{"id":6177,"date":"2013-08-23T08:17:05","date_gmt":"2013-08-23T15:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ann-tran.com\/?p=6177"},"modified":"2013-09-11T15:47:10","modified_gmt":"2013-09-11T22:47:10","slug":"life-is-more-than-just-a-tweet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ann-tran.com\/2013\/08\/life-is-more-than-just-a-tweet\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Is More Than Just a Tweet"},"content":{"rendered":"

While browsing through my Instagram<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0account, I saw this post from Richard Branson<\/strong><\/a>: “Next time you’re traveling, instead of staring at your phone, why not strike up a conversation?”<\/p>\n

Recently I was talking to Joyce Cherrier<\/strong><\/a> about our Maui trip #KFresh13<\/strong><\/a>, and during the conversation I apologized to Joyce, explaining that I needed to get off the phone to go take my photo of the day.\u30c4 \u00a0I felt that disconnecting from conversation because of social media was a recurring habit of mine that I\u2019m not liking. \u00a0Luckily, I think Joyce understood it and didn\u2019t take offense\u2014but what about our non-social media friends and family?<\/p>\n

I’ve written about how to unplug from social media<\/strong><\/a> to enjoy life, and striking a balance between social life and social networks<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0It appears I may need to step away from the phone and engage in society even more. \u00a0When I am at dinner, I may still check in on FourSquare but I have stopped taking food photos unless I am working at an event.<\/p>\n

We only have a certain amount of time in our day, and in our lives. \u00a0To maintain a proper life\/work\/social media balance, we need to look at how we spend that time. \u00a0And sometimes that means that saying no is the best way to achieve that balance. \u00a0When your work life and social life appear to over-integrate, it\u2019s a good sign that you should slow down and reassess the balance.<\/p>\n

The purpose of my trip to Maui is promoting tourism on the island and I will of course do my part\u2014it\u2019s a rough job, but somebody\u2019s got to do it! \u00a0\u30c4\u00a0I know that it will be a visual feast for me, and will give me ample opportunities to indulge in my favorite hobby, photography. \u00a0I will take photos and be in the moment, and yet try to share them perhaps occasionally and save some for future postings. \u00a0My intention is to be immersed in the experience<\/strong> <\/a>and also share the island\u2019s culture and the beauty of it all.<\/p>\n

The bottom line is balance. \u00a0I hope to have many face-to-face<\/strong><\/a> conversations with my Maui host family, and the friends I\u2019ve met over the phone. \u00a0I will definitely strive to take pleasure in the local flavors and enjoy the new landscape.<\/p>\n

Are you savoring your vacation (and your life!)\u2014or is your life all about a post or a tweet? \u30c4<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While browsing through my Instagram\u00a0account, I saw this post from Richard Branson: “Next time you’re traveling, instead of staring at your phone, why not strike up a conversation?” Recently I…Posted on<\/span>