If Laura Ingalls Didn't Have To Text Anyone Back, Then Neither Do I | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

If Laura Ingalls Didn't Have To Text Anyone Back, Then Neither Do I

Sometimes, I just need a break- it's nothing personal.

326
If Laura Ingalls Didn't Have To Text Anyone Back, Then Neither Do I
StoryBlocks

I suppose I should explain my title in a little more detail. When I first read The Little House on the Prairie books as a child, one of the things that always baffled me the most was the very little contact that Laura Ingalls had had with anyone outside of her family. The only time Laura and her family visited with relatives or friends was when they went to church on Sundays, when they visited family members during Christmas, or when they made trips to town, which was very, very rarely. In fact, interaction with others outside of her family was almost seen as something special.

Maybe the frontier life was a little bit deprived in terms of socialization. However, even if we fast forward to the '60s, the '70s, the '80s, and even the '90s, communication with others outside of your family or those you lived with was limited because methods of communication were limited as well. During these decades and before, there were no smart phones to FaceTime with or send text messages. There were no forms of social media to "like" each other's photos. In the '90s, and before, if you wanted to spend time with your friend, you called them up on the phone.

If they didn't answer, it was never a huge deal- you knew that they were busy at work, at school, or maybe, just maybe they didn't feel like talking on the phone at the time. No one's feelings were hurt because social media did not exist to alert us when someone else was on the internet but refusing to answer our phone calls. I know that this happened in the '90s and earlier not just due to TV shows and movies that depicted such interactions, but because that's exactly what I did as a kid, too.

Now that I'm 20 years old in the year 2018, I can't get on the internet without knowing what my friends are doing at any given point and time or even what they're eating or wearing! It might be convenient to closely follow your friend's and family's day-to-day activities, but it can also be a little strenuous- particularly because they can follow your day-to-day activities right back.

In short, this an introvert's worst nightmare. Introverts like myself and many others cannot face social interaction without building up large amounts of energy beforehand and losing it all afterward. To be honest, conversation can be very exhausting for me. I love my friends and close ones, but do I wish to see and talk to them every single day? Absolutely not. In fact, I could go days at a time without interaction with some of my loved ones.

I leave a lot of text messages on "read" for this very reason. Sometimes, I just want to be able to get on my Facebook page and share a picture of a cute duck or an intriguing news article without feeling guilty for doing so. Lately, I've had to learn that I am not required to feel guilty for not engaging in social interactions I don't want to have. If you can't go a few days without hearing from me, it isn't me with the problem- it's you.

On the one hand, I am very busy in my day-to-day life (as are most adults). I work multiple jobs, I am a full time student, and I help run two organizations. When I dived head-first into the adult world, I learned quickly that other adults' lives are just as hectic as mine, and we can't always text or talk or hang out all of the time, and that is okay. We have priorities now.

Where it concerns my own case, not only are there times when I can't text people back, most of the time I simply don't want to. I am well aware of the fact that it takes less than 60 seconds to send a text message, and I don't care. Text messages generally lead to conversations, which I don't wish to have all of the time. This is a major part of taking care of myself. You don't have to understand it, just respect it.

When I take a few days (sometimes, even weeks) to shoot you a reply over text or Facebook message, it is not because I'm mad at you. It is not because I don't wish to spend time with you. It is not because I'm trying to agitate you. It's because I have the social capacity of technological social interaction no later than the 1990s. You are not being singled out (most of the time) because I do this with plenty of my other loved ones- some who are much more understanding than others. So the next time you think about texting me to ask why I'm ignoring you or if I'm mad at you, think about the possibility that neither of those is the case.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

185474
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

11728
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

455592
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25168
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments