31 Days of Less and More, Day 12 {More Friendship}

This is Day 12 of our 31 Days of Less and More series. To read all the posts in order, start with Day 1 and check out our overview page to see the topics for the entire month.

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”
~Anais Nin

Today, begins part 2 of our series, where we focus on less stress and more peace.  I can’t think of a better place to start than social media.  I remember being completely overwhelmed at the first blogging conference I ever went to when we were  told all the plethora of ways we should be involved in social media.  But, let me tell you what I’ve learned over 5 years of blogging and social media participation—the goal for me is relationship.

And these relationships have changed my life.  

My first blog crush was Myquillin.  She introduced me to a new way of thinking about my home and she has given me the gift of friendship in so many ways. She speaks my love language and  I can’t imagine my world without her.

Patty helped give me new eyes.  The way she sees and photographs the everyday mysteries of life dazzles me.  She may be the kindest, most generous person I’ve ever met.

Ruth inspires me everyday.  She works harder than anyone I know.  She has fought past so many obstacles and yet she is not sullied by them.  She is loyal and beautiful and brave.

These kinds of friendships, online or offline, don’t blossom overnight.  They require time and effort and way more than 140 characters per message.  These are women that I love and pray for, that I email, call, skype, text,  meet for coffee, and even meet for weekend retreats.  These are women who have introduced me to new worlds—to new ways of seeing and living and working.  This is friendship, the old fashioned way.  It is one of life’s greatest gifts.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE social media. Try  following me on Pinterest or Instagram for a day or two and you’ll see that I’m no stranger to the beauty and lure of it all of the things social media has to offer.   But, mostly what I love about it is the chance of connecting with people in hopes of true relationship and community.  And you can’t have that with 300 or 3,000 people—so I try to cultivate it with a few.  Friendship takes time to grow and nurture and blossom and we all have a limited amount of time and energy to give.

Don’t let social media rob you of the joys of true friendship.  Let it, instead, be another avenue for fostering and growing relationships with deep roots and abundant fruit.

Action:   Do an internal Facebook audit.  Are there so-called friends in your feed who are driving you crazy or causing you stress?  Un-friend them.  Remove yourself from groups you’re not interested in, un-like any pages you are no longer interested in, and turn off all notifications.    Then do the same for any other social media networks you participate in.

Now, spend some time thinking of people in your real life circle.  Think of two people that you love and respect that you’d like to cultivate deeper friendships with and write them down.  Pray for that person, invite them for coffee, send notes of encouragement or short texts or emails.

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Be sure to read Ruth’s corresponding post, Less Social Media.

Also, a real life friend of mine just started a blog and I am giddy for her.  This has been years in the making and you will cry and laugh and be blessed!

Meet my friend, Trish, who lost her sister a few Octobers ago, who’s life was changed forever, and is now giving birth to a life of words.