My friends and I always say that we are so thankful social media wasn’t as prevalent as it is today. I can only imagine the extra angst, competition, and anxiety – I struggled with each in its own way from middle through high school. As I write more and put things “out there” on my blog or via any social media platform, that angst and dare I say it, competition, rear their ugly heads from time to time.

After baby number two and the decision to quit work and stay home, I found myself lost. This busy, career woman was now hardly maintaining any conversation or completing a full sentence without forgetting the entire conversation. I knew I had to find myself again so I began to write. I began to share. These things made me anxious, but they also gave me a new sense of purpose, and it was so exciting!

But, if you want your voice heard, you need to navigate all the social media pieces out there. Just when I think I am getting the hang of it, some new “thing” happens, and I am lost again. Since I have found myself drowning to get my content read, I have decided it’s time to break up with social media.

No way will I stop writing. No way will I stop sharing. And NO WAY will I stop applauding strong mamas for putting themselves out there – from the crazy antics of your daily life to the deep issues that plague our hearts on daily basis. But, I am putting my foot down on comparing myself with other women. This is not the 10^th grade, so I do not want to compare followers or better pictures anymore. We are strong women who if we want to share, can share as we see fit. We shouldn’t be afraid to tell our stories just because the next writer/blogger/business woman looks better or writes better. When we do that, here comes that angst again.

When the urge to write happens, I want to do it without looking at peak times or reader numbers. I don’t want to count likes or comments. I don’t want to feel like a failure when I know for a fact I am not. I want to read that one comment or get that one message that says I reached someone or they KNOW what I am feeling. Or even a simple thanks is the boost I need to say, “sorry, social media land, I did something good.”

These days, we compare. We question. We struggle. From no sleep to job security or marriage issues. From a child’s sickness to money concerns. From questions if we are doing the right thing to trying to predict the future. That’s enough to make our heads spin. We DO NOT need social media to make it any worse.

No matter if you are a writer/blogger or if you are just a tired mama who feels alone, I hope you stand with me as I break up with this social media game. Share. Read. Comment. Share again. Reach out. Support. Encourage. Don’t let the latest algorithm or drop in views/followers tear you apart.

I, for one, think you sharing is awesome enough. Break it off. Break up with these social media rules and be you. We are not 15 anymore. We are beautiful mamas with so many stories to tell. And I can’t wait to read what you have coming next.