Why I Stepped Away From Social Media and Why I’m Coming Back in a New Way

Taking care of my energy helped me notice how I want to communicate, care for myself, and share with others. It helped me remember what feels right for me.

I stepped away from social media in 2021 and stayed mostly away until last year. That distance gave me time to think, protect my energy, and understand what kind of relationship I wanted to have with social media.

I needed space.

I was seeing a lot of pain. There were quick reactions, misunderstandings, judgment, and a lack of empathy in how people communicated with each other.

It often felt like people were reacting to one small part of a story while missing the many layers behind it.

Life is rarely only one slide.

People carry history, emotions, responsibilities, hopes, pain, and different ways of understanding the world.

That is part of what I began noticing more deeply.

Social media started to affect my energy.

It also changed how I felt about being online.

With time, I realized that stepping away was not the same as giving up.

It was about listening to what I needed in that moment.

One of the most important things I learned is that safety comes first, for me and for others.

Feeling safe can support better self-care.

Self-care can mean resting.

It can mean setting a boundary.

It can mean creating a clear and gentle policy for myself.

It can mean explaining something once and then letting it be.

And sometimes it can mean choosing not to respond at all.

I used to feel like every situation needed an answer from me.

I do not feel that way anymore.

Not every hateful comment needs my energy.

Not every disagreement needs my attention.

Not every story needs to become part of my day.

Protecting our energy does not mean we are avoiding life.

It means choosing what we allow to stay with us and what we are ready to let go.

We can also say when we feel sensitive, tired, hurt, or overwhelmed.

Men especially are often encouraged to stay quiet about emotions.

I believe men need space to express sadness, fear, stress, love, grief, and vulnerability too.

Mental health matters for everyone.

I have learned that part of caring for myself is choosing how I communicate.

Sometimes communication means explaining.

Sometimes it means listening.

Sometimes it means setting a boundary.

Sometimes it means leaving.

There are times when writing helps.

There are times when sign language helps.

There are times when clear information or a gentle policy helps.

There are times when a calm explanation helps.

And there are times when silence is healthier.

Communication does not always mean continuing a conversation.

Sometimes the healthiest communication is a boundary.

Sometimes it is walking away.

Sometimes it is quietly deciding that something does not need another response.

This helped me see self-care in a new way.

Over the years, I have also started thinking differently about life itself.

I have come to feel that we can experience our own versions of both heaven and hell while we are here.

There are moments of grief, anger, fear, loneliness, confusion, and pain.

There are also moments of love, laughter, nature, family, friendship, learning, peace, appreciation, and connection.

Both can exist in the same life.

Pain is real.

But pain is not the only reality.

Many beautiful stories are happening quietly all around us.

They are easy to overlook.

Someone helping another person.

A family healing.

A stranger showing kindness.

Someone learning how to communicate in a new way.

A person beginning again after a difficult time.

A peaceful afternoon.

A small moment of joy that never becomes a viral post.

These stories are real too.

That is one reason I want to be gentler and more careful about what I allow social media to become in my life.

I do not want to pretend that life is always positive.

It is not.

I believe in letting myself feel life as it comes.

Sadness.

Joy.

Fear.

Love.

Grief.

Hope.

Rest.

Growth.

To me, these emotions are simply part of being alive.

Nature reminds me of that too.

There are changing seasons.

Storms.

Quiet mornings.

Growth.

Loss.

New beginnings.

Life keeps moving.

That makes me want to notice what is still beautiful, right here and now.

I want to create.

Travel.

Learn.

Spend time with people I love.

Give back.

Help where I can.

Enjoy nature.

Laugh.

Cry with joy.

Rest.

Build meaningful memories.

And appreciate ordinary life while it is here.

For me, that is not ignoring reality.

It is remembering that life contains more than pain.

This is part of why I feel ready to return to sharing.

But I want to do it differently.

I want to decide how I use social media.

I want to share short videos again.

Some may be in sign language.

Some may be simple reflections.

Some may be about communication, accessibility, travel, growth, energy, self-care, or simply everyday life.

I want people to be able to see expression, movement, presence, and communication in another form.

Writing has given me space to think and breathe for many years.

Since around 2013, I have often enjoyed sitting quietly and writing, especially during my time at City College of San Francisco and Gallaudet University.

At times, I wondered whether writing was helping me process life.

Over time, I became more confident in understanding that writing and art can be gentle ways to express what is difficult to say in other forms.

Signing gives me another way to express what I feel.

Both matter to me.

Coming back does not mean I need to share every part of my life.

Privacy still matters.

Boundaries still matter.

Rest still matters.

I can step away when I need to.

I can choose what belongs online and what belongs only with the people close to me.

I can choose to spend more energy with people who value care, wellness, giving back, and healthier communication.

I can ignore communication that feels harmful.

I can keep clear policies.

I can protect my time.

And I can still share something meaningful.

That balance feels healthier to me now.

I am not returning because social media suddenly changed.

I am coming back because I changed how I want to participate.

I learned that I do not have to carry every story with me.

I do not have to answer every person who reaches out.

I do not have to stay in every conversation.

I can choose communication that feels clear, respectful, and gentle.

I can protect my energy and still care about people.

I can encourage people to give back.

I can remind people that joy can exist even during difficult seasons.

I can acknowledge pain and still notice beauty.

I can step away and still come back.

And I can use my own space to share some of the stories, lessons, and small moments that are easy to miss.

This time, I want to come back with more care.

More boundaries.

More awareness.

And more appreciation for being alive.

Life does not have to be perfect to matter.

Taking care of ourselves can give us more space to appreciate our lives and the people around us.

And if you ever need a break, it is okay to take one.

You can step away.

You can rest.

You can return when it feels right.

Your life is already happening beyond the screen.

That is worth remembering.

I plan to share more of these reflections through writing, short videos, and sign language as I return, in a way that feels healthier, more meaningful, and truer to who I am.