As much as I hate to admit it I spend a lot of time on Facebook when I should be doing other things. But sometimes Facebook Isn’t Just Scrolling I’ve found new businesses to feature, places to visit and even people who do videos I enjoy watching. Which I honestly never thought I would find myself doing.

There, I said it. And before anyone starts shaking their head and thinking, “Well, that’s certainly not productive,” let me explain. Sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes I am absolutely scrolling Facebook for no particular reason, looking at things I probably don’t need to see and wondering how in the world thirty minutes disappeared.

But sometimes something completely different happens. Sometimes I find someone. Not someone I was looking for. Not someone I planned to follow. Not even someone I would have thought I’d be interested in.

But someone simply shows up in my feed and makes me stop scrolling. Then I find myself watching a video they’ve done. Then I find myself checking out there page and before I know it I find myself looking for them.

These people I find may not even have anything in common. They might be cooking something that looks delicious. Maybe they’re showing me their camper and taking me along on an adventure. Maybe they’re traveling somewhere I’ve never been. Maybe they’re teaching me something about camping.

Maybe they’re singing a song they’ve written that takes me somewhere in my memories. Maybe they’re making me laugh so hard that I forget, for just a minute, whatever was stressing me out.

And sometimes, they give me something even more valuable. They give me two minutes to myself. In the past I would never sit down and watch podcasts. I didn’t even know what a Podcast was but not I’m hooked.

I don’t usually have time to watch long videos because in my home there is something else that needs to be done, something that needs cleaning, something that needs writing, somebody who needs something, or a dozen things waiting on my list.

So sitting down intentionally to watch a 45-minute podcast can feel like I’m taking time away from something else I should be doing. Even though I will watch movies but more times than not I’m multitasking.

But these little videos? Those are different. I can watch one while I’m sitting for a minute. I can watch one while I’m eating. I can watch one before I get up and tackle the next thing. And somehow, those few minutes don’t feel wasted.

They feel like a breath of fresh air. I can even watch them when were running errands or traveling. I love how these people I’ve discovered have brought things into my life that I never expected to find on Facebook.

I’ve found new recipes and I’ve discovered cookbooks that I actually found at Walmart Santa if you want to get me something for Christmas. If not then let David and Charlie know there are a couple cookbooks I would like to have.

Or at least tell David because he will not fuss at me like Charlie does and say no, mom no more books. You have to many. If you keep getting books there might not be a place for us. Which is true but I love my books and I’m not going to change.

I’ve watched people make their homes in campers and RVs and thought, “You know, that actually looks like fun.” I think Grandma Sherry should let me have her camper and I can turn it into my office.

Through them I’ve learned little things about traveling and camping. So my family could take short Trips if we had the camper. I’ve gone along on cruises without ever packing a suitcase.

I’ve found crafts and creative ideas. I’ve discovered sewing which is something I used to do. I’ve discovered beautiful music and I’ve laughed at people who are simply being themselves. I’ve also gotten to see there dogs which I love.

And yes, I’ve even watched a couple of people enough that they have convinced me I apparently needed a Blackstone grill. Which now we have thanks to the LORD and Walmart’s sales.

I’m looking at you, Michelle and Jess. The funny thing is, I didn’t set out to find any of these people. Facebook simply kept putting them in front of me. And eventually I realized something. These aren’t just random people whose videos I happen to see. They’ve become part of my little corner of the internet. So I started making a list.

Not a list of the biggest influencers. Not a list of people somebody else decided were important. Not even a list of people who all do the same thing. Just my people. The ones I would like to be like one day.

Not to travel or for the Trips or Book deals but just someone who likes me enough to follow me and see what I do on my site so I can take care of my family. Since these people feel like real people and someone I could be friends with I think I can do a Podcast or two.

There cooks. I cook. There travelers. We do Day Trips. There homeschoolers. I used to be. There shoppers. I am too. There singers and comedians. Which I can highlight on my Podcast.

There storytellers and I am too. There crafters. Which I would like to be. There the outspoken ones which I can be too. There people who make me laugh and I would like to believe I could make you laugh.

There people who teach me something. And the people who, for a couple of minutes, simply give me somewhere else to be. There are ten of them on my list right now. For me that is more than enough but I honestly can’t say that will be everyone because one day someone new may pop up and catch my eye.

This morning I thought it would be fun to introduce you to them. Because maybe you’ve seen some of their videos, too. Maybe one of them will become one of your favorites. Or maybe you’ll discover someone completely new. Or you might have someone to share with me.

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll understand why I don’t always consider my Facebook time “wasted time.” Sometimes I’m learning. Sometimes I’m laughing. Sometimes I’m dreaming. Sometimes I’m finding my next recipe.

And sometimes I’m just sitting still for two minutes and letting somebody else entertain me. And honestly? I think we all need a couple of those minutes every now and then. So be watching over the next ten days as I share each of them with you.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates