Why I Don’t and Won’t Live on Social Media

I often feel like Wilma Flintstone when it comes to navigating effect social media. It’s just not my thing. I often ask myself, “What is my purpose on social media? What do I post? What is silly? What is helpful? What helps my reader get to know me?”

My purpose on social media is to enrich your life, not distract from it. I want to give you quality content—something to think about or a link to helpful material on my blog or someone else’s blog. Maybe you will see something from which you will launch into a meaningful conversation with a friend. Or maybe you will look up the Scripture I reference for a fuller understanding of what I wrote. Whatever you see on my social media, my goal is to serve you through it.

I also want to help you get to know me so you better understand the person you’re reading. I am relational so I love hearing back from you.

I keep private things private. When I am going through a tough time, I will not write about it until I am ready and what I have to say will bless you—hence my books on parenting, marriage, and my journey. When I write, I write honestly and from the heart. You read the real me.

My family consists of two extroverts (myself included), six introverts, and one little guy who we’re pretty sure is an extrovert. Thus, most of my family is not crazy about their lives being shown on social media and I respect that. That is why you won’t see a variety of family pics. They have given me permission to use certain ones and that is cool. Much of our time together is private and that’s the way I keep it.

If used wisely, social media can inspire and inform and encourage. But it is no substitute for face-to-face relationships, reading God’s Word, reading, or (gasp) actually doing something. What could we accomplish if we used even half of our social media time and attention—

  • Being creative in whatever way God made you?
  • Having a conversation face-to-face with someone?
  • Working on the project that you have put off?
  • Cleaning out your closet?
  • Exercising in whatever way you enjoy or can?
  • Doing something for someone else?

You get the idea.

The reasons I spend my time writing and speaking instead of doing any other number of things including pestering Kelsey and Harvey to pieces:

  • I want to help you grow your relationships with God and others, which includes your marriage and parenting.
  • I want to help you identify and live your calling whether it includes your career, ministry, family, community involvement, or any combination of these.
  • By doing the above I want to help you live your life to the full. Jesus came for this purpose (John 10:10). I want to help you in this process. First you must know Christ* and then live an emotionally and spiritually healthy life**.

If you would like to connect with me through social media, you can follow me my various social media outlets: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads. You may also sign up to have my blog and monthly enewsletter emailed to you. All links are on the homepage of my website.

I promise to continue to do my best to give you quality content that you want to see.

What about you? How do you feel about social media? Love it? Hate it? Does it steal your time or enrich your life?

 

*Jesus came to earth as a baby yet remained God. He lived a sinless life, that means He didn’t mess up once. As a result He became the perfect answer for our sins and as a result the breaking of relationship with God and us. Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross to be that answer, that sacrifice for us. When we confess our sins, our sinfulness, asking for forgiveness and accepting what Jesus did for us, we become a child of God. We will live forever with Him both on earth and when our bodies die. We have new purpose for life. We have peace that only Jesus can give. If you would like to know more about Jesus and life with Him, read the book of John in the Bible. It is in the New Testament portion of the Bible. My book, Princess Unaware: Finding the Fabulous in Every Day, talks about knowing God, how to be in relationship with Him and discovering and living the purpose He has for you.

**I learned about the need for emotional maturity in becoming spiritually mature from Peter Scazzero’s book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

 

Brenda Garrison is an author and speaker who empowers women with the confidence to live their calling. Brenda is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ministry Leadership with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, Gene, are the parents of three young adult daughters and live near Metamora, IL.

2 thoughts on “Why I Don’t and Won’t Live on Social Media

  1. My kids accuse me of being “amish” but I’m convinced that most media (whether face book or television or texting) actually uses up emotional energy without the benefits of face to face. So, I’m with you, if I’m going to us social media I want it to count for something. Thanks for the work you put into making sure there is something positive in our in-box!

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