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It's pretty tough to admit, but the fact of the matter is that I have always had a pretty negative outlook on life. Anxiety and depression usually have me looking at the glass as being half empty at all times, but the problem is that when you are in the middle of it, you don't even notice anymore.
That all changed a couple of years ago with a trip to Hawaii. My wife Penny, was set to go on a company trip to Maui and wanted me to tag along. The thought of traveling that far filled me with real anxiety, as I spent too much time imagining everything that might go wrong. One night, while out for a few drinks, I let my guard down and told Penny to book my ticket to go. It was the best decision I ever made.
Within 24 hours of being on the island, I settled into the groove and felt all my needless worries slip away. I made the decision to put my phone away and simply settle into the surroundings, savoring every sight and sound that came my way for the next 8 days. It was tough to leave, but the good feelings lingered for some time after getting back home.
Once I arrived back, I got back on the phone to get up to date with social media, and it was then that I truly noticed the pervading air of negativity that runs through it. The common petty gripes and squabbles, the worst of lists, and the shit posts stuck out like a sore thumb. It became crystal clear that the negativity found online was not helping my own mental health, so I shut down my FB personal page and stuck with my author page, where I could better control what I saw on a daily basis.
Two years later, my old account still lays dormant, and while some negative shit still seeps through, I see it now and steer clear from the posters of such nonsense as regularly as possible. I try to keep my author page a positive space for everyone, so if you have something cool or exciting to share in book world, I am more that happy to have it on my page. As tough as it can be at times, let's all try to remain positive as we lift those around us.
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