.
Are you inside my brain?
If so, thanks, because that means someone else does indeed see me.
Oof.. this has hit close to home
i really needed to hear this at this moment. thank you for that.
Ahhh this sums up my thought process surrounding social media, especially instagram, recently.
I keep deleting and redownloading the app (ugh). I know it’s a time sink and I can’t really control myself from opening the app and scrolling. I’m also questioning how much I should share. There’s something alluring about keeping your photo memories to yourself or sharing only with your close friends and family who you text them to versus posting on stories or on the grid. Not to mention the time it takes to craft worthwhile posts. But at the same time, I’m pretty introverted and social media is a way to engage with my friends and keep up with what they’re doing, sometimes daily. Posting and sharing does make me feel relevant to friends and people I engage with less regularly. But then I really don’t like being on the app and seeing ads and comparing myself etc etc etc etc.
Considering buying a Brick, so I can lock myself out of IG and limit the doom scrolling. Ugh what a time to be alive.
Thanks for this post. Substack is rad ✊🏼
Love this and you. Thank you for sharing. I see you <3
I have a bad memory, and for years it's haunted me. I have to document, scrapbook, journal every thing in my life, every moment, so I Know What Happened. So I remember it if I need it. But then I learned that memory itself lies in your skin, your unconscious thoughts. So like maybe you don't really forget. Maybe if you don't tell anyone and so you forget it happened, maybe it's still a piece of you. Maybe being forgotten is inevitable but maybe you'll still be there.
This post really resonated with me. I am often caught between going mia from social media but also have those moments of wanting to be the creator through posting and sharing cool things. I am always caught between because they both bring me joy. I often struggle to find the balance
Best thing I ever did was quit social media. My mental health is just so much better and after a while you even forget that it was such a big thing. just saying…