Be Yourself: Social Media Lessons from My Dog Ace

This photo of my dog Ace as a puppy says it: Be yourself. Ace was always curious, playful, and present, never pretending to be anything he wasn’t. I miss him, but the lesson he taught me still sticks: life is better when you stop worrying about appearances and live. That’s a big part of why I stepped away from social media.

I chose to step away from social media when it stopped feeling genuine for me. My feed became a steady stream of bad news, and lately, a mix of AI-generated posts. It all just began to feel overwhelming and exhausting.

I don’t want to create content for an algorithm or random followers. My friends and family know about my blog, where they can learn what’s on my mind. When they want to connect, we can call or text for a real conversation. Better yet, we can meet at a local coffee shop or restaurant.

If someone I don’t know finds my site and gets inspired, great! That’s a bonus, not the goal. Posting to social media mostly benefits the platforms, using our attention and creativity for their profit. I’d rather put my energy into spaces I control, such as this blog.

Have you stopped using social media or found ways to reduce your time on it? I’d love to hear about your experience.