Dirty Laundry

I Love Social Media. Not just a little – I freaking LOVE Social Media! I love connecting with my friends but more importantly it is a portal to my past. I get to catch up with old friends from the playground years, those awkward elementary and junior high days, and those formidable but awesome high school years. And the family connections I’ve rekindled on social media make this sentimental girl very happy! I get to hear when a far-away cousin has exciting news to share and see new photos of her grandbabies. Before Facebook I had to wait for the inevitable Christmas letter or card to see how much the kids and grandkids have grown. Now I get to have a front row seat to their lives: the good and not-so-good stuff!

It’s the not-so-good stuff that I would rather not see! I’m not talking about bad news or a sickness. I want to hear about that, so I can pray for healing. What I don’t want to hear about – and I’m guessing 99% of your friends on social media would agree – is your dirty laundry! I have had to “un-friend” more than a few friends and family over the years because I don’t want or need to be party to your dirty laundry.

We all have bad days and some days are downright ugly and can leave us highly emotional. That is life. That is your personal life. Keep it personal – between you and the person who hurt you. The rest of your friends DO NOT need to be involved. Regardless of what you may think, posting it on social media will not make you feel any better. And the truth is it makes most people very uncomfortable to be put in the middle of what you are hanging out there for anyone to see and hear.

If you are looking for support on a tough situation in your life, that is ok, but you don’t have to give all the hairy and disgusting details along with the overly-emphasized f-bombs and trash talk. If the situation is extremely personal, it would be best to call a good friend or confidant and ask for advice. There can also be an issue of legality if you blab too much. What you say in the heat of the moment on social media can follow you around and wreck havoc in your life. I have seen it happen and it’s not pretty.

Too bad there is not a filter that we can put all of our posts through before hitting the POST button! Right?! Or what about this idea, what if Facebook designated one day a year as “Dirty Laundry” day and you can post whatever you want with no consequences or responses needed. That would be the day I would probably take a social media hiatus – as it really bothers me to see all that trash talk! But those that feel they really need to post all their ugly stuff for everyone to see can have a hay-day!

I hope that social media is as fun for you as it is for me. To enjoy it more you may have to eliminate some “friends” that frequently hang their dirty laundry. When you open up your social media pages you should be entertained, feel nostalgic, laugh, feel compassion for those going through hard times, and experience other feel-good emotions. Be your own filter and think about what you post before you actually post! Bottom line – have fun and connect!

Follow me on my blog at www.gracecitygirl.com.

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