Log Off & Draw: Breaking My Addiction To Microblogging
How Adobe Fresco is helping me change my ways
Last week was rough. It’s like that guy was sworn in and hit the ground running. From deportation, to eliminating DEI and Civil Rights which resulted in Target rolling back DEI before probably one of the busiest times for them, Black History Month, it was a lot. Did I spend too much time arguing with people on Threads about all of this? YES! And though my follower list grew to 200 plus over a weekend I know my block list is even longer. The cycle had started again with me and a microblogging platform but this time I was able to log off.
I’m a writer so naturally microblogging sites are where I shine, but over the years they have also been my demise. I couldn’t just be the pretty girl who was just silent and pretty. I had to be opinionated, sometimes loud and wrong, sometimes loud and right, sometimes loud and raunchy (doing “Twitter After Dark” at 2PM on a random Wednesday before it was a thing) I used sites like Twitter to speak my mind no matter who was listening. Especially when I was drunk.
It was a problem and it was that way up until like 2 weeks ago. I got too drunk, saw a post that triggered me, went on a rant, cursed some people out, said some things that would probably put me on some type of list then passed out. The next morning I woke up, checked the app and was horrified. 1, I needed to stop drinking and 2, I needed to get off that app. So I deactivated.
At that moment I realized I needed a new way to express myself and for some reason I was like you know what? I want to COLOR! Lol! So I ended up downloading Adobe Fresco because I’m squeezing every penny out of that f*cking Adobe Cloud subscription I have and if they have an app for something I’m using theirs. I also redownloaded Refocused which is an app that lets you block apps for a certain period of time, even the web versions.
Whenever I get overwhelmed I block social media, turn on my favorite YouTuber (right now it’s Michelle McDaniel), grab my IPad and my Apple Pencil and start drawing. I must say it’s been super relaxing. I just disconnected until it’s time to go to bed.
Last night I set out to draw a “self portrait” even though, despite being the niece of an artist who has artwork hanging in the PENTAGON, I cannot draw outside of making something abstract art with shapes and lines. I still decided to try. I drew a head and a neck, a T-shirt with uneven arms coming out of it, all on a pink background. I downloaded some brushes and started working on long, blonde, hair. For some reason the “hair” started to look like gold locks and the first thing I thought was, “this n*gga look like Lil Wayne”. But I kept drawing and next thing you know, “King Wayne” was born.
I just let my creativity flow and as you can see the spirit of Basquiat took over and next thing you know I had created some mumble rapper’s album cover!
My goal is to log off around 6 or 7 every evening and just do this until my bedtime (yes I have a “bedtime” cause I wake up at 4 AM).
When you feel yourself getting addicted to something try and catch yourself before it gets worse. If you notice a cycle, make a conscious decision to break it. 2025 is the year we change our negatives ways and place our lives into systems that will make us better.
Deal?
Ok.
Bye!
oh yeah that block button did not know rest this past november!!