The joys of facebook

Maybe Facebook seems slow because I have everyone blocked?

I am a big fan of facebook. I love catching up on people's news and re-connecting with old friends from school, or youth group or work. I think facebook has a different feel to it for my generation. We use it to share our highlights - children's weddings, Christmas get-togethers, new grandchildren etc.

Facebook for the younger generations is all about "me, me, me" and the minuatae of their lives. I like being friends with this generation but I have "unfollowed" so many of them because I get so tired of seeing what Lord of the Rings character they are, or what colour they like, or what their precious little child is doing on a daily (or even hourly) basis. So my facebook news feed looks pretty lean at times, but what can I expect when I am so uninterested in the triviality of people's lives?

The only problem with blocking the trivia is that I get all the "events" of people's lives - which makes it look like everyone is doing exciting things, travelling the world, getting married, having babies, getting flowers and anniversary gifts etc etc. I need to constantly remind myself that I am getting the tip of the iceberg of my friends' lives - not their normal mundane stuff and yes, they may have gone on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but that is not their everyday life.

It is a good reminder to rejoice with others in the blessings that befall them, but to not get caught up in a "poor me" moment when I am not reaping the same moments of glory. I am probably as guilty as anyone of sharing the highlights, I have posted pictures of the trips I've gone on with my mum, I've put up pictures of my children's weddings and my mother-of-the-bride primped and preened look. I've put up pictures from Christmas (excluding the bits I don't want to remember) and birthdays - carefully edited. Even my profile picture is chosen so I look my best.

Life on facebook is so sanitised and prettied up that it is almost a fictional account of real life, and I am learning to keep my friends but ration my exposure to those who's lives seem so much more perfect than mine. The perfect family, the perfect home, the perfect husband, the perfect holidays, the perfect family Christmas etc etc. Maybe their lives are as perfect as they appear on facebook, but I don't need to see it all if I'm not in a good place - so yes, my news feed is small at times, but I can also choose to pop across to their page when I'm in the right frame of mind and enjoy their blessings with them and know that my life is pretty good at times too.

Cresting The Hill