Simply Minimal
Today, I decided to minimize on things and maximize on experience. I have toyed with the idea of minimalism ever since Boyfriend showed me this. I have toyed and toyed and toyed but never committed to it. My love for things runs deep. However, now that I have been separated from Facebook, and other social medias, I am realizing how incredible it can be to cut back on the unnecessary things in life. How freeing it is to sever ties with superficial and less genuine things.
So, the decision has been made, and the jump shall be jumped. This weekend, starting in my closet and working my way out, I will be shedding off all of my unnecessaries.
Ladies, feel free to come by and take whatever clothing suits you. Gentlemen, don't feel excluded. A judgement free zone, my apartment.
Eventually I want my apartment to look more like this and less like this. I will text close friends and post on here before getting rid of things so that friends and family can have first dibs before donation days. (Don't worry mom, I am not going to throw out any heirlooms, or items not belonging to me).
I am going to throw out my favorite shirt though. Because this. I think it is important for me to learn that even my favorite things are still just that. Things. I will post about my progress here. First this was "A Facebook Addict's Journey Through Withdrawals" blog. Now it is "A Things Addict's Journey Towards Minimalism" blog. You lucky readers, you. Huzzah for genuine life! Huzzah for simplicity! Huzzah for experiencing reality! Untill next time, stay real.
Happy Birthday!
As few of you know, this is my birthday month. Tomorrow (January 7th) is my actual birthday. Few of you know this because I don't have Facebook, and how else should you be expected to know when my birthday is? I am looking forward to not being bombarded with birthday wishes from people I no longer speak to, or don't even recognize. I am looking forward to a few intimate friends sending a personal text or calling, and not just writing on my public wall because the Facebook told them to. I am excited to not feel pressure to post pictures of my awesome, fun-filled birthday party, but instead to sit back, relax, and enjoy the company of good friends and family.
I asked Boyfriend recently to get on Facebook and look up close friends' birthdays so that I could write them down on a calendar and remember to say happy birthday to them. Doing this feels so much more personal than relying on a computer to tell me who's birthday it is. I have them down, and can plan in advance for them. I am taking time to remember that person who is close to me, and their day of celebration. Now when I say happy birthday to a friend it will be genuine and real, and I hope they feel it, and see it that way as well. It is require a little effort on my part, but I truly feel it will make a difference. I am loving life Facebook free. I am experiencing life, love, and friendship in a way that I don't think I ever could have when I had an account. In a way that was only possible before the invention (invasion) of social media.
Happy Birthday!
Jan. 7, 2014 edit: Blink 182 was wrong about being 23. Also, 23 is the age where you buy your own birthday cake and are completely okay with it.
Internet Doctor
I haven't had much of an appetite since Friday. I mean I am eating. And I am keeping it down. I just haven't really wanted to, and I can only eat about half of what I normally would. I didn't think it was really that big of a deal... until I looked it up on the internet.
The internet is full of helpful and useful information to make modern life easier. I think it is overall a very useful tool. But it should never, EVER be used as a medical consult.
This was my result after Googling "Loss of Appetite" and following the .gov site presented to me. -Anorexia is the medical term for loss of appetite.
-Cancer may also cause decreased appetite. Cancers that may cause you to lose your appetite include:
- Colon cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Other causes of decreased appetite include:
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic kidney failure
- COPD
- Dementia
- Heart failure
- Hepatitis
- HIV
- Hypothyroidism
- Pregnancy (first trimester)
- Use of certain medications, including antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, codeine, and morphine
- Use of street drugs including amphetamines (speed), cocaine, and heroin
So.... Basically, what I learned from my venture to the interwebs for insight as to why I can only eat a half a chicken breast and a couple mushrooms for dinner, is that I probably have cancer. But on the upside, it may just be HIV.
Lesson learned.
An Open Letter....
To all my “friends” who read The Harry Potter series before me,
I’m not sure we are on speaking terms…
Seeing as NONE OF YOU TOLD ME THAT DOBBY DIES!!!!
I mean with Dumbledore, I heard whispers, I had time to emotionally prepare myself. With Sirius, he was a bit whiny for my taste- it hurt Harry more than it hurt me to see him go.
But DOBBY?!?!?!?! Not a single one of you thought you’d drop a hint, or direct me towards a decent grief counselor when you heard I was nearing the end of the series. Not one. I’m not sure if the book is worth finishing…. Or if life worth living really, if the Dobbys in the world just die like that.
And as for you, Rowling, I had questions for you before, but now I find myself hoping your first two initials stand for “Just Kidding” instead of… Of, I don’t know, “Just Kevil” (the K being silent). Because that’s how I feel about you. You are worse than the worst death eater. He was the definition of innocent, and the picture of devotion. I cannot FATHOM someone having the ability to write such an atrocity in a sane mind. I hope you seek help Sincerely, A 22 year old reading the entire HP series for the first time.
#FBsobriety Week One
This week has already been very enlightening. 1. I have noticed just how much I was on Facebook without realizing it. (Every time I open my phone, my thumb STILL goes to the spot where the FB app used to be... to no avail).
2. I am probably 1000x’s more productive at work now. Think about asking an alcoholic to work at a bar… aaaand get stuff done. This is Generation FB’s problem now that 99.8% of college homework and work-work is done via the internet… where The Facebook lives.
3. I no longer have to read people spelling words like: Rediculous Tommorow Srsly... etc.
4. I am not entirely bitter towards Facebook because of its negative effects on my memory and mind. I was at first, but as the week has gone on, I have begun to appreciate its worth to me when I was a college freshman from a different state. It allowed me to network and create friendships that would eventually spill over into real life. These relationships I still value very much, but I understand now that Facebook was made for college students, and should probably remain for that purpose. Time to carry those friendships made virtually into reality, and put forth grown-up efforts to maintain them.
This is the #FBsobriety update for now. Keep in mind not all posts will be updates like this, I will still continue being witty and quick as well. Check back soon
Sincerely,
RaeDayParade
Generation FB
For those of you who are not aware of why I am now a blogger, I quit Facebook, but still want to share my short one-liners, observations, and general comments about society and life.
I did not quit Facebook on a whim, however. I think it best if I explain all of the reasons to you, so that you will have a better understanding of my leaving it, and possibly be encouraged to consider doing likewise. Please take time to read this article: READ ME! IT'S WORTH IT! Even though it is long... READ ME! While it is not the ONLY article I read on the matter, I do think it is the most informative, well backed, and motivating.
I am striving to be the best version of myself as possible. Thus, I have cut out an unnecessary, and maybe even damaging, part of my life. I will not ever tell you to do anything if you do not want to do it. However, I think in documenting my journey away from the world of likes, comments, chats, and shares, and towards a better mind, body and spirit will possibly encourage you to seek the same. Come back in a few days for the first #FBsobriety report.
Over and out,
-RaeDayParade
