By Michelle Carr
Social media… it’s given kind of a bad reputation. What do you think when you hear the word? Time consuming? Crazy people? Stalkers? Bullies? Danger? Porn? Well yea it can contain those things but that is not all it is. Social media can affect us in many different ways. It has its up and downs, good and bad. I, for one, have experienced many different things while being a part of this somewhat newer world.
I have spent the majority of my life, since I was twelve, working in jobs that put me in positions where I spent my time with people. I love people. I love meeting new people and will start conversations with anyone. So I have always loved that part of whatever job I was in, the social interaction. About two years ago I made a change. I starting staying home to run the household and pursue the things that made me happy. The first winter was the hardest. It was so cold, dark and full of snow that we spent a lot of time trapped in the house. This inability to go outside and the transition to a new closed off position made me crave social interaction. At the time Facebook was my only outreach, and for a while it was enough. But sadly, I noticed my mood was reflecting the dark kinda depressed moods that I seeing while scrolling through my Facebook news on my line. Everyone in my circle was also feeling the effects of the winter and most were sick, cold and also trapped without a lot going on. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, we were all stuck and had the winter blues. But if that is all you see and hear you can get pulled into the same place. I was caught in all this negativity and couldn’t see the light anywhere. I was feeling very low and in a not so great place. Then a remarkable thing happened. Someone sent me a link that gave me a 100 day challenge.
This challenge was for me to go 100 days and each day post something positive that had happened to me. It was called 100 happy days. I am always up for a challenge so I accepted. First few days I was like this won’t be so hard, but the longer we were trapped indoors the harder the good things were to find. We simply weren’t able to do as much and the days seemed increasingly similar. I carried on. Looking at every gift the days would bring, I would post even the smallest of things that made me smile. As the challenge went on, I noticed it wasn’t as hard to find something that made me happy. The posts came much easier and sometimes I had so many things happen, it was hard to choose from them. By the time I was done with this challenge, I was kinda sad to see it go. I then discovered that so many people really enjoyed seeing the happy positive posts that I had been making. I heard from several people that they followed it because it made them smile as well. I realized that not only had I helped brighten their days, but that my mood and perspective had entirely changed. In looking for the good things to find that happy moment to post, I had in turn starting looking at everything from a much happier place. I had opened myself to a lot more than I had previously. My whole world seemed brighter and much more promising. I was happy to say I had returned to me once more.
I decided then I was going to continue posting positively, looking for the good in the world around us and sharing its beauty. I welcomed Instagram and delved into it happily. I tried many different apps in the process. Then about a year ago, I was told I really, really need to get on Twitter. That I would really have fun talking to people on there. It is very easy to find likeminded people on Twitter, the person kept trying to convince me. I, always being one that doesn’t like to do things just because everyone is, was hesitant to hop on the bandwagon. However, an account was created for me anyway and I was encouraged to just try it. So I did. My first post was silly because I had no idea how to start. I remember saying the only thing that came to my mind “Snoochie Boochies” . I giggle to myself thinking about it. I continued on Twitter what I had started on Facebook, posting positive things. I started dabbling with my own creativity as well. Sharing words I had been inspired to write. Sure enough I began to come across many people who did geek the same things that I do. It WAS much easier to meet people on this platform. I started talking to several people on a daily basis and slowly my list started to grow. I found many dear friends on this site that I would have never discovered without it. I have found family there, who have become so very important to me. People I love even without having met them. We talk every day, laugh, cry and celebrate together. We encourage each other, hold deep conversations and are free to be our silly, craziest selves. I know now how amazing it is to be able to sit down with someone on the other side of the world and watch a movie together. It is a truly beautiful thing.
But with all good things there are bad sides as well. There are those you aren’t going to get along with. You have to be prepared for them to express they don’t feel the same way and it may not always be in the most calm fashion. You do have to be aware that there are people out there who don’t always have the best intentions in mind. There are social media dangers. People should always keep such things in the back of their heads. That you may not actually know the person you are talking to.
Sometimes though, you do come across those genuine people. I have been very blessed to have met some very genuine people that I have embraced as part of my chosen family. One of these beautiful friends is a lady whom I happily call my sister. We talked every day for months and after a while exchanged phone numbers. I can’t tell you how amazing it is hearing someone’s voice when you’ve only ever gotten to imagine it previously. We began to converse this way as well as on line. Our friendship grew and we began to see that even though we have come from different places, we still see the world very similarly. We both want to spread the good out there. We both try and help make positive changes in the world around us. Together we supported each other through many rough times and celebrated many good things as well. After almost a year, we got to Skype and see each other. Technology can be such a wonderful thing especially when you are States a part. The piece de resistance was when, with my husband’s help, she came to visit me here. They surprised me with this as an early birthday present. I was overwhelmed, speechless. (Which anyone who knows me well, will tell you that’s an amazing feat.) I was moved to tears to have her here and as strange as it seems, I was not the least bit nervous. As soon as I saw her I was immediately as comfortable as if I had known her forever, because it really felt as though I had. Those two days that she was here were two days that I will always treasure. I am still completely blown away when I think on it.
So even though social media can bring negative things, it can be an amazing gift as well. It can help you keep in touch with loved ones that you don’t always have the time to see. It can help you meet amazing people who make such a difference in your life by simply just being there. You can brighten someone else’s day by sending them a smile, cup of joe or even a virtual hug. There are many good things one can do with social media these days. I feel extremely thankful for the things that I have learned from walking through this online world. Even though not every moment has been amazing, I am thankful for the beautiful, positive souls that I have come across. My life has changed for the better for having met you. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of yours.
