A rewrite of Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata" for the Social Media Age
Go without your phone every once in awhile
into the noise and haste of the world,
remembering there is peace in screen-less visions.
Speak your truth clearly and listen to friends.
Avoid loud and aggressive accounts,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare the number of your followers with others,
you will become vain and bitter;
there will always be accounts with more and less followers than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own voice, however humble;
Exercise caution in your posts; for the world is full of trolls.
But let this not blind you to what good there is in social media;
many persons share wisdom and find their way to community through it;
Be yourself
Do not feign affection through too many selfies.
Neither be cynical about love or politics;
Do not use use filters to hide your age.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
do not distress yourself with hateful posts
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
You are worthy of your own images and ideas,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here....
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful web.
Be cheerful, share the good news of love.