I have been struggling hard for a while with the entire concept of “Social Media”. While I have never been on Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, I was there for some time on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. It is almost half a decade since I quit all three social media sites. And, it is incredible that I was able to convince myself fully to quit Whatsapp, which I was able to do today. So, let me take you all through what exactly bothered me about the social media sites. I was tired of sounding like a motivational speaker on such sites and getting distant from my simple, pristine life defined by real conversations, closeness to the nature, sensitivity toward my surrounding, reflection on the world and my life, indulgence in books and thought-provoking materials, etc. I was exhausted of “narcissism” written all over the social media site users’ profiles.
Qutting WhatsApp is also my first step toward leading a simple and minimalistic life that I have been dreaming for almost a decade. I have been aiming to quit city life as well; however, it may take some time for me to realize this dream as my life partner who is an artist is still not prepared for such a major transformation in life. We regularly talk about realizing this change, hopefully, soon. Whenever I close my eyes, as I have always said, I saw myself surrounded by plants and books, and nothing else. I feel suffocated in a big car, but free while traveling in public vehicles. I feel lost around people with grand materialistic ambitions, but completely conscious among simple and unpretentious folks. For a long time, I was unable to define my goals and personality. I read a few philosophers like Jordon Peterson and felt the need to define myself and identify my purpose to lead an uncomplicated and satisfactory life. In solitude and company of books and philosophers, I realized my proclivity toward silence, nature, books, spirituality and peace.
With so much violence and chaos around me, it was impossible for me to just live my life peacefully. I just cannot close my eyes and practice spirituality or shut myself away from the social, economic and political chaos around me. However, the flames of this chaos are too intense for anyone to bear. I am, like many, tired of political speeches full of hatred, religious animosity, discrimination, etc. The only place I find peace is in the lap of the nature. For me, the nature is the god and that supreme being that is capable of creating and destroying us. I might sound selfish and a coward, but maybe I should just concentrate my energy on things that can spread optimism and harmony. I am, as a human being, happy when I see a tree swinging in the wind, a bird playing in a puddle, green fields, a clear stream of water, a clear sky, etc. However, I have to still fight to ensure the nature is not devastated in the race for political and capitalistic gains.
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