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79 likes? 15 comments?! You got some magic going here!!! Love this so much.

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And also - I’ve been online since 1995 🙃🙃🙃

I remember the most wonderful BALANCE of meeting new people and having conversations on mIRC (we had a channel called #pasxe haha) and then we would plan to meet at shows all around northeast PA.

Again, we’d hang out and talk online, sure. But the magic was then MEETING IRL, and hanging out, and building from there. Message boards too, then, years later.

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Not gonna lie, I had to Google mIRC to learn what it is! hahahaha

Thanks for reading Seth and for all the props, you have a wealth of knowledge and are so kind to all of us newbies. Nice to meet in this little Internet corner!

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Hey, you had to google mIRC, and I have to google 90% of the new memes and music folks and trends that I see from the younger generations hahah... it evens out :)))))

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Woahh blue eyeshadows looks great on you✨

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Thanks love!!

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I really appreciate your practical steps to ween off of social media. I’ve been thinking about getting a digital camera for a while, and now I just might :) As a writer on here, I also struggle with the thought of not being able to share my work on other platforms. The ratio of creation to consumption is such a hard one to balance!

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You should definitely get a digital camera! Mine is nothing fancy but has been a great tool to disconnect from my phone and still be able to capture moments in life ❤️ thanks for reading ❤️❤️

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Love this. I actually switched to a flip phone a few months ago. Living your life addicted to a screen should not be so normalized. I agree, I can feel a little guilty for remove myself from the current events but I do feel more mentally equipped to actually do meaningful things in the world now that I'm not doom scrolling all day. I don't think being "informed" or sharing infographics to our instagram stories is really making that much of an impact, anyway.

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I would love to read your experience switching to a flip phone Jeremy! And I agree. I sometimes feel guilty if don't reshare those posts supporting different political causes for instance, but at the same time I am not really sure if that is just performative and the kind of impact it has...

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That Vancouver Island trip advice is so good! I’ll have to try it

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Vancouver Island has SO many gems. <3

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I resonate with this so much. I'm tired of social media and glad it wasn't around when we were kids. I try my best to get offline as much as possible now since I dont want to totally eliminate it, and only go on it when I want to.

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100% - I want to be able to reach a point where I control my social media usage and it doesn't control me!

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So relatable omg. I think about how much not relaxed and at peace I would be if I stayed offline but the fear of FOMO and all the friends and community I would miss out on keeps me there. I've been putting timers on the apps I frequent most to help curb the time I spend online but I love your suggestions too!

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Time limit on apps has been a game changer for me as well Liv! I should've included that! I have a 15 minute limit on Instagram and I almost go over everyday but well... baby steps :)

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I love reading how people are exploring their relationships with social media! It’s helpful as I examine my own relationship with my phone and social media.🖤

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Thanks so much for reading Olivia. I also love learning about other's people relationship with sm and the internet. It seems from this post that a lot of people are looking to cultivate healthier relationships with it.

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I feel you with all of this! I am so conflicted about staying on social media or leaving it completely. I struggle to find a balance with it that's healthy. I'm either looking at my phone 45 minutes a day or 4 hours a day. There is no in between for me. But it's a process and a journey that I'm committed to figuring out and consistently reassessing for myself. Thanks for sharing this!

p.s. love the green dress!

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It’s a refreshing to see a different perspective that what I have been seeing a lot on here about completely quitting social media. I like that you are doing what feels right for you by still keeping social media, but also limiting it. I too want to avoid grabbing for my phone first thing when I wake up and it being the last thing I see before I go to sleep!

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Thank you Leanna! I think for some of us it's not realistic fully quitting social media (although I fantasize that someday I will be able to do so and move to the countryside haha) but we can set limits around it so it doesn't control our lives. Thank you for reading!

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Loveeeeeeed this chapter, everything you wrote I have felt at least once in my life but most I feel every single day. I appreciate you sharing your own challenges since that helps inspire me to do the same 🥹 thank you again for sharing a peace of your brain and heart one more time with us, can’t wait for the next one ❣️

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Thank you for always making time to read me amiga, love you <3

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me encantó el reto de viajar con cámara 🫶🏻 definitivamente lo haré.

mi experiencia es muy similar a la tuya, decidí pasar todo marzo sin redes sociales, los cambios fueron increíbles, al inicio sentí una resistencia que casi me vencía pero al paso de los días iba cediendo, empecé a sentir más, a notar, a estar presente, vi como mi forma de relacionarme conmigo y las personas que amo mejoró muchísimo, y luego al momento de regresar (abril) fue una montaña rusa que pronto me volvió a atrapar, pero como dices es un trabajo constante, nadie dijo que el balance fuera algo fácil de conseguir pero aquí seguimos buscando

besos flor, you are such an inspiration 🫰🏻💌

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amo leer esto, me inspiras a hacer un detox así de largo. Y si, es un trabajo constante!

Gracias por leerme Fer <3

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I loved this because I struggle so much with this too. The first rule (not using my phone one hour after waking up) has been my goal for 2 years but it’s so hard! I’m trying a new thing tomorrow, hope it helps haha. Can’t wait for the next read! 💌

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So hard to implement the no phone rule when waking up, I struggle with that a lot! But it's a constant work and we are doing our best. Sending a big hug your way Dani <3

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Enjoyed this read! There are really both pros and cons about being online. And overall being online isn’t bad per se. So long as we dont let it control us and our lives, there are lots of inspiration that the digital world can offer. Ultimately, balance is key. ❤️

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Totally, it's all about balance! Thanks for reading Jenny <3

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Less energy focused on your phone and more towards creativity and being present >>> 💌

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Word! <3

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I’m currently taking a trip and I’m completely off line and loving it. It’s definitely taking the pressure off performing for people who don’t really care about my life. I thought of the same “if a tree falls” saying while I was making my way out of town. All I can say is I hope there are plenty of trees that fall in my life and the only people that get to see them are the ones standing in the forest with me 🤎

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