By: Stella Orange
You may have gotten wind of our recent withdrawal from social media.
At first, the mere whiff of the idea that I might not be present on social media sent a zip of “What the heck do ya MEAN, you’re headed for the exit?! You CAN’T do that!”
But the truth is, I haven’t been PRESENT on social media for quite some time.
Presence is an interesting thing these days. Especially as many of us have mostly been in our homes and missing going out to the discos.
But I’m at the point where I can’t let the tail wag the dog anymore.
In the Before Times, I let outside authorities tell me that I “had” to be on social media. I “had” to expand my audience. I “had” to be posting to be seen. To be somebody?
That’s the tail. And, looking back, I tried to bend myself into all sorts of shapes and positions, TRYING to make good on that advice.
But when Rebecca said, “hey, maybe we take seriously that neither of us is present or even particularly LIKES social media…”
I must admit, the thought of opting out hadn’t even crossed my mind as an option!
In the Now Times, here is the dog:
- I like writing letters
- I like having conversations
- I like smaller parties
- I like doing business inside the larger context of relationship, trust, everyone getting their wants and needs met, and being in cahoots with bad asses who don’t play
When this dog wags her tail, it ain’t social media.
In the void that has emerged where social media used to be, here is what seeds are being planted:
- Literal seeds, planted in my garden
- Writing handwritten notes celebrating two client weddings
- Writing a card to a client caring for aging parents
- Writing a note to a friend’s husband
- Writing a note to my dad
- Leaving birthday gifts for the neighbor girls across the street
- Having friends over for porch champagne
- Texting colleagues
- Writing in my journal
- Reading something uplifting and expansive in the mornings
- Making plans via text for bike rides
- Phone calls with members of my extended family
- Reading the paper
- Reading books
- Morning yoga
All of this to say, I bet you a nickel – A NICKEL!!! – that there is something in your practice of business that you have been compelling yourself to do, because some external authority let on it was essential to your success.
For a fun thought experiment, what if you said: You know what, I bet I can come up with 10 other ways to do it, that I like more (and that roll my socks up and down)?
Notice what you enjoy, and increase. It doesn’t have to be a grind. It doesn’t have to be a hustle. It doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. And if you want folks to be in cahoots with you as you do it, hit us up at the email address below.
Dedicated to your total victory,
Stella is cofounder and copywriter at Las Peregrinas, a creative and consulting agency. As our resident word nerd, she writes copy and points out the stories everyone is living and telling through their work. She is also fun at parties.
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