Junior Gorman the Younger and I are having a contest this summer: whoever clocks the week with the least amount of time on social media before Labor Day wins. We haven’t decided on a prize yet, but I suspect spending the summer with strong guardrails around the hellscape that the digital social world has become will be reward enough.

I really, really, really hate what the socials have done to my life. You probably do too. I have already put limits around my consumption, clawing back my ability to sleep and my blood pressure from its dopamine and adrenaline-fueled grip. I now read regularly again and my mood is no longer for sale to the lowest bidder. But I still feel like no matter how long the digital sabbath, no matter how brief the peek into the lives of the folks I do want to keep in touch with, my brain needs a walk after dipping a toe back in. Or a hug. Can you hug your brain? Would you? Please??

The screaming and fear and outrage. The constant updates and constant teasing FOMO and the constant titillation of all those curated lives. Friends, it’s eating away at our time and attention with the voracity of a dumpster fire set alight by the blowtorch of intelligence-insulting advertisements soaked in the fuel of voyeurism.

Goddamnit, if it wasn’t for those adorable puppy and baby videos. And my favorite comedians! The new brilliant voices! The miracle stories of animal rescues that have me sobbing in my coffee (Hey, Tiki, hey! You GO, little man!). They’re all there too! So why doesn’t it work when I do my best to jump in real quick, with the intent to connect meaningfully, and run away before I start feeling gross? I always fail.

Hence, this post. I am tired of being angry and afraid, like I a continually catching a virus from my beloveds who are also angry and afraid. It bears noting that there are real live reasons for concern in our country right now, and I do not underestimate the seriousness of any of it.

But panic and rage do not serve us. They do not help.

We are also so lonely for one another. For community, irl. I used to have the will to hack the algorithm, when I thought it might make a difference for my work. I’ve given up. Even the wizardress Lindsay, my social media manager, who is at the top of her game, says she’s got nothing.

Right now the world needs us, so very much. Ironically, the world that is reaching for you on your socials is trying to get and keep you engaged. But in the Information Age, as we are, believing it is in any way sufficient as a real experience is a hazard. The memeification of our lives saps the energy and time we need to actually put down our phones and be part of the highest good for the greatest number.

That takes real action. Especially now. Ask yourself, are you volunteering? Do you have some permutation of a group, perhaps in your neighborhood that meets regularly to walk, talk, ride bicycles, have coffee, talk about books, garden? Where do you invest your time, energy, and treasure?

If this seems overwhelming, try some small actions like:

~waving at a neighbor as you drive or walk by,

~try a new recipe at home that requires you to get a suggestion/help from someone in the grocery store,

~check out any small business near where you live,

~pick up one piece of trash (Hand to Goddess I find at least one mini Fireball on every walk I take 🙂

~go to your local library and ask a librarian for a recommendation.

Remember, little adds up to big, and bigger leads you to the people, places, and ways to participate in your world that are really meaningful. They will not exhaust you. Dedicate your smallish actions to the greater good, and I promise you will be amazed at where you end up.

I happened upon this quote by St. Augustine today as I was preparing to sit down and write this piece. It goes, “Hope has two beautiful daughters, Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are”. We are not meant to cycle constantly through the overstimulation of social media. It shouldn’t be something we have to recover from. We are meant to get out there and channel all of our passion, anger, and hope for one another. Into action.

I’ll see you here, and here, and here!