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Kim Thai's avatar

Ben, the forever prophet. Also lowkey dropped another incredible poetry reading! Let’s support each other on our deploying journey, friend. It’s well worth it 🙏🙏🙏

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Lu Chekowsky's avatar

Loved this reflection. I'm right there with you. Last week I had a note I wrote on here get a bit sticky and I got a bunch of new followers and likes and the jackpot of the dopamine hit me hard here too -- and left me hung over and sad. Bummed to feel that here too. Trying to find my way. Love the invite to the reading! I'm out of the city, so don't think I'll make it, but yes to in person connecting with like-minded humans in the real world. A great reminder. Thank you.

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Carla Zanoni's avatar

I hear you on this. I keep telling myself it’s a process and I don’t have to fall victim to all or nothing thinking. But man, that is very hard. Also, I know you and I are meant to meet. @Kim Thai will make it happen, even if we get in our own way! ;)

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Lu Chekowsky's avatar

Yes to all this! One day please! And yes to not falling victim to all or nothing, black and white thinking.

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sylvia zanoni's avatar

This should be read aloud, published out loud, spread out loud everywhere to everyone. An honest and courageous description of what most of us are experiencing.

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Carla Zanoni's avatar

I had a feeling I was not alone here. Love you.

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Aransas Savas's avatar

How much integrity you demonstrate by voicing this commitment to all of us and inviting us to reflect on our relationships with our devices at the same time. That question you asked about “What am I not doing?” Is one I ask often, and yet, I have also found myself scrolling more often recently. I needed this reminder. Thank you, dear Carla.

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Carla Zanoni's avatar

I think we are all seeking connection, which is beautiful, and social/digital media may have filled some of that need in the past, but things are different and now it's time for us to find new ways of being. So glad to be doing that with you.

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Katie Hawkins-Gaar's avatar

Love this, Carla. And now you’ve inspired me to toss my phone across the room so I can read a chapter of my book!

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Carla Zanoni's avatar

Do it!!! ANNNNNND what are you reading??? I'm FINALLY reading Educated by Tara Westover and am completely blown away!

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Katie Hawkins-Gaar's avatar

I just finished Piglet and loved it (so weird! so smart! so unexpected!) and I’m starting Real Americans next. And I loved Educated! Blown away is right!

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Carla Zanoni's avatar

Ooh, OK, adding to the list.

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Linda Bernstein's avatar

So wonderful how you've detoxed from the mindless social media scroll.

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Carla Zanoni's avatar

The mindful social scroll can lead to great things, like us knowing each other, as well as awful things, like brain and heart and body numbness. Yes to the former, no to the latter!

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Phyllis A. Smith's avatar

Beautiful! And such a clear description of something I’ve been thinking myself. Thank you!

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Carla Zanoni's avatar

Here for this. So glad it helped in some small way.

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Paul Belbusti's avatar

I permanently deleted it all (aside from Substack). The fomo, the idea that people will forget me and my work, and the internet itself was holding my brain hostage. The first few days without were strange, but even stranger:

I barely think about it and sometimes forget social media exists.

Not what I was expecting, but it’s true. I’ve spent a significant amount of time, reading, chatting with friends, and throwing myself into creative projects. Zadie Smith’s quote about social media was the final breaking by point:

“And that’s OK. All mediums modify you. Books modify you, TV modifies you, radio modifies you. The social life of a 16th-century village modifies you. But the question becomes: Who do you want to be modified by, and to what degree? That’s my only question.

And when I look at the people who have designed these things — what they want, what their aims are, what they think a human being is or should be — the humans I know and love, this machinery is not worthy of them. That’s the best way I can put it.”

Here’s to you, me, all of us knowing our worth. Xoxo

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