I have finally cleaned up my social media such that I only see things nonpolitical and/or non-adversarial. Finally I can get back to business and breathe a better sigh of relief. That’s because I unfriended three dozen people and snoozed that many more.

Do they have a right to speak up? Yes.
Do I have to let that irritate my life? No.

We find it difficult to unfriend people, because we feel we have to collect as many people as possible for our books, our brand, our image. Did I go after people? No. In each case, I went into their page to see if they were primarily negative or repeatedly and proactively adversarial, or if they were just experiencing a “moment.” When they fell into the former, I unfriended them.

Did it cost me a book sale or two? Not sure. Did I discount people who would vote the opposite of me? No, not at all. I love it when people vote. I’ll be the first to go with you to the polls and cast a ballot. I just cannot tolerate negativity, sarcasm, and borderline threats from either side, or being told how horrible I am for leaning one direction or another in politics. There is such a thing as protecting your mental state.

Thank you to those who remained stable, professional, kind, and level-headed, willing to state your case but not tear into people who think otherwise. When we can accept differences, we are happier people. I want to love those who read my work, not fear them.