Everything in Moderation
Ashokan Resevoir | July 2025
Recently, I impulsively deleted Instagram from my phone - I blamed the app for influencing me into attending a few pop-up events that left me disappointed and dumbfounded. But was it really the app’s fault or me not setting better boundaries? I guess you could say both.
If I hadn’t been mindlessly scrolling, I wouldn’t have seen the ads for those events. The algorithm knows me a little too well—it keeps pushing the kind of local happenings that past-me would’ve jumped on without a second thought. But these days, money’s tight and everything’s gotten so expensive. I really have no business showing up to events selling $20 chocolate bars or a $28 glass of sake 🤯.
Is it Instagram’s fault I I seek joy and escape in these type of events? Are past tendencies re-surfacing, because I’m questioning everything about myself and what I can contribute to society?
There’s a lot to unpack and these experiences served as a catalyst for me to reflect, and dig deeper through writing.
The first couple weeks sans Instagram felt a bit like…withdrawal. I even Google’d symptoms of social media withdrawal and yep, I felt irritable, angsty, and a bit depressed that I couldn’t easily share my garden photos. I jumped into sharing on Substack, but it just wasn’t the same. I missed the instant gratification of likes and views. Substack also felt “noisy” in its own way - too many words, SO many words. Like legit essays. I started to feel intimidated and incompetent - my writing felt childish compared to these think pieces.
At the same time, I came across posts that resonated with me - some encouraged writing whatever you want to write, using the platform more like a daily journal or old school blog. And like with anything, writing is a practice - the more you write, the better the writing.
I’ve since re-installed Instagram but have yet to post again. I’m testing out their built-in time management tool so that I can be more mindful of how much time I spend on the app, because I must admit, a lot of good things have come from my time on Instagram.
It’s not all noise and chaos. There is beauty, the type of beauty that is nuanced and mindful.
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing (very typical response for me - more on that another time) but everything in moderation, right?
It’s time for a reset - let’s put down the phone, go outside and enjoy breath-taking views like these.
Ashokan Rail Trail | July 2025
All images © Lillian Liming - do not use without permission