Social Isolation And Social Media


 The other day I turned and walked in a different direction in the grocery store to avoid saying “Hi!” to someone. Later that day, I checked on a post and was disappointed to have no interaction with it. I’ve walked through the grocery store with my headphones on to avoid conversations. I’ve acted like a wild animal with its paw caught in a snare, willing to chew off my own  arm to get away from someone and yet. When there’s a post that doesn’t get enough engagement I feel disappointed. What is that about?


Social media does give us a dopamine hit when we see the like count increase, making us feel good about ourselves. However, when we engage with someone in person at a store, we often don't experience the same level of gratification. We need to look at the world around us and see it as a playground of open engagement. Where meaningful likes and shares can play into our lives and our ability to find opportunities. 


Yes, you can find someone from another city or state online but when you’re in the grocery store, you can be fairly certain that these people live pretty close by. I’ve stopped wearing my headphones when I walk through the store and I purposely make a point to say hi to people. 


This is the game.  This is where we see progress. 

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