{"id":4742,"date":"2016-07-13T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-13T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calledtolifecoaching.com\/?p=4742"},"modified":"2017-07-01T17:09:24","modified_gmt":"2017-07-01T22:09:24","slug":"dear-facebook-i-want-to-break-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calledtolifecoaching.com\/dear-facebook-i-want-to-break-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Facebook, I Want to Break Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear Facebook,<\/p>\n

You\u2019re probably expecting another \u201cIt\u2019s not you, it\u2019s me\u201d breakup letter. I\u2019ve seen quite a few of them recently. This is a breakup letter, but\u2026well, it really is you<\/em>. You\u2019re the problem in this relationship and honestly, I\u2019m tired of you yanking my chain; the chain connected to my heart and mind.<\/p>\n

You share your heart warming stories and funny pictures. You tell me what\u2019s going on in the world and my community. I feel connected and in the know. And then you sucker punch my heart, mind and soul with some gruesome news story, nasty stream of comments or opinions that don\u2019t even make sense once I dissect them. I\u2019ve tried to defend you in my mind, \u201cBut there is some good, true and beautiful,\u201d I naively tell myself. But the bad, false and grotesque, well even a little poison mixed with something good is still poison.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s one of our problems; I think I spend more time thinking about you then you do about me. Basically, I\u2019m more invested in this relationship and I’m beginning to see I\u2019m just one of many to you. You encourage me to share what\u2019s on my heart\u2014you ask, \u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d But I wonder if you even care or listen, much less consider my thoughts and words. You seem to get around and ask that question to a lot of people. On the other hand, what you share with me, I really consider. Sometimes I think I consider it too much. And by the time I\u2019ve processed what you\u2019ve shared with me, you\u2019ve moved on.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another problem, I don\u2019t believe we\u2019re on the same page when it comes to friends. I\u2019ve read in some notes from my Father, \u201c\u2026let your advisers be one in a thousand.\u201d (Sirach 6:6)\u00a0<\/a> Wow, only 1 in 1,000. Based on that alone, I know we\u2019re on a different page. \u00a0You sure let the advice fly! \u00a0It doesn’t even have to be good or true.<\/p>\n

Also, your friendships seem to be based on quantity, not quality. My Father also said, \u201cWhen you gain a friend, gain him through testing, and do not trust him hastily.\u201d (Sirach 6:7<\/a>) I know I\u2019ve definitely thrown this advice out the window too many times. Sometimes I think we\u2019re a couple of toddlers on the playground who meet and immediately declare we\u2019re friends\u2026even though we don\u2019t really know each other. It also seems like too many of our friends say what they want, when they want without regard for truth, kindness or necessity. I mean honestly, it seems like some of them talk just to hear themselves talk. I don’t think many of them care what they say, they just want to feel like they’re being heard. I also think others pick fights for sport. I\u2019m shaking my head here because as I write this, I\u2019m wondering why I ever considered this a healthy relationship.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

So yeah, this is a break up letter. \u00a0I’ll still be around sharing the good, true and beautiful on my end. \u00a0But I won’t be listening to you anymore. \u00a0I’m not even going to pay attention to you. \u00a0I hope I\u2019ve explained why it is you and not me. For too long I\u2019ve seriously thought it was me. I thought maybe I was too sensitive or too conservative or too prude or too melancholic. Maybe I am all those things. And if there is something I need to change, I just don\u2019t feel like you have my best interests at heart to help me make any of those changes.<\/p>\n

Even though I’m breaking up with you, I’ll still be around. \u00a0See, this breaking up isn’t a run away and hide in the closet with a gallon of ice cream breakup. \u00a0No, this breakup is “I’m no longer letting you lead me.” \u00a0I’m not letting you lead my moods, opinions or self esteem anymore. \u00a0I’ve cleaned out all your worthless junk thanks to my friend F.B. Purity.<\/a>\u00a0 I’ve taken away your ability to\u00a0tell me who or what I can see. \u00a0Your so called “suggestions” or “recommendations” were really just you trying to control the relationship–trying to control me. \u00a0I’ve also gotten rid of a bunch of common friends that weren’t really friends , o begin with, more like followers. \u00a0We only liked each other to be liked more by you. \u00a0Again, one of your control tactics.<\/p>\n

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Facebook, I’m breaking up with you because you try to control who and what I see.<\/a><\/div>\n

Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Now the really awkward part, how do I end this letter? I mean do I say something profound like \u201cStay gold?\u201d Or something flippant like, \u201cSee ya around?\u201d Or \u201cIt\u2019s been fun.\u201d Something funny like, \u201cDon\u2019t call me, I\u2019ll call you?\u201d Or do I just encourage you? “You know, you really have the power to make a huge difference in lives. You have the means to encourage others on a wide scale; I\u2019m talking globally! You can connect people through noble ideas and inspire people to be their very best selves. You can bring people together to serve each other in love. But first you have to decide that\u2019s your goal. \u00a0See, I\u2019ve decided that is my goal. I’ve realized you’re distracting me from that goal. Maybe instead of ‘goal’ I should say ‘purpose.'”<\/p>\n

In parting, let me ask you, “What\u2019s your purpose?”<\/p>\n