From the editor: Pick ‘n’ choose

Everything is witnessed. Much has already been written about oversharing on social media, from the shape of pancakes on Instagram to reactions to X Factor on Twitter. Sometimes it’s helpful, useful even, as I’ve witnessed several times as calls for help on Facebook have been answered in both very emotional and practical ways.

I do love a good anecdote too. Especially one with an excellent ‘reveal’, that has uncles and aunts shifting abruptly from being contentedly happy after three courses to startled surprise when brought up in a Best Man’s speech.

Lately though, I’ve savoured the idea of keeping some aspects of my life away from being ‘witnessed’. It’s not about the big things, about keeping secrets. It’s about finding a corner of quiet and selecting what events I might need to talk about, rather than keeping a constant newsfeed going straight out of my mouth. A return to how we used to engage in conversations. Stepping away from the anxiety of there being a silent moment between friends, filling the gap with something that doesn’t need saying – I’ve done that enough times when out on the lash. Who hasn’t shouted “It’s a lamppost!!!” with all the urgency of a new continent freshly discovered? No, it’s about choosing to share as much as choosing not to.

In the same way that I love a night in so that when I choose to go out I’m not just along for the ride but really up for a great night – I could apply that kind of choice to other parts of my life too. I’m all for talking rubbish, making up new characters that live in the moon, and generally running off at the mouth. But perhaps if my nose itches I can keep that to myself. ‘Inside voices’ are valuable too. And a run at being quiet is one sure-fire route to finding that self- editing spirit.

Victoria Nangle
editorial@thelatest.co.uk