There I was, standing amidst the breathtaking Norwegian fjords, their majestic beauty unfolding before me. Towering mountains draped in verdant cloaks, waters reflecting the vast, open skies - it was a scene straight out of a dream.
Yet, amidst this splendor, my mind was elsewhere, consumed not by the beauty I was privileged to witness, but by an incessant urge to capture it perfectly for social media.

In Norway, every view seemed like a masterpiece, but instead of soaking in the moment, I was obsessed with finding the perfect spot, the ideal angle for a photo. "Will this make a great post? How many likes will it get? Will my friends be jealous?" - These thoughts clouded my mind. I was more focused on how my life appeared online than actually living and experiencing these precious moments.

I was viewing the world not through my eyes but through the lens of online validation. That's when I knew, it was time to let go of social media.

This decision wasn't easy, but it was necessary. I struggled to make the decisive step but I finally deleted all accounts. I was worried I would no longer be in touch with my connections, but when I finally decided to do it, it felt like stepping out of a noisy room into a quiet, peaceful haven. The constant pressure to showcase a life designed for likes and comments was gone. Even my daily life felt completly different.

Since then, I've stopped taking pictures on my travels. I absorb the beauty, the culture, the atmosphere – all of it – without the urge to document every single moment. My experiences are now mine alone, rich and unfiltered, not diluted through a screen.

In my everyday life, I began to cherish each moment for what it was. My focus shifted from curating an online persona to nurturing real, tangible relationships and experiences. I learned to live for myself, not for an audience.

Years have passed since I bid farewell to social media, and I can confidently say it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. The mental clarity, the genuine appreciation of life, the freedom from the clutches of online validation – it's liberating.

You won't find me on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, or even LinkedIn, but I am out there in the real world, living every moment to its fullest, away from the toxicity of social media.

By doing this, I have not lost any connections as I still keep in touch daily with whomever I consider to be close to me. However, I have indeed built more authentic relationships with the people I care about and also with myself.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that life is too precious to be experienced through a filter. So, here's to living authentically, embracing the world in its true essence, and finding joy in the simple, unfiltered moments of life.