Protecting Family Moments in a Social Media World and Why I Choose Privacy

 Why I Choose to Keep My Life Private in a World That Shares Everything

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much the world has changed... especially when it comes to how we share our lives. And it’s not just young people glued to their phones anymore. It’s everyone.

I see it in my children, all grown now, their phones always within reach. I see it in friends and strangers alike... the way everyone seems to feel this pressure to share everything. Pictures of their meals, their vacations, their kids’ birthdays. It’s like the only way to prove something matters is to post about it for the world to see.

I’m not trying to criticize. I understand why people do it... the need for connection, for validation, for the reassurance that their life is seen. And I think there’s good in that. Especially for people who feel isolated or overlooked. The internet can be a lifeline... a way to feel like you’re part of something bigger.

But I wonder sometimes if we’re losing something in the process. When I was raising my kids, life felt simpler. Not easier... just simpler. Memories were tucked away in old photo albums, in letters and postcards, in the small, quiet moments that only the people in the room could understand. I’m not saying it was better... just different. Maybe more sheltered, maybe more private. But it was ours.

Now, it feels like everyone’s life is on display. And the thing that worries me the most is how easy it is to mistake attention for love, or likes for real connection. I hear people talk about being “authentic” online, but the truth is... most of it feels like performance. Even when it’s not meant to be.

And I get it. I really do. Technology keeps moving forward, and it’s not all bad. I remember when my parents finally brought a television into the house... this big, boxy thing with grainy black-and-white pictures. And I’m pretty sure my father thought the world was going straight to ruin because of it. If he saw the gadgets we have now, he’d probably think I was living in a science fiction movie.

I’ve learned to accept that change is necessary. We can’t pretend the world isn’t changing just because it feels uncomfortable. But sometimes, I think we need to stop and ask ourselves what we’re losing along the way.

I’m not against technology. I like being able to video call my grandkids and see their messy smiles in real-time. I like that I can share pieces of my life here, in this journal. But that’s just it... pieces. Not everything.

I write here because I want to share thoughts, memories, the parts of my life I feel led to put down in words. But I also keep certain things close... and that’s intentional.

There’s something sacred about holding back. About letting some moments be just mine. My children, my grandchildren, those ordinary days that are too precious to throw into the endless noise of the internet. It’s not about being secretive... it’s about protecting what feels holy.

I think about the books I might write one day... the Bible tools or reflections I hope to share when the time feels right. And I know people might ask why I don’t share more... why I don’t give them every detail of my life. But I’ve made a choice.

It’s not because I don’t care or because I’m afraid. It’s because some things aren’t meant to be shared with everyone. And I think that’s okay.

Maybe that will frustrate some people. Maybe they’ll feel like I’m holding back, hiding something. But the truth is... I just want to keep the things that matter most where they belong.

I think there’s a balance to all of this. Sharing what feels right, holding on to what feels sacred. The internet isn’t evil, and I’m not trying to pretend it’s all bad. It’s just... noisy. And I need the quiet.

I’m learning how to make space for both. This journal is part of that space... a place where I can share without giving everything away. And I think I’m learning to be okay with that.