Taking a break from the 'bad stuff'
The past few weeks and months, I've been spending a lot of time on my blog and on Twitter. Reading Tweets, reTweeting them, posting photos and links to articles I'd read online, sharing some of my views and opinions with the world. I use my blog to share photos and use Twitter to read and post about what's going on in the world. Oh, and I use Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends! Of course I also use email to stay updated on current events and to keep in touch with family and friends, however I use social media more. Until I stopped doing so for a few days.
Last week, I decided to take a break from the world of Twitter, blogging and Facebook. Partly because I've been playing Grand Theft Auto V on the PlayStation - it's addictive, that game! - and partly because I wanted to spend more time reading books than posting and sharing on social media. And also, because spending so much time online doesn't always feel 'right' any more.
I'm not the kind of person who shares my every thought or activity on social media. I'm not the kind of person who posts selfies either. I share photos and write a post or article from time to time, however try to keep what I share general and impersonal. Only, that doesn't always work. Because I do get personally involved, I do care about the topic I write about and the posts I share online. Otherwise, what would be the point of posting and sharing? Yet caring about what goes on in the world, especially with regards to bad things that happen, isn't always fun and can get me down.
Those who read my posts on Twitter will know that there are some things I post about more than other things. Things that matter to me, that get to me, that I feel passionate about or am interested in. Climate change and global warming, the horrors of terrorism and fundamentalism, Israel and Kurdistan, the Middle East in general, photography, space exploration, nature, reading and writing, positivity, equality for all beings, science fiction & fantasy, animal rights, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Defiance - those are just some of the topics I write, post or reTweet about.
Now I'm not saying Star Trek gets me down (although I would like to see a new series on television instead of more remakes of the movies, however that's a whole 'nother post!...) however reading, writing and posting about how humans treat the planet we live on like a garbage heap, about terrorism, murder, rape, hate crimes, unfairness in the world - that gets to me. Makes me question whether my words and Tweets actually make a difference, makes me wonder if it matters at all that I write, post, reTweet.
I believe that it is important to read, write and share with others the bad and unfair things going on in the world, however it isn't always easy. Or rather, balancing the 'bad' things with enough 'good' things to keep me positive and happy isn't always easy. So, in an attempt to focus on good things for a few days, I stayed away from social media. I focused on the things that make life worthwhile instead - I spent time enjoying the sunshine, appreciating the beauty of nature, reading books I enjoy and writing stories. I did not forget about the bad things going on in the world. I did not stop thinking about the horrors people all around the globe face. I did not stop thinking about what is happening in the Middle East and Africa. I did not change my mind about wanting to make the world a better place for all living beings. But for just a few days, I refused to see images of horror, bloodshed, hate crimes and atrocities carried out in the name of some religion or ideology.
As strange as it may sound, while I do feel mentally refreshed, I also feel guilty. Because while I was able to sit back and enjoy a beautiful sunset and books written by a favourite author, those suffering at the hands of extremists were not able to sit back, relax and enjoy life. While I read books, women were raped, innocents were murdered, families were torn apart, homes were destroyed, beautiful animals were hunted down and brutally killed. The world didn't turn into a nice place for a few days just because I needed a break. Humanity didn't suddenly turn into a group of tolerant, loving, kind, caring and compassionate people just because I decided to take a few days off from reading and writing about the bad stuff going on in the world.
I am only one person and my Tweets won't change the world, however I am one voice of many, one person speaking up, writing about and refusing to accept the horrors humans inflict on each other and on other living beings. While I needed a few days off from violence, war, bloodshed and hatred, I can't help but think of myself as a bit of a hypocrite. Sure, I've been assaulted and harassed however I am not someone's sex slave. Sure, my house has been broken into, however it wasn't bombed, attacked with rockets or destroyed. Sure, I have financial worries, however I have clothes, books, a laptop - I am not a refugee who had to leave everything behind to get out of a war-torn area. Sure, I worry if I'll be able to pay for food from time to time, however I do not need to beg or steal just to be able to feed my family. Sure, my clothes are old and a few are torn, however I have clothes I can call my own. Sure, my neighbours are noisy and inconsiderate, however I have a roof over my head, a front door I can close. While I watched that beautiful sunset, how many died? While I took those few days off, away from reading about the bad things going on in the world, how many suffered, how many were raped, how many were tortured? As much as I felt I needed those few days off from the bad stuff, I can't help but think of the millions of people who can't take a few days off from reality, from their own lives, from what is happening all around them. Even if all I can do for people who are suffering and scared is to read about what is going on in their lives, to bear witness to their suffering and their courage, to write about what is going on in the world and in their reality, shouldn't I do so while counting my blessings, instead of feeling the need to take a few days off? Millions of people around the world can't take a few days off from reality, yet I take a break from reading about another's reality, a break from reading about bad things that are happening to others. How privileged am I? How lucky am I? And how much of a hypocrite am I for feeling like I need those few days off from the 'bad stuff' that others call daily life and reality?
Last week, I decided to take a break from the world of Twitter, blogging and Facebook. Partly because I've been playing Grand Theft Auto V on the PlayStation - it's addictive, that game! - and partly because I wanted to spend more time reading books than posting and sharing on social media. And also, because spending so much time online doesn't always feel 'right' any more.
I'm not the kind of person who shares my every thought or activity on social media. I'm not the kind of person who posts selfies either. I share photos and write a post or article from time to time, however try to keep what I share general and impersonal. Only, that doesn't always work. Because I do get personally involved, I do care about the topic I write about and the posts I share online. Otherwise, what would be the point of posting and sharing? Yet caring about what goes on in the world, especially with regards to bad things that happen, isn't always fun and can get me down.
Those who read my posts on Twitter will know that there are some things I post about more than other things. Things that matter to me, that get to me, that I feel passionate about or am interested in. Climate change and global warming, the horrors of terrorism and fundamentalism, Israel and Kurdistan, the Middle East in general, photography, space exploration, nature, reading and writing, positivity, equality for all beings, science fiction & fantasy, animal rights, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Defiance - those are just some of the topics I write, post or reTweet about.
Now I'm not saying Star Trek gets me down (although I would like to see a new series on television instead of more remakes of the movies, however that's a whole 'nother post!...) however reading, writing and posting about how humans treat the planet we live on like a garbage heap, about terrorism, murder, rape, hate crimes, unfairness in the world - that gets to me. Makes me question whether my words and Tweets actually make a difference, makes me wonder if it matters at all that I write, post, reTweet.
I believe that it is important to read, write and share with others the bad and unfair things going on in the world, however it isn't always easy. Or rather, balancing the 'bad' things with enough 'good' things to keep me positive and happy isn't always easy. So, in an attempt to focus on good things for a few days, I stayed away from social media. I focused on the things that make life worthwhile instead - I spent time enjoying the sunshine, appreciating the beauty of nature, reading books I enjoy and writing stories. I did not forget about the bad things going on in the world. I did not stop thinking about the horrors people all around the globe face. I did not stop thinking about what is happening in the Middle East and Africa. I did not change my mind about wanting to make the world a better place for all living beings. But for just a few days, I refused to see images of horror, bloodshed, hate crimes and atrocities carried out in the name of some religion or ideology.
As strange as it may sound, while I do feel mentally refreshed, I also feel guilty. Because while I was able to sit back and enjoy a beautiful sunset and books written by a favourite author, those suffering at the hands of extremists were not able to sit back, relax and enjoy life. While I read books, women were raped, innocents were murdered, families were torn apart, homes were destroyed, beautiful animals were hunted down and brutally killed. The world didn't turn into a nice place for a few days just because I needed a break. Humanity didn't suddenly turn into a group of tolerant, loving, kind, caring and compassionate people just because I decided to take a few days off from reading and writing about the bad stuff going on in the world.
I am only one person and my Tweets won't change the world, however I am one voice of many, one person speaking up, writing about and refusing to accept the horrors humans inflict on each other and on other living beings. While I needed a few days off from violence, war, bloodshed and hatred, I can't help but think of myself as a bit of a hypocrite. Sure, I've been assaulted and harassed however I am not someone's sex slave. Sure, my house has been broken into, however it wasn't bombed, attacked with rockets or destroyed. Sure, I have financial worries, however I have clothes, books, a laptop - I am not a refugee who had to leave everything behind to get out of a war-torn area. Sure, I worry if I'll be able to pay for food from time to time, however I do not need to beg or steal just to be able to feed my family. Sure, my clothes are old and a few are torn, however I have clothes I can call my own. Sure, my neighbours are noisy and inconsiderate, however I have a roof over my head, a front door I can close. While I watched that beautiful sunset, how many died? While I took those few days off, away from reading about the bad things going on in the world, how many suffered, how many were raped, how many were tortured? As much as I felt I needed those few days off from the bad stuff, I can't help but think of the millions of people who can't take a few days off from reality, from their own lives, from what is happening all around them. Even if all I can do for people who are suffering and scared is to read about what is going on in their lives, to bear witness to their suffering and their courage, to write about what is going on in the world and in their reality, shouldn't I do so while counting my blessings, instead of feeling the need to take a few days off? Millions of people around the world can't take a few days off from reality, yet I take a break from reading about another's reality, a break from reading about bad things that are happening to others. How privileged am I? How lucky am I? And how much of a hypocrite am I for feeling like I need those few days off from the 'bad stuff' that others call daily life and reality?
Comments