jessa

I chose to begin my day by not checking what’s going on with everybody else (or at least what the algorithm wants to show me) online.

It feels good to take charge of my day instead of being ruled over by the incessant pings and unwanted information. Do I really have to be informed about everything that’s been going on around me? Or is the ignorance—at least about the world outside my own—allowing me to be more present, and to have more mental space for the people closest to me?

This must be about growing old. Or perhaps I just learned to admit that I am a human being with a limited capacity to engage. I cannot commit to everything that comes my way, including becoming emotionally invested in every breaking news.

Having the peace and quiet in my inboxes also removes the anxiety of having too many unread messages, those red notifications constantly nagging me to notice them. Actually, I don’t know how my husband manages to be okay with them blaring all the time and still keep his sanity. Or maybe he’s just good at keeping it cool—but probably overwhelmed underneath, given that he’s stopped bothering about them entirely. Hundreds of them. Too desensitized, maybe?

For now, let me enjoy the freedom I get from embracing my limitations.

I cannot be connected all the time, like social media wants us to be. But I’m confident that I remain connected with the people I care about.

While I keep my online presence — probably just adding to the noise — I hope that in this blog, I only reach the people who care. Shun the unbelievers.

If you don’t want to read anything from me anymore, please unsubscribe. I do not want to add clutter to your life; I have enough to clear out in my own.