Addicted to Facebook

With one more day to go and simply because I'm in a writing mood, I thought I'd write about my time off Facebook.

I was at my Grandma and Grandad's in Kettering and we were on about Facebook and how much I was on there. My Grandad said that he even did a sermon and mentioned a conversation that me and my Dad were having over Facebook about what was for dinner! So as you probably guessed, his sermon was about communicating... I think, and how me and my Dad were on separate floors of the house and were speaking to each other through the internet... sad eh!

As we were talking about it, it hit me that Children in Need was coming up and I hadn't decided what I was going to do. So guess what? I gave up Facebook! From the 8th of November until the 1st of January (which is tomorrow!). For those who can't do the Maths, that's 55 days! My friends all reckoned that I wouldn't last a day let alone nearly 2 months. So they placed their bets in the form of sponsors and waited.

Here I am on day 54 and I've survived. With no help from my friends may I just add, who have been sending me messages and commenting on things to make it that little bit harder for me! Thanks guys ;) To make it a bit harder for myself, I didn't deactivate my account, this way I knew that it was still accessible. I also let myself have e-mails but! I wasn't allowed to read them, so I would see that someone's wrote something on my wall etc. but I wasn't allowed to see what exactly they'd put.

I gave up Facebook simply because I was addicted. I would come home from college or wherever I'd been, turn on my computer and Facebook was the first thing I'd bring up. It was on practically all day and that's what I spent my time on instead of doing homework or anything but Facebook! Sad I know, but be honest with me, how many other people do that? Probably about 80/85% of us live on Facebook, will wait around and watch the screen just to stay up to date with our friends. It's the 21st Century way to receive and create gossip. It's changed our lives, no joke.

Not being on Facebook has let me do other things. I've been reading more, writing, I'm up to date with my homework... mostly! I actually feel better because of doing something more productive with my time. I don't get a thrill out of sitting on Facebook all day, it bores the hell out of me but as an addict you just find it so hard to go a day without it. There's a constant obsession with wanting to know what's going on in other people's lives.

So, I have learnt my lesson. Facebook isn't everything! It's fine to go on there once a day but not all day everyday! That's ridiculous! There's a world out there full of hope and surprises and you're not going to find and experience that from a networking site. There's no use saying, 'but I'm bored', go and do something else! There's books to read, pictures to be drawn or painted etc, writing to do, even homework! No-one is ever bored unless they let themselves be bored.

I'm glad I gave up Facebook because I was not only helping raise money for Children In Need but I was also helping myself.

Children In Need is an amazing charity that helps all sorts of Children who aren't are fortunate as us. A lot of work goes into that charity, all you need to do is watch the show if you need proof! I don't regret doing this, as hard as it's been, it's been worth it for Children In Need :)

Man's best friend

I've just watched Marley and Me so I thought I would do a shout out to all the dogs out there :)

They love us whether we're rich or poor, whether we're happy or sad.. They love us for just being us, even if we're not the most loveable person on Earth. They will stick by our side through thick and thin. You won't find anything more loyal on this planet, yes okay that could be argued but c'mon, if you've had a good dog and treated him well then you'll know what I'm talking about.

There's been so many stories about a dog's loyalty to it's owner. How they've come to save our lives, not left our side when we've been ill, made us laugh when we've had a horrible day at work... and the list goes on. I bet you've got your own stories to tell.

I've not had a dog myself but oh do I wish I had one. I've had a few cats and one hamster but it's not the same, I know that. One of my cats was there for me when I needed her, she made me laugh and when it was her time to go, she made me cry but a dog would be so much different.

From experience, I've seen the look in their eyes when they're with their owners. My Grandma's dog Casper is absolutely gorgeous and I love him to bits, you won't find a dog like him. He's such a character. He'll wait on the top of the back cushions of the sofa and stare out the window until my Grandma and Grandpa come home. Sometimes when we're all just sat watching television, he'll run and jump onto my Grandma's chest and lay on her or lick her face. It's little things like that. You don't tend to find other animals that are as loving as dogs. Yes okay, cats have their moments but they go off and do their own things whereas dogs will sit by you, lay on you etc just be by your side or with you for most of their day. This will never change, I know that for a fact, dogs will always be loyal and love their owners no matter what.

You know how the saying goes, dogs aren't just for Christmas. They're a commitment but they're so worth it. At times they can be hard work but like many things in life, these things take patience but you're rewarded with a loyal and loving friend that will take care of you and be there when you need them no matter what.

Their soft, loving, brown eyes, silky fur, wet noses... everything about them is just perfection, and every owner has they're perfect dog, they're perfect friend.