Distractions Distractions

Hi All!

            I know I know, I haven't blogged or anything in awhile. There was a number of things going on that kept me distracted, so that's where we are going to stage this blog, in the field of distractions. Distractions are one of the things that have a hand in self-care, but maybe it's just me, but in the times where we aren't doing anything we end up doing something we shouldn't be doing, like spending too much time on Facebook.

            Facebook has created a wonderful web media that can take your attention, shake it around and turn it into a finger puppet. And it's media like this that I could honestly do without. So what I've tried to do for the last two weeks or so is avoid contact with said website because I feel it was pulling me away from what I SHOULD be focusing on. Let me go off on a tangent for a second.

            You see, the thing about people with ADD/ADHD is that they are super distracted and unfocused most of the time, they can even come off as completely oblivious. But when you get them to do something that is fun, you can hardly pull them away with it. Throw Facebook into that bowl and you have a successful recipe for cookies that eat your soul. People find Facebook both distracting and fun, and since there is so much to see and do on Facebook it makes people who have ADD/ADHD seem like jack tussle tarries. I only say these things because I am one of those peeps diagnosed with ADHD.

            Now to add another topping to this distraction burger, there is the clinical depression bit and how that causes your mind to stay focused on the things that make a  person feel sad or angsty (that's not a correct word, but whatever!). So during my distraction tangents on Facebook, I get to see all the things going on back home in other people's lives. It's hard being a missionary because I'm not there with them. But it's even harder for me to see that pretty much everyone my age I know is now either in a relationship, engaged or married. This has brought me to a level of discomfort that has caused me try and look at the situation rationally.

            Problem was, it wasn't working. It led me down that path again of loneliness, doubt, disbelief and hopelessness for myself. But wait... I'M A MISSIONARY!!! Instead of dwelling on issues like this, I should flash myself back to about a month ago where I was only brainstorming and thinking about how I can further God's Kingdom in this place. How I can mentor youth and teach all I can to them while learning all I can from them in return. This realization of growing up and how much I think it bites to be single was also making me a slightly anti-social fellow.

            So the remedy? Remove the triggers of what distract me from the situation. An internet social media like Facebook triggered a mental response that led me down a dark road. So I stopped and ran back the other direction. Little to no interaction with Facebook since then has been a wonderful idea. What I need to remember is that I need to pray for strength from my Creator to do exactly what He did to the Devil while he was wondering the wilderness, basically tell the Devil that He won't do what the Devil wants Him to do and the Devil will eventually go away.

Yes, I just called Facebook the Devil..... At least it is in this situation.

+PeAcE+