I wonder if there are those who play the keyboard (the computer kind) the way others play music. Their fingers typing, not just their thoughts, but their emotions. Writing with soul. No, not with soul, that seems as if one employs his soul as a tool. More like the soul itself is writing, the hands and fingers moving to an inner song.
I've been listening to "If It Be Your Will" by Leonard Cohen on repeat. It's the lone occupant of my iTunes library and is enjoying endless loopage.
This is doing three things to me. A. It makes me want to just type out the lyrics, as there is nothing I can write that comes close to the raw beauty of his words. B. It makes me want to play music with my fingers, type with rythm, and C. Puts me in a slightly morbid mood. Though I do find his music oddly uplifting.
I'm writing to say goodbye (well I'm actually writing because my posts need words). And Hello.
When embarking on my blogging voyage and subsequent entrance into social media I was greeted with:
Hello World!
Such are the words knighting those embarking on the holy mission of bloghood.
Hello World.
A new world, built on the rubble of the first, greets you joyfully.
"Hi!" with a showing of bright #fffff teeth, it joyfully proclaims.
Hello World.
Little did I know that this voyage would lead me to where I am now.
I feel as if I am that figure in "The Scream", my face being pulled by an invisible force. That force is social media. And it's eating my face off. Beard and all.
Social media has been slowly draining my life, this giant blue and white vacuum sucking my energy, slurping my time. It's time to say goodbye.
I refuse to play the game. I will not post meaningless questions to which I do not care the answer in order to get people commenting.
"Which photo do you like better?" As smug as it sounds I do not care which photo you like better. I put an enormous amount of thought into photography, and gosh-darn it I have an opinion. A strong one.
"If I get 100 likes I'll post more!!" No. No. I will not play the game.
Addicted to the high engendered by strangers' praise. Refresh. Refresh. Refresh.
The endless stream of time wasting links and videos. Look here! No, Look here! Wow! Dogcathorsebaby doing funnyweirdamazingthing.
And the more insidious sharing, commenting, and making friends all with an undercurrent of selfishness. It scares me.
Of course, social media isn't intrinsically evil. I'm just not at a place where it's good for me now (notwithstanding the many, many benefits it brings).
So I'm saying goodbye. Goodbye meaningless internet browsing. Goodbye mind-numbing visits to the computer. Goodbye to the 86% bad and the 14% good. Goodbye snarky commenting and late night chats. Goodbye noise.
Goodbye World. It's been real (#irony).
It's a bit scary. I have gotten wonderful feedback, a fan base, and clients through Facebook. Much of that will be gone, and I don't even know where to start looking for other ways to advertise. But I know this: Never again will I make decisions based solely on money. I believe in divine providence, in fate, karma, whatever you want to call it. If I do what is right for me and my family, then it will be good.
Hello World.
Hello wife. Hello Kids. Hello G-d. I'm back.
First we take Manhattan. Then we take berlin.
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What does this all have to do with my 2013 in review? No seriously, I'm asking.
I could make up something but it would be just that.
It's just what's on my mind and while I was waiting to post this with my personal year in review, I still have something around 40 rolls to develop and scan and Facebook needs quitting before then.
For all those wonderful people I met on Facebook, please email, call, send roses (code for beer), or just come over for some pancakes. That's what we do in the real world (I think, it's been a while…).
The past year has been great to me. I 've had wonderful clients, and seem to be getting better at this while photography thing. Most importantly I've thought. About stuff. More than I think I've ever thunk before. And that's a very good thing.
So I raise my glass (Redtail Ale) and wish myself an amazing year in the real world.
Bring it on!!
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Practical speak. I'll be keeping my Facebook account active and all messages will be forwarded to my email. All updates will be posted on my photography page (which will be run by my lovely wife). I don't want to cut out all the wonderful people and friends I met on Facebook so please, if you want to chat, have a question, comment etc. just shoot me an email.
Peace, love, and quinoa brownies.
