SOCIAL MEDIA DIET -- PIECE OF CAKE!

As part of my Social Media course we were required to take a 2 day social media diet. For some of you that may sound impossible, but I don't spend a lot of time glued to my phone or laptop, so I thought it was going to be easy. And for the most part it was, but I did learn some interesting things.

I am often on-line searching for information, but I didn't realize quite how often. I am a voracious reader and will often find a reference to a person, place or event that triggers my curiosity. Then I head to Google for some more information. Over the 2 days of my diet it was surprising the number of times I found myself thinking "I'll just Google that". I love to Google. I have a mind full of useless (or maybe useful) information, and Google is one of my best friends.

One of my favourite pastimes is cooking and I have several recipe sites that I use on a regular, almost daily, basis. Saturday is when I usually make two batches of soup and this weekend it was to be bean and chicken noodle. And I wanted something different for a bean soup. Can you imagine my frustration when I remembered that my on-line recipe boxes were off limits? So 2 hours and 6 cookbooks later, I decided to stick with my tried and true recipes.

The first day of my diet was spent in a hospital waiting room with my sister. She passed several hours on her I-Pad and I spent mine with a good book.  And talking to strangers. After all, you never know who might be sitting next to you and the stories they may have to tell. I met 2 fellow quilters during my wait. They were busy exchanging Pinterest pictures and I drew some patterns for them on the back of an envelope.

I must admit, though, that I did fall off the wagon for a few minutes. My sister received a Facebook note from my son in Australia with pictures of his hands after a recent climbing mishap and I had to have a look and send a note. After all, what kind of mother would I be if I wasn't concerned about my kid. But later, instead of skyping, I picked up the phone and gave him a call.

Usually on Saturday, once I've got my soups simmering, I will spend the next hour or so going through e-mails and checking out new websites and blogs. This weekend that time was spent outside show shoeing, which my dogs really appreciated. I felt great and need to remember that feeling in the future. It really is important for me, in my busy life, to get out and smell the roses.

I don't think I'll ever become one of those people who are glued to notebooks and phones. I enjoy being able to access an unlimited supply of information and ideas, but I have so many other things in my life that I don't think it will ever get away from me. Many of the younger members of my family are the exact opposite. My niece's daughters dropped her phone down the toilet this week and . . . hysteria reigns supreme. Me, I'd be glad of the break.

So now I'm back to Google, but I am trying to be more aware of the time I spend cruising. I'll let you know how I make out.   Meantime, get your hat and coat.