I'm not going to beat a dead horse. (Lord knows I don't have the extra energy to spare, really.) Suffice it to say that we all know the pitfalls of social media. In the last 12 years that I've had this blog, we have all seen the internet change in wild, painful ways. I certainly haven't been immune to it. As my friend Natali has stated, “If you enroll in a math class, you're going to have math problems.” Well, we've enrolled in the Wild West era of social media. And boy howdy, do we have social media problems. Unrealistic expectations, filtered faces, puffed up ideas and statements, clickbait, and downright lies are but grains of sand on the beach of issues. We all see it. But what do we do?
A farming friend of mine, thick in the having-nursing-babies stage of life, recently signed off her account for the final time stating that she, in fact, needed her world to be smaller.
EUREKA! A SMALLER WORLD! Now there's an idea.
While the age of information has been nice in more ways than I can possibly comprehend, the reality is, I'm just a homemaking, homeschooling, homesteading Mom. I get up in the morning and cook breakfast for a batch of kids before they bundle up and head out in the snow for morning chores. I wash poop stains out of underwear, vacuum old banana peels out from under my couch, sometimes forget to pay bills on times, and have to come up with something nutritious and budget-friendly to get on the table for supper. This is my life, my teeny tiny sliver of influence and experience. This is my small world.
It is mine to live and love.
Having a globally minded world-view can, occasionally, be a wonderful thing. But really, my only way of contributing to the globe is to pray for it – faithfully. Which, turns out, if I spend less time responding to comments or messages on social media – I actually have time for. While I have been very grateful in the past for what I've learned through some of these interactions, the cost has become too much for me to bare. So comments, responses, and messages go unread and unnoticed. Information has become cheap and people have developed the grotesque habit of wanting to be spooned every teeny piece instead of experiencing, problem solving, and putting their hand to it themselves.
I recently rewatched Victorian Farm for the umpteenth time and in my gut, I could feel the butterflies. The feeling of inspiration and motivation and determination that drove me to start this farm 10 years ago. To scrape every dollar we had together to buy this land. To start in anyway we could. To learn to do things I'd never been taught. To explore a lifestyle that makes no sense to most people. To choose to do hard things in a cultural current that aggressively flows towards convenience.
What we do here – it doesn't make sense.
But to me, it makes all the sense.
Writing these words, here on the blog, somehow feels stable and refreshed. I've missed writing this many characters in one sitting and taking the time to flesh out a thought without mindlessly scrolling, scrolling, scrolling…
I need my world to be smaller too. I want to exercise influence, richly, where I actually can. With people that value the time it takes us to learn, share, photograph, post, and teach.
My husband deserves the world. So do my children. My church community. My family and friends. You all. This is a small, sacred little corner of the internet where I can grow in thoughts and actions – all the while getting better at being a farmer and cooking the food that we grow here.
My zeal for the work that we do here has never been greater. From planting cabbages to harvesting lambs, I'm here for it. My world of people that this makes sense to may be small, but for the people that are here for it too, I'm grateful. If you need your world to be smaller too, continue to check in here on the blog. We have a whole slew of recipes and farm content coming your way this year – like in the good old days.
Let's grow.
(Get it? Grow? Instead of go? Grow? Like food? Never mind.)
And Amen.
Amen! Well said. Happy New Year!
Yep, I got it. “Let’s grow” is awesome. š
I’ve been following your blog from the beginning. This post was like a lovely handwritten update letter from an old friend. I’m excited for the future of this little corner, for the content we’ll be able to glean from your blog this year, and for my world to get a little smaller top. This has been, and always will be, one of my very favorite places on the internet. ā¤
I remember the intentional days of having to go to your blog to read the goings-on. So enjoying the substack and I’ll say it, meat and potatoes content that I never delete and revisit! It all feels like a hand written letter from a friend. Keep up the good work and thank you for letting us into your homestead year after year.
I needed this today. It makes sense to me too, in my small space, thank you!
I love these words from your heart ā¤ļø
I have read your blog and loved it before I u tubed. ā¤ļø
I used to have a blog and during a trying time in my life I could fill it with beauty God sent my way.
You have taught me to get outside and love nature again. Flowers plants gardens herbs and to chop and cook simple homemade meals with a tablecloth and cloth napkins and vintage plates from the thrift.
You donāt have to have a lot of money to make your home a beautiful place of peace. Thank you.
I love and needed this post. This year has been a chase, a constant “go”. I’m a first year Special Education teacher and have found my calling and it is not easy. Today I made a pizza, from scratch. The dough took 24 hours of patience and the result was ok. It was the first time, needed a little more love or a warmer kitchen but I did it. Sometimes, the slower pace is needed especially in an instant access world. Slow down and enjoy it.
Family life and family values supported by the the good Lord. I thank you for something my grandchildren, children, husband, and I can enjoy together. You remove us from the materialistic chains and I for one thank you. Love, love, love your recipes and creativity. Prayers!
This resonates with me. I miss the pre-social media days of reading good old fashioned blog posts. I learned some of the best things I know about cooking, homemaking, farming, etc from those blogs and I looked forward to every new post. To go forward in any meaningful way it seems we should go backwards in many.
Love this! This is the advice I needed.
Itās so nice to hear the words from another person like itās out of my own brain. It does make senseā¦ so much sense to me! But not for most. Only a very small percentage these hard things are worth the effort for. To grow, preserve, raise and cook all on the same piece of land. YOUR land. Thank you for these authentic musings.
Loved this!!!
Love it so much. Thank you, Shay!!
This is so refreshing
Beautifully said and written.
I love the written word. Yes, watching videos teaches things me things too (sourdough starter!), and as a visual learner I love having the access to that method of sharing. But, the beauty of thoughts put down into words is rich and somehow comforting. Thank you for sharing your journey.
“Information has become cheap and people have developed the grotesque habit of wanting to be spooned every teeny piece instead of experiencing, problem solving, and putting their hand to it themselves.”
This!
Beautiful post.
I get this. I stopped blogging years ago because everything got to be too much. I didnāt enjoy anything anymore. I didnāt enjoy life because I was trying too hard to capture itā¦thereby missing the entire experience.
Now I donāt do much documenting, but I do experience moments with more salience and more clarity. I feel more.
Love it Shaye!! Iāve definitely been feeling this pull to a smaller world. And what you said about information being cheap – you hit the nail on the head! Youāve inspired me here, no, given voice to my desires to put more effort into writing entire thoughts and stories on my blog, and pouring less of myself into social media. And adjusting my perspective to seeing the people who are already in my small Internet world and serving them. Getting out of the rat race of always looking to grow. Thank you! This was beautifully written. ā¤ļø
Really needed this today! Thank you for sharing! Also, thank you for the Cooking Community, too. I have learned so much from the Zoom meetings. What a valuable resource you offer!
Yes and Amen! Let’s grow!
I only wish that this crazy world we are in would wake up and see through your eyes. If we all would stop, listen and see what God has created and use his book to live by we would all be in a better place.
I have learned alot by your words of wisdom. I will continue to look forward to your post and praise your name on how to live. Blessings to you and your family.
Beautifully said!
I listened to another podcast this morning āmystics and Makersā an artist podcast actually and he made a statement on his season finale. āItās ok to think smallā. That struck me right on the overwhelmed heart. I am 63 years old own and manage two businesses, paint in oil when I can make the time and I am learning herbalism. I am an active member of my church and am involved in many other things. But between your writing today and the other comment I heard I am now on a quest to think small and precise and personally inside each of the very important tasks I have to do each day. Thank you for your encouragement
I love and adore blogs! I would so much rather get an alert that there has been a new post and read it at my leisure and know it’s not going to disappear and be able to reference back to it if need be. Thank you for your posts and sharing with us, I hope you continue this interaction with us for a long time. š
Love! 100% agree! Weāre here for you!
Good on you.
Thank you. God bless you and yours.
I love you heart and Iām grateful you share it with us. Bless you and your familyšš»
The best thing I ever did for myself, my kids and my home is to get off of Instagram. I am tired of knowing all the things and where everyone is or what they are doing or what I was not invited too or what she can afford that I can’t etc. I also got unsettled by being envied. People sending me messages saying they wish they had my life or my husband or my home. I don’t like causing those feelings in others. I loved this post. beautiful.
I am working towards making our world smaller. It’s something we all need. Blogging more and using social media less. Thank you for this post!
Ah, yes!! So many of us feel this way, and yet, pulling the plug and breaking the old habits feels a bit daunting. Will I still feel connected when all my friends are still using social media to share their lives? Will I miss all the important news and announcements? Will I feel āuninvited?ā Probablyā¦but the time gained for the most important things in life will be so much richer!
Our family has recently been completely unplugging from tech at dinner time and doing ārealā things together in the evening. Itās been so refreshing!! Thanks for saying what so many of us are feeling.
I’m happy to have the privilege to actually be allowed to reply w/o having to be a paying member! I came across your blog way back when you were a fairly new mommy! I was there when you decided to move! Then I missed a few years along the way. Just living our small, but big in other ways lives. I’m so intrigued with your lives, homesteading & food prep, but will not pay the price to see it! You’ve come a long, long way Shaye! It is a small world when you get down to the brass tacs! I love it! And thank you so much for being real & willing to share your life with us!
I agree with you, Patricia, about not paying for content. I totally understand why so many bloggers like Shaye are moving in that direction though! I’m actually grateful for it because the result for me is less distraction! The result for me is I haven’t been here in about a month. Less screen time is ALWAYS better.
Love your message and feel your pain. We were burnt out from people when we were self employed. During Covid I have given up my cell phone and love it. I have followed you and always make your roasted tomatoes which are soooooo good.
Take care we now live in a smaller world and it is peaceful.
Prince Edward Island
Canada
This was beautifully said! Iāve been thinking small the last year and a half. You and your family really inspire me and Iāve learned a lot from you. You make sense to me!
Thank you Shaye. For this, and for all the twelve years you’ve been doing such. I can truthfully say that your online presence and content is one of the few things that keep me from quitting the internet all together. If you had your own magazine, I would have done so already. š Thanks again Shaye.
Shaye,
My heart has been so heavy with keeping my world smaller as well.
I had just finished going through my “friends” list, putting none other, but family members in the “restricted” list before I saw your post and linked to your blog. Thank you! Your words were exactly what I needed to validate that I’m really not the only one feeling the same or similar.
<3
I live across the river from you in East Wenatchee. You are so right, we cannot change the world but we can nurture our homes and neighborhoods and see to it that they thrive. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us.
ALL. OF. THIS. YES!!!! š
You did 3 post in one day!
I just deleted all the social media off of my phone, redownloaded an rss blog reader for the first time in quite a few years, and decided Iām going to back to what I used to love about the internet. And then this was the first post I read! How amazing. I think we are all feeling it.
In light of the topic of this post, you may not see this. But after you mentioned Victorian Farm I got curious and am watching it now! Iām loving it and I couldnāt help but notice that the directorās name is Stuart Elliott! Hilarious!
Thank you so much for this post- it was so good for my soul. I officially deleted all of my social media accounts FINALLY after so many attempts, after reading your post. I have shared this with our blog followers too, and thank you for putting into words, what so many are feeling. God bless you on your journey!
I recently just got rid of Instagram. Actually 3 days ago to be exact.
I downgraded to a flip phone, and let me tell ya, I have been in the kitchen, and all around the house for hours, and doing what? ENJOYING my time, LISTENING to Shaye Elliott’s youtube videos, whether they be old or new.
Social media does not bring people together. Neither does a cell phone. Why do you think its called a “CELL, phone”.
This post was amazing to read, and reassured my soul. Thank you Shaye! As much as i will miss your constant stories on instagram, i feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders not having social media. Well thats a lie, I still have Vero, but that doesnt count haha.
Thank you so much Shaye
(btw, i am your BIGGEST fan girl), like ask my husband… its embarassing haha!
Jade <3
Yes! Give me all the blog posts! Love your writing and thoughtful way with words and love savoring them in this longer format!
I only wish that this crazy world we are in would wake up and see through your eyes. If we all would stop, listen and see what God has created and use his book to live by we would all be in a better place.
I have learned alot by your words of wisdom. I will continue to look forward to your post and praise your name on how to live. Blessings to you and your family.
I love that this comment will likely go unread. But for anyone who needs a bit of encouragement on this front. I closed my social media accounts 2 years ago or so. At first it felt SO STRANGE! Doing things just for my family. ‘If I don’t share this with the world does it even matter?’ I realized how much of my value I’d tied up in my ability to ‘influence’.
Last month my husband and I made a crazy decision. We got rid of our iPhones. Even though I had given up social media, I still found myself scrolling. Scrolling youtube, scrolling craigslist, scrolling zillow. I would ask myself ‘why am i doing this?’ but I couldn’t seem to stop. I finally admitted to myself the reality that smart phone apps were designed with psychologists to BE addicting. I was an addict. I kept telling myself that I NEEDED that break from my kids. I NEEDED to chill out for a second. But the reality is, since i’ve given up my iPhone, I’ve been SO much less stressed. The blue light, the dopamine, the constant inflow of information is stressful on our bodies. And then the smart phone is there to promise us relief from our stress. It’s a viscous cycle and I’m glad to be off the ride.
For anyone wondering. We switched to the Light Phone II. We still talk and text, can still get directions and set an alarm, and if someone texts a link or a photo, it automatically forwards it to my my email so I can check it later. It’s not about eschewing technology altogether, it’s about being able to choose when we engage.
And FYI the internet is way less addicting on a desktop computer. It’s been so much easier to keep myself focused on meaningful tasks instead of getting sucked in.
Anyway. Good luck to you Shaye. I’m so glad you are blogging again. I’ve missed your voice. God bless.
I read your comment! š I’m going to look into the Light Phone II! I left all of my social media on January 2nd and do notice I feel so free but still do manage to find ways to waste time on my phone. Thank you for this!
So beautifully written. I love it.
I love this. Been feeling and following a similar pull myself. My life is richer for it, tho I sure am grateful for the ability to learn from folks across the world. Just being more choosey on who that is. āŗļø
Just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year! Thank you for writing in this space. You have inspired in the past 5 years to have just that. A smaller world. Between you and Justin Rhodes, I have learned so, so much. Just to step up to the challanges, and learn as you go. Thank you. Your books have been a blessing and help as well. And your front courtyard is a constant inspiration for me! Thank you for sharing your small world with us! Greetings from Germany!
Beautifully written! Thank you for these words of wisdom. I needed to hear this myself and think about making my world smaller
You have a lovely blog. Your voice is calm and sensible in a world that I can’t say the same for. š
Bless you for sharing your life!