I get the question a LOT…how do you juggle all you do?
It makes me laugh inside when people ask. I never really end up answering them, because I don’t know how.
I feel like I’m drowning most of the time.
Like, I’m juggling 7 balls in the air, and I know that if I make one small mistake, they are all gonna come crashing down.
It’s a lot of pressure to live like that.
There’s so many responsibilities, so many people that look up to me. My time is precious to me, and I don’t feel like I spend it in the most wisest, God-honoring ways possible.
But my pride gets in the way. I look at all the numbers, the stats, the people that I try my best to serve, and I don’t want to let one ball go. Not one.
Even though, it’s killing me. Even though, if I did let a few balls go, I would be a better person, able to serve more people, more genuinely. I would have more time to invest in people at a deeper level, not trying to keep some other, more insignificant ball in the air.
As a blogger, everyone expects certain things…you have to do this and that, have this and that. Be here, be there, be everywhere.
For 33 months, I’ve tried making a name for myself on Facebook. I tried everything…with great success. On one of my pages, I have over 103,000 likes. I worked really hard to get to where I am.
But the higher up I get, the more balls I have to juggle…the more I see it’s all about a phasod. I have 103,000+ likes on Facebook, but what does that matter, if I’m not changing anyone’s life?
Every day, you wake up, you feed your kids, you get on with your day. It’s this whole routine you’ve established for yourself. And sometimes, when you’re truly alone, you look around and you think to yourself, “Is this my life? Is this really it?”
I’ve been looking around this week and I realize that some balls I have in the air, while extremely impressive, help no one. They don’t help you. They don’t help me. In fact, they become a hindrance to what I COULD BE doing. I think it’s important in our lives, every now and then, to do some weeding. Because weeds grow far faster than the beautiful plants.
For me, Facebook is a weed. An unruly weed. It’s taken over my garden, it’s taking up my time. Time that could be spent serving YOU more.
The truth is that I’m prideful. That I find joy, dare I say, even self-worth in high stats.
Because it’s an issue of my heart, because I feel God leading me to cut it out, and because I’ve seen so much hurt and drama on Facebook this year, I’ve decided to have a blog that does NOT have Facebook.
Cue the gasps. 🙂
It’s a personal decision for me, and it’s definitely not a right decision for everyone. But, the one thing that I want to say to YOU, my dear friends, is that, you shouldn’t play by others rules. You need to do what’s best for YOU. Even if it sounds crazy. Even if I lose all my traffic. Even if I lose impressive stats.
We ALL need to have the COURAGE to simply do what’s best for US.
Facebook is not best for me. It’s a huge time suck. There’s so much hurt and pain on Facebook. There’s pride in it. And I’m not saying that you should go out and delete your pages, like I have this week, I AM saying, is that if you want to be a leader, you can’t do what everyone else is doing JUST BECAUSE everyone else is doing it.
They say I can’t run a successful blog without Facebook, and they MAY BE RIGHT…I may fall flat on my face and come crying back, but I want to take that chance. I want to free up my time more, in order that I can be there for YOU.
Facebook isn’t the reason I blog…YOU ARE.
I’m letting one ball go…and I wonder to myself, if you are juggling balls, which ball could YOU let go? It’s hard…it’s REALLY hard, but I encourage you to let just ONE BALL GO in your life…just one. Which one is that for you? How would your life be easier…simpler, if you let just one ball go?
Lindsey says
I let go one hour of my night. I know that sounds weird but I did it so I could go to bed earlier and wake up earlier to get in some exercise first thing in the morning. I now get up at 6am and enjoy a morning run first thing in the morning. And you know what? It’s done wonders for me and i’m so glad I’ve started doing this.
Sarah Titus says
That’s cool Lindsey…how do you let go of one hour of your night? Go to bed earlier or do you mean something else?
Lindsey says
I go to bed an hour earlier than I used to. Before I was going to bed at 10, now I’m in bed at 9 pm :). I have learned to work with the few hours I have after I get off work to make sure that I’m in bed by 9.
Amy says
You rock! I doubt you’ll see any decrease in your traffic or income and you’ll see a definite increase in your time and happiness after making this decision. I only just started my blog a few months ago and still haven’t made my mind up about Facebook. I don’t use my personal FB account hardly ever but I feel like I need a business FB page. Keep us updated on how this decision impacts you and your blog. I think you’re awesome for always taking risks to do what you know is right!! Keep it up!
Sarah Titus says
Thanks Amy…taking risks is not always easy. I’m thankful for the encouragement. 🙂 All the best on your new endeavor.
Kristal says
Such wise words, it really does take courage to do what is best for ourselves and not follow all the noise telling us what we should be doing. Thanks for the encouragement and for being an example of how you can be successful and be true to yourself.
Sarah Titus says
Yes, ALWAYS be true to yourself (even though it’s hard at times!) 🙂
Sincerely Jacqueline says
This is the post of the year. Seriously. This is what we all needed to read. So thankful.
Sarah Titus says
Awww, thank you Jacqueline. So glad you like it! <3
Rejane Aragon says
I think you are a wise and brave woman!
Only the wise and brave dare to swim against the current, and I’m sure you’ll encourage many women out there, just as you encouraged me.
I decided to delete my FB acct about a month and a half ago, because it was not adding to my life. It had become a time thief, a joy thief, a peace thief.
It was not easy at the beginning because to be honest I was addicted to FB and had become a slave of other people’s opinions, likes and comments. Sad reality. But today I feel that I’m free. Free to take pictures just to register memories, to go to places and really enjoy the moment without the urge to let the world know about it.
And I have more peace. I’m not reading mean comments, offensive posts, etc.
If I have known how happy I would be without FB, I’d have deleted it long ago.
So, I wish you all the best and I hope you can be as successful or even more successful without FB than you were with it.
Blessings!!
Sarah Titus says
Wow Rejane…your comment made me cry, because it is exactly how I feel. I’m tired of finding pride in stats, not enjoying a moment b/c I’m thinking about posting it, being a slave to other people’s opinions, and the trolls….ohhhhhhh, the trolls. I’m glad it was a great move for you…right now I’m still in, “Oh my gosh, did I really just do that” mode…lol. Still getting used to it! 🙂