When social media went downhill last year and finally tanked the day after the election, I took a break (like many others) and revised the way I used it. What was the point, after all? Why be online? Why stay connected?
There are a lot of reasons to unplug – the mindless scrolling, the agitation, the constant search for approval. If you are looking for reasons to be enraged, then you don’t have to look far. Managing one’s time and energy online takes constant vigilance, and as the tension worsened during and after election season, I knew I needed to streamline and prioritize.
I decided Facebook is for general socialization and sharing with people I know in real life. These are childhood friends, extended family members, birth families, and people currently in my life. Twitter is reserved for politics and literary agents. It’s all business and information.
Now, Instagram is all joy – photos of those I love, those I admire, and some of the cutest animals on the internet. Today, I want to share with you a few of my favorites. I’m spreading the love.
Tuna is a chihuahua/dachshund rescue with “an aggressive overbite” who’s won the hearts of nearly two million people. His expression is always perfect and he loves to snuggle. Tuna also travels the world to visit eager crowds who want to see the snaggletooth in person.
Goats of Anarchy is a special needs baby goat rescue group… I’m not sure I need to add anything else here.
Magnus is a three-year-old Mastiff/Bloodhound mix who has the sweetest (and largest) resting face I’ve ever seen. No matter the angle, no matter the proximity, whenever I’m scrolling through Instagram I always stop on his photo.
Going smaller now, we have Jill. She’s a pet squirrel. Why we ALL DON’T HAVE PET SQUIRRELS IS BEYOND ME.
Finally, meet Rhea. She has a skin disease that makes her feathers fall off. People knit her little sweaters to wear. I can’t hardly take it. Now’s the time to follow her though. She’s currently sitting on four eggs.
Signs of Life is a blog series I’m writing for February 2017. It was born out of desire to replace the negativity and despair that’s been bogging down our friendships, families, and communities after a tumultuous election season. This series won’t solve the world’s problems, but I hope it will create a speck of light and positivity when and where it is needed.