Think of it like this.
There’s this guy who finally says, “I know you all live here in the big city, but I’ve been feeling like I need the quiet, country life. So I’ve thought about it, and I’m buying a farm outside of town. I know you are all real busy, but feel free to come visit from time to time. I’ll try to do the same.”
You would be a little pissed at the guy, because it seems like a dumb move, yeah? I mean, everyone he hangs out with is already in the big city! They go to movies together, catch lunch, and talk all the time. It’s like a social death-sentence. But somewhere down deep, you’d probably understand his need to breathe country air and live at a slower pace. In fact, the next time you see him, he looks so refreshed. He tells you about all the things he used to take for granted because he was just so darned busy.
Now, you could say, “Dude…just go visit the country! You don’t have to move there! Take a nice drive out in the cornfields and stare at the clouds or something.” But you’d know the difference, right? Of course you would.
We all do.
We all know what it is like to crave, deep down, rest for your mind, heart and soul.
I’d be lying to you if I said that I don’t have serious reservations about leaving the city and moving to the country. Of course I do!
For starters, I’ll miss all of you terribly! The chances that many of you will come to see me are very slim. I’d be more alone than I’ve been in a long time. (I’m not so certain that’s a bad thing though… I mean, I’ve been more connected than most people for years. Maybe a rest is well-overdue.)
When the Devil created Facebook, it’s like he made it just for me.
Any of you who truly know me understand this. I’ve taken sabbaticals from Facebook pretty regularly over the years, but I’m always coming back, right? Of course I am. As one person just posted on my Facebook status earlier this week, “You’re not going anywhere, and you know it. No good self respecting narcissist could pass up on a medium like this, in which to spew their jibber jabber to their minions. 
”
Sigh…how very very true that statement is.
Yet, here I am, seriously considering pulling the trigger. So serious in fact, that I may do it right after I post this. Maybe I won’t.
Facebook is by far, the most powerful social tool on the planet. I use it every day, all day. My life however, has been changing rapidly over the past year. It would take far too long to explain it all, but please just understand that I’m simply not the same man I used to be. My days are wonderful, yet highly stressful. It’s easy to feel over-connected. There are times when Facebook becomes just one more thing to keep me distracted, and right now, that’s not a good thing.
Many of you have made comments on my wall or sent me emails regarding my leaving Facebook. I hear you and understand your reasoning that I should stay. You don’t want to lose contact with me and I don’t want to lose contact with you. That’s why I haven’t left yet. That’s the only reason. To be honest, there are a million things that I’d rather be doing than spending time on Facebook, but the people dear to me win every time.
Did you know I used to blog? It’s true. I used to love it. There was a time when I wrote much more than I do now. These days, quick status updates take the place of time spent thinking about what I’d like to tell all of you. Maybe that matters to you, maybe it doesn’t. I also used to write more songs than I do now. Lots more. I used to draw a bit and dabble in photography.
Does Facebook stop me from doing any of those things? Of course not. But those of you who know me well know that I’m a bit of a cyclone. Focus has never come easily. So I’m a bit wary of how Facebook seems to have all of my attention all the time.
So, am I leaving Facebook? I’m not exactly sure at the moment.
I can tell you however that I have a real desire to buy a place in the country…
