Welcome to Free From Social Media (and gluten)

Hi family and friends, 

I have decided to get off all social medias and to not use this as a way to write or share or post the pictures and things I’m proud of. I do not want to spend anymore minutes of this precious life scrolling, getting addicted to the endorphins that come from getting hearts on photos, or trying to decide what’s AI and what’s real. This is just a personal choice that is for my health and quality of life, and it is not to negate all of the good things social media can bring to individuals and communities. It’s just not for me anymore. 

The reality is this year I overcame illness that I didn’t know I would. I thought there was a chance I’d be sick forever. The reality is actual life was happening this year and I felt myself get anxious that I didn’t have something to post, you know, something that is light enough for everyone’s eyes, but real enough that I do not feel like I’m being inauthentic. I’ve struggled with that balance of sharing on social media for a long time but this year especially. 

I’ve been in and out of the hospital, fighting an infection that lead to an infertility scare, I’ve lost my close Aunt to suicide, I’ve helped another family member with hospice, and more on the narcissistic level, I haven’t had a pretty picture of myself to post, or until recently, a new acting job to share about. And that’s what woke me up, when I finally booked this next acting workshop I thought, “finally something to post about, something to connect with people on.” WRONG. How horrible is that? The year that I had the most life happen to me, the entire spectrum of utter despair to complete joy, the human experience, and that’s what was going to bring me relief? Posting about this acting workshop I’m excited about? Comical. 

The pressures of these platforms are just not built for me and my well being. And forget how I don’t feel connected to the planet through them, let’s talk about how I don’t feel connected to YOU. The passivity and messages sent over these things, the signals that are intended for certain people, the undercurrents of dysfunction, I can’t read people’s minds and I can’t connect with YOU. 

So here’s what I have to offer instead because I want to keep writing , I want to keep sharing what I’m up to, and I want to stay connected to YOU. 

All work updates will stay up to date on my acting website: alexandramariefortin.com which you can visit anytime. 

For all life things, for my writing, personal photos, the hard, the ugly, and the beauty:

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As for what you share with me, I want your blogs, I want your writing, I want your messy photos, you can text me, you can call me, we can start a Google Photos folder and share funny photos, I just joined a friends playlist the other day, and I have another friend that sends me her amazing Substack emails! I’m up for anything. Call me and let’s set up a way in which you feel most seen by me that’s not going on your Facebook or Instagram to catch the posted version of you. 

I intend to write about my experience having no social media. I intend to prove it makes absolutely no difference for my work as an artist in this industry. I intend to stay connected and even more tethered to the earth. I’ll get my news from other sources, I’ll read when I would have been scrolling, I’ll love up on Caitlin more when I would of been editing a photo, I’ll bake more and I’ll never come back, and I’ll tell you about it. I’ll tell you about the withdrawals, I’ll tell you about the feeling invisible, I’ll tell you about the friends that don’t like it, and I’ll tell you about how much better my brain functions because it won’t be hit with advertisements and narcissism. I don’t want my future family on Facebook, and I don’t want my past oddly preserved among ads. 

Thank you for your support. I’m ready to share life with you! And I’m ready to tell you about the complications of opting out of something that has completely taken over our lives. 

Love you,

Alexandra, Al, or Alex (if you must)