If you’re like me, you’re not quite sure what to think of “Social Media”. It’s kind of scary, but then again, what isn’t when it’s new? What fears do we have about these phenomena that are called Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, instant messaging. (Wait, is IMing outdated?) Is it fear of venturing into unchartered territories? Believe me, this territory has been explored, more than we know. Not only can you reach old friends you haven’t heard from in years, you can reach them by the multitudes! You are trying to find Jack that went to school with Jill, but then you locate Sue, Bob and Dan – all at the same time. And you can “friend” them all at the same time, if they choose to accept. Yes, it’s true. Sadly, your long lost friend may not even want to know you exist anymore and may not accept your invite to be his “friend” again. Wow! Then you start to remember why you were so anxious to leave your hometown after high school….
Can “Social Media” lead to feelings of anxiety and bitterness, reminding you of those awkward years that you felt went on forever? Yes. However, it helps to keep in mind that most everyone felt that way. So before you reject an invite to be someone’s friend, realize that it may have taken a great deal of courage for her to reach out to you. We all hated those awkward years of not knowing how to dress, fix our hair or even act human at times. You can also look back and realize, wow, we made it through with only a few bruised egos and broken hearts, but hey, look at where we are now.
Social media has become the present; it’s no longer where things are headed. If you aren’t there yet, now it’s time to play catch up to those that are so far ahead. So, start tweeting, face booking, linking in and move on with your life. You’ve only got one; no sense wasting it on the past. By the way, I’m up to 1100 followers on Twitter! Not too shabby for a country girl from south Texas.
Photo of the author created using yearbookyourself.com
