Hey guys, it’s Tina.
Let’s have a little heart-to-heart about digital boundaries—or as I like to call it, the “If You Can’t Find Me, You Can’t Fight Me” strategy.
I saw a post today that hit a little too close to home. It said: “I turn my location off every time I get mad don’t worry about where tf I’m at 😂” And honestly? I felt that in my soul.
The Evolution of the “Do Not Disturb” Sign
Remember the good old days? If you were mad, you just didn’t answer your house phone. You’d let it ring and ring while you sat on the couch eating chips, staring at the wall in silent protest. Then came the “Read Receipts” era, which was its own kind of psychological warfare.
Living with “Invisible Ankle Monitors”
But now? We live in the age of Find My Friends, Life360, and Snap Maps. Everyone knows where everyone is at all times. It’s like we’re all wearing invisible ankle monitors provided by Apple.
When I’m annoyed, my first instinct isn’t to scream; it’s to evaporate. I don’t want to be perceived. I don’t want a “Hey, I see you’re at Target, can you pick up milk?” text when I’m currently in the middle of a mental breakdown in the pajama aisle.
Finding Peace in the “Location Sharing: Off” Notification
When that “Location Sharing: Off” notification hits? That is my peace. That is my “Do Not Disturb” sign for the entire planet.
Why Going “Off the Grid” Works
- The Mystery Factor: If you don’t know where I am, you have to sit with your thoughts. Are I at the gym? The spa? Buying a one-way ticket to Fiji? (I’m actually just in the Taco Bell parking lot, but you don’t need to know that).
- The Emotional Reset: Turning off my location is like closing the door to my room. It’s the digital equivalent of saying, “I need five minutes to not be a reachable human being.”
- The Power Move: Let’s be real—there is a tiny, petty part of me that knows you’re checking. Seeing that “Location Not Available” is a clear signal: Tina has left the chat. Tina has left the grid. Tina is currently a ghost.
Reclaiming Time vs. Communication
I know what the therapists say. “Communication is key.” “Don’t shut people out.” And to that I say… have you ever tried being completely untraceable for two hours after a dumb argument? It’s better than a deep-tissue massage.
The Liberation of Being Untraceable
It’s not that I’m doing anything scandalous. I’m usually just driving around listening to early 2000s R&B, reclaiming my time. But there is something so liberating about knowing that, for a brief moment, I am the only person in the world who knows exactly where my feet are planted.
Entering the “Tina-Verse”
So, to my friends, family, and anyone else wondering why my little blue dot suddenly vanished: Don’t worry about where I’m at. I’m in the “No-Fly Zone.” I’m in the “Tina-Verse.” I’ll be back online once I’ve finished my Starbucks and decided I’m ready to be a member of society again.
Until then, stay curious. 💅✨