Choice is Power

Choice is power.

Choice is the power we all have to participate in creating with the Universe. What we choose creates our lives and realities.

I've recently taken a huge step away from social media. Months ago, I deleted all the social apps on my phone. This choice was sparked by the grief following the sudden death of our beloved dog. The second dog we lost this year. I simply could not keep up with the demands of social media, and I noticed that I was numbing out, disassociating and mindlessly scrolling, instead of actually feeling what I most needed to feel. Once I chose to start feeling, over disassociating, my life radically changed.

I started writing and painting again. I started talking to friends on the phone for connection. I noticed that the place where my family and I were living did not meet our needs and was in fact hindering our wellbeing and forward momentum in life. Through the power of choice, we moved. Our new home resonates with our needs and values, and a second layer of deep depression easily dissolved. I feel like myself again. The lesson I viscerally learned: if you don't like the direction of your life, choose something different. Choice is powerful, WE are powerful. WE have the ability to change our lives.

More on social media. I chose to delete the apps on my phone because I noticed I was addicted and that my mental health was being negatively affected by the constant bombardment of not living up to everyone's standards, comparisons, feeling the need to "produce" free "content" for better ratings ( like my value is somehow tied to how many likes and followers I have) and I could feel my mind changing in a way that wasn't my choice. A simple walk in nature became a photo op for stories and reels...selfies in the woods, disconnecting me from actually experiencing the natural world I’m a part of. The need to stay "on brand" promoting the life of a PNW Herbalist and how everything is always beautiful and perfect, therefore I am beautiful and perfect, and because of that, you "follower" should aspire to be like me and buy my "content" and validate me! That last part is not actually how I feel, it's more of what I'm witnessing from the culture of social media as a whole. Barf.

True validation comes from within, and no that's not some corny catch phrase. It's true. By simply existing within ourselves we are valid. Nothing and no one can take that away from us.

I currently feel the pull to uses social media from time to time for two reasons. 1. To promote my business stuff. 2. Because everyone is on it, and it’s almost become this new way of communication with the world.

Let’s start with #1. I feel drawn to use social media to advertise to you, fellow follower. Buy my stuff, support my life, take my classes, and come to the holiday gift markets I’m vending at. Buy from me and not big corporations. Since when did I become a walking billboard? When did I become a brand? I am not a brand. you are not a brand. We are not followers or influencers; we are human beings. And, at the same time social media is one giant advertisement, and it’s great for getting information out there if you are either willing to play the game or pay. I will say though, as a business owner, only a very small percentage of my income has ever come from social media. 95% of my farm income comes directly through relationships I have built and cultivated with real human beings I have met, mostly in person, over the last 9 years. Promoting classes a through my school Ravens Roots has greatly benefited through Facebook marketing though. But classes fill because our word of mouth and quality of education is on point.

#2. Social media is like this new worldwide communication operating system, however fucked up and toxic it is, people are using it and for some friends it’s the only way we can contact each other. And because I’m currently choosing to live in a remote and isolated, and very clicky I might add, mountain town, I sometimes feel the pull to log on to my accounts and “see” what my friends are up to. Or at least the parts of themselves they are willing to share with this bazar virtual reality we are all creating.

Advertising. Connection. Something we think we need, and something we actually need.

I haven’t deleted my account, yet, and yes, I’m posting part of this blog on my social accounts. Hopping that you, fellow follower, will read it and get funneled to my website… But I’m writing it from my computer. Not my phone.

So, as I sit here writing this on my computer, post 2024 election, and I choose to be aware of my need for balance and choice, I wonder how we can choose from intention, rather than fear or ego.? Because our choices effect those around us. And, how we can choose to inspire, rather than influence? Choose to inspire each other to become more whole human beings, to re-member ourselves, our oneness, and our validity in this ever changing and chaotic world.