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   Sean Kleefeld (skleefeld@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 23:34:16 JST Sean Kleefeld

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   Not sure it's an approach I would recommend anyone taking. As I said, I spent many of my formative years feeling very isolated and alone, and I didn't always handle it well. But it did force me to figure out how to handle it before I had to see it every time I logged onto my computer and fire up my phone.
   /end

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     Sean Kleefeld (skleefeld@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 23:34:17 JST Sean Kleefeld

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     I wonder how much of that stems from social ostracization in my youth. I was very far from being one of the "cool kids" to be sure, but even in my friend group, I always felt like I had an outsider status. On Monday at school, I'd hear about what they did over the weekend without me. So throughout my teens, I was very much forced to get used to spending time by myself without regard to what others were doing and with whom. 2/

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     Sean Kleefeld (skleefeld@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 23:34:17 JST Sean Kleefeld

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     At the time, it did indeed feel very isolating and often quite lonely. But by the time I got into my 20s, I'd become very used to that. I got to know myself very well as I had nothing to do but introspect; I had to become very aware of myself because I didn't really have a choice not to. 3/

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     Sean Kleefeld (skleefeld@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 23:34:17 JST Sean Kleefeld

     in reply to

     So I wonder if that's helped me navigate social media better than many others. I was so used to seeing/hearing other people's "highlight reels" before social media was even a thing that seeing them displayed on my computer didn't come across as any different than hearing them on Monday. They didn't have photo evidence most of the time, but I did have to witness the excitement on their faces and the animation in their bodies as they relayed their stories at the lunch table. 4/

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     Sean Kleefeld (skleefeld@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 23:34:17 JST Sean Kleefeld

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     "Man, Sean, you missed out! Where were you anyway?"
     "I had opening shifts at McD's on Saturday and Sunday; I was in bed by 9:00."
     "Geez, you missed a great time!"
     "You know, it wouldn't have mattered if I didn't have to work. You never called anyway."
     5/

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     Sean Kleefeld (skleefeld@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 23:34:18 JST Sean Kleefeld

     Saw an advice piece this morning that pointed out several ways social media can hurt your financial life. Several elements centered around "keeping up with the Joneses" and FOMO type issues. Which totally make sense but I don't know that I've personally been very subject to such concerns. Not to say I'm not influenced by others, obviously, but I don't feel pangs of inadequacy because my social media feed makes someone else's highlight reel more attractive than mine. 1/