Where Have You Been?

That’s the question I’ve been asked a lot recently. Well, I say a lot. It seems like a lot, but not really. It only seems like a lot only because I haven’t been going out a lot, not nearly as much as I used to.

When I first moved to Houston, TX back in early 2008, I didn’t know a soul. That was just about the time that Twitter started getting to be a big deal. Facebook too. Facebook was just beginning to be the next big thing and crush MySpace in the process. I had just started working at the Houston Chronicle as a web designer and a buddy, David Herrold, introduced me to Twitter. I took to it quickly and jumped into Facebook too with both feet.

Over the next year I met an incredible number of people. At one point I had an IRL (In Real Life) Twitter list of people I had met that had over 600 people on it! For a good 2 years I had attended at least 4-5 events a week! I really had a blast and met some amazing people.

However, oddly enough, this was and is not my true nature. I just kinda got caught up in this social media thing. I’m actually quite an introvert and really enjoy my alone time. It definitely recharges me.

I did enjoy the parties and various events but it took a good amount of motivation and getting out of my comfort zone to go out and hang out. I challenged myself and I’m really glad I did.

Since then, in the last few months, I’ve “unfollowed” everyone on Twitter (at one time I had well over 3000 followers and followed over 2000 people back) and “unfriended” everyone on Facebook (I had over 900 “friends”). It just got to be too much. I had grown tired of hearing the same people say the same things. A lot of the people I was “following” or “friends” with weren’t really my friends, but more acquaintances or even people I only knew of or had met once.

It was just too much.

So, since then, I’ve been working hard (much nicer and easier without the distractions of social media). I’ve also been saving money. Going out all the time is expensive! Who knew?! I’ve paid off a loan and all of my credit card debt. It feels wonderful! I’ve also been hitting the gym a few nights a week and trying to eat healthier. Basically, I’ve been working on me and it’s been great.

I might once again really get out and be more social again, but for now I’m enjoying the solitude.