Social media has become a very important aspect of life in this era. People are addicted to it and obsess over strangers' lives through a screen. We see pictures and videos of amazing things that these "Insta-famous" people are doing around the world: Traveling, exercising, or starting their career and making names for oneself. However, the average person wishes for these things but won't strive for it. We live vicariously through other people. But why? This summer, I took away my two most time-consuming social media apps: Twitter and Instagram.

(Snapchat and Facebook were kept for communication reasons.)

I started my social media detox on July 1st and returned a few days before returning to campus, the second week of August. The first couple of days, I was bored more often than usual. I didn't have two apps to refresh every five minutes. As the days went on, I completely forgot that I even had these things missing from my life. I felt great and my confidence was boosted. I didn't have to waste time taking selfies to post on Sunday mornings, I wasn't comparing myself to the girls from school, and I was picking up new hobbies.

Not only did I pick up new hobbies, but my general mindset was changed. I now realize that money will always make its way back to me, but time won't. So I booked a two-week vacation to Italy and the Greek Islands for next summer, I made life goals for myself, and made a bucket list.

I worked 45-hour weeks, traveled to new states, started new shows on Netflix, and started painting. This summer was definitely for the books because I wasn't oblivious to the opportunities around me.

There are more things important to me than how many likes I receive or the number of favorites on a funny tweet. Taking social media away from myself for a while was the best self-love I could have given or received. Even now that it is back, I use it a lot less than I did before. Live in the moment and watch what is around you, rather than living through a phone. When you're old, you won't remember who liked that picture, but you'll remember the time that you threw out the window.