How are you doing today?
Last week was a really tough one for me. Was it for you, too?
Even though I try to limit how much news I take in, sometimes the headlines still find their way in — and when they do, they can feel crushing. Overwhelming. Heartbreaking in a way that leaves you staring at a wall, unsure of what to do next.
Here’s what I did:
I cried. I prayed. I donated. I wrote a lot of words. I had conversations with my kids.
I got off social media. I hiked with friends. I bought Dean’s French Onion dip (my comfort food).
I pickled cucumbers. I read the Bible. I had friends over.
I cheered on my kids at soccer. I cheered for GT and my Dawgs, too.
I made soup and bread for my family.
I drank pumpkin ciders, took magnesium, and sipped Nighty Night Extra tea (not all at once).
I wrestled with big questions. The kind that don’t come with easy answers.
I still don’t have those answers today, and maybe that’s okay. Maybe the wrestling is the work.
Because growth — real, deep, honest growth — rarely feels comfortable.
And yet, here we are. Showing up in small ways. Holding both heartbreak and hope in the same breath. Making soup and mulling over hard questions.
One of my personal struggles is with social media. It’s a place I like to show up and share life’s minutia, like a personal FaceTime with a friend, but there are times when anonymous critics come out just to stir up rage and create division. It’s something I rarely find in other places like on this blog or in real life. I often consider getting off completely because I wonder if we’re all meant to be so entrenched in a virtual world that can create a false sense of connection. But then I see sparks of genuine connection and ways to spread hope and bits of joy and wonder if that makes it worth staying?
How do you handle social media in your own life? It’s something I don’t allow for my kids because I know how addictive and vile it can be and yet, I’m a user. I struggle with that.
If last week felt heavy for you too, I hope you found your own small ways to steady yourself. To stay human in the face of it all. To grieve and grow at the same time. If you’ve found small ways to stay grounded or connected lately, I’d love to know. Let’s keep sharing what helps — it might be just what someone else needs to hear.
Kelli H says
Incredibly difficult, sad and heavy week. I found out about Charlie in the ER with Austin. Unfortunately I saw the video many times while in there and can’t unsee it. I was glued to finding out more information as it was unfolding. Got home and cried on and off all night. felt so depressed with my sick baby, Charlie, and also the young woman on the train (I’m sleep deprived and can’t think of how to spell her name). End the week back in the hospital with Austin having more bleeding problems due to his liver. Sitting in a hospital chair now and just so thankful for life. I agree social media can be so toxic. Best to unplug sometimes. Thank you for continuing to blog long format.
Brittany Dixon says
Oh Kelli, I’m so sorry to hear about what you’re going through. That must be incredibly difficult and frightening. I just wanted to say I’m thinking of you and am grateful to hear Austin is getting the care he needs. Prayering for swift answers and a clear path forward. And sustained strength for you as you advocate for your baby <3
Also, I saw the videos, too, and wish I hadn't. We aren't meant to witness such traumatic visuals in such a casual format. It's soul crushing.
Karen A. says
I do not use social media at all. I feel the relative anonymity and distance from others brings out the worst in people, and I do not need to steep myself in that. The most I do is read blogs, like yours, and comment! I do my best not to ‘doomscroll’, as well. Checking the news maybe once a day is enough. Remember when people got their news once, or twice a day from the newspapers and nightly news? Those were the days.
The psychology of social media and its effect on people is both interesting and depressing. There is a huge confirmation bias (or motivated concluding) happening, where you can find just about any information that “confirms” an opinion. And opinions are not facts. It’s best to remember that most of what is expressed on social media is just opinions.
Brittany Dixon says
Bring back the newspaper! I want to be informed, not inundated. Facts, not opinion pieces. And you are so right- you can find information to confirm any opinion. Just google: coffee is good for you versus coffee is bad for you and it’s amazing how much research there is so support each side.
I definitely feel more peace when I stick to the real world and writing and connecting versus the very fast-paced world of social media.
Thanks for your input <3
Grateful Kae says
Last week was so heavy!! For so many different reasons. I definitely struggle with social media, more and more it seems. I haven’t used Instagram in months now but my biggest crutch is Facebook- my “OG” social media drug of choice, lol. It feels increasingly impossible to “just” use it to share pics of family and fun events and vacations anymore- between ads, news articles, featured posts and a million other things that I DID NOT ASK TO SEE, there’s no good way to even really control it. It used to be that you’d just see your friends’ posts and that’s it. But now so many random things get fed into the mix by the algorithm. Comment sections on social media literally make my stomach turn. Factor in AI and fake posts/ bots…. it’s literally become a disaster.
Did you see this post from Cal Newport, by chance? I agreed with his take on social media! https://calnewport.com/on-charlie-kirk-and-saving-civil-society/
If anything good came from last week, I feel like maybe it’s that many people are (finally) agreeing that we’ve reached a societal tipping point regarding social media… I have been keeping Facebook largely deleted from my phone and just reinstalling it a couple times per week to check it but even that sometimes can go haywire and I end up feeling terrible/stressed afterwards. I may need to be even more aggressive with not using it really at all….