Social Media: to Tweet or not to Tweet?

I recently made quite a few connections via Twitter after my last submission to tiny buddha was posted. It brought a bit more traffic to this blog and I made a few new friends.

I thank God, I thank the All, the Source, the Universe, the Tao, whatever you want to call it...I thank It every day for this love that I am starting to feel, and this connection that I'm actually starting to really have with everyone, especially the readers of the tiny buddha site that have followed me here.

You've made connections with me and it just shows me that I'm being heard and that I'm making a difference. And you need to know, you are also making a difference. You made a difference in me, and therefore, I'm inspired to make more of myself and to let more of myself out and to hopefully touch more people. It's a beautiful chain reaction that only in my wildest dreams could I ever hope has a domino effect around the world.

I know it could take a lifetime, but it is happening, this wonderful change in the world. So many things have happened to become the catalyst for a change in the human race. Some people thought it was going to be something pertaining to December 21, 2012. Some people though it was back thirteen years ago at the start of the new millennium and that it's been gradually culminating since then. Who knows? But what I do know is that we certainly do seem to be in that New Era of Enlightenment.

The Spiritual movement has really blossomed with more people speaking out about their spiritual beliefs. There have been more books and information made available, as well as more people open to seeking it. There are also more barriers being dissolved between the separation of religion and spirituality, as well as between people themselves.

There's more of a connection; more wonderful things happening. Even though there are stories of tragedies being portrayed in the news, especially things that have happened just recently, there are still more wonderful stories of hope and love being shared equally as often. This is evident thanks to our increased use of social media these days.

There are two sides of the spectrum with our rapidly growing technology that we have. On one side you can see, not just teenagers and young adults, but 30 year old moms and 50 year old business men with their attention buried in their phones and devices. And it seems like they've got such a disconnect from everyone and everything around them, and most of them do, because they're addicted to their social media or jobs or what have you. It sort of puts me on the fence about whether the advancements in this technological age are a good thing or not, especially since I feel I'm guilty of this, too, just by simply participating in it.

I tend to try and see it as a wonderful thing because I'm able to connect with so many people. I'm able to link up to so many things, between Twitter and my blog(s), Facebook and now with being welcomed into the community of guest contributors at tinybuddha.com.

 I've met so many fantastic and wonderful people that have given me such loving comments on the three post that I have submitted there, two people in particular just after my latest post that I met who commented and then followed me on Twitter and shared with me how much my words touched them or how much they enjoyed the post. One of those people even graciously shared my blog on several of their Twitter accounts and on their Facebook group page.

I can't express my gratitude enough and it wouldn't have been possible at all without the use of social media, let alone the Internet, giving me the ability to connect with Lori Deshene at tiny buddha and submit posts to her. I see inspiration every day on her site. I also find inspiration on Facebook, believe it or not, and we share with hundreds of people everyday on Twitter that share their stories and wonderful insights to inspire and enlighten.

Because you get to choose who you follow on Twitter (and Facebook), you get to choose what type of "brand" you let in and listen to. A lot of the people that I follow are all positive thinkers and doers in some way, and while I realize many of them are trying to 'sell' their services, if that goes along with their business ventures, what better way to advertise, I guess, as long as you stay personal and real, striving for that connection with your fellow human being and not just shopping yourself around. I need that positivity in my life so that's what I follow, plus a few things that I'm just interested in. It is meant to be fun, after all!

I don't have a long friends list on Facebook, and I choose it to be that way. I realize a longer list can mean greater promotion, but I don't want to superficially friend someone to make my friends list longer just to 'preach'. I genuinely care about who I'm connecting with, and a shorter friends list makes for a shorter news feed enabling me to hopefully not miss as much as I would if it were running a continuous "ticker-tape" of peoples lives I hardly know. I'm certainly not criticizing, here. Nor do I want to sound insensitive or pompous. I'm merely illustrating the way I use social media that keeps me from becoming overwhelmed with it in this electronically saturated world.

Even though I don't have a huge FB friends list, there are constantly posts being shared of meaningful, positive, beautiful stories by the friends that I do have. I see a change in people I've know for years, just as they are seeing these changes in me. It's very exciting for me to be able to witness this transformation in humanity right in my own "back yard".

I would like to become more affluent on Twitter, I just never participated much there because I didn't feel comfortable just "plugging" my blogs all of the time. Being a bit of a newbie, that seemed to be all that I was doing when I would send tweets. I know that you should be sharing a bit of your personality and insight to your life there, so I try to do that. It is also a fantastic forum to use to get the word out on many important issues I'm passionate about. But, it just seems Twitter is a constant to have to keep up with and I never thought of myself as that type of "in your face" promoter. I guess there is a fine line between solicitation and self-promotion.

 I don't want people to get tired of me or think all I'm interested in is self-promotion. If or when I say something I want it to have inspiration and meaning, not be a random auto generated regurgitation without any real semblance of my true feelings. Again, I'm not criticizing. This is just how I feel about it.

I see the advancements in Twitter technology, and I may just not be there yet. I checked out SocialOomph and Tweet Deck and it seems doable for me in the near future...when I can prioritize a way to do it without seeming remote. I always want a personal touch to my connection with you. I'm uncomfortable with mass produced, automatic Tweets that I am not thinking about at the time. I want to post when I want to post and I post what I am truly passionate about. And for now, I'm good with that.

 Maybe I'll get the hang of utilizing these 'convienience' features soon. I suppose if I am setting tweets to generate for me they will be something I really want to say, so what's the difference whether I'm actually typing it then or I typed it a week ago? It's still my sentiment, right? Another thing I'm on the fence about, I guess. For now, I will do what makes me comfortable, and what keeps me connected to all of you. Human interaction is very important to me.

Maybe that's why I don't participate in Twitter as much because it just feels so manic to me at times. As if you have to keep up with it every second. I can see that from the Tweets I receive; it certainly seems to take a lot of time and work. I do realize that that's most likely why auto Tweets and Direct Messaging was invented; to do the work for you.  So, I have to find a balance. I have to find when convenience works for me and when it doesn't.

I just wish to see that with everyone else; to see them participate in it only when it's appropriate. But, I also don't want to see everyone disconnected from each other because they're more inclined to have their attentions in their devices than to have actual interaction with the human being that they're in the company of. It is discouraging when you see people on their phones in their car or at the table with a friend during dinner or drinks or walking in the mall, where they seem constantly "checked out". So, maybe that is the positive side of auto Tweets/Messaging. To afford you the time away from it that you need so that you have more actual face-time with people in your life.

I know it may seem that people would rather read about a positive story on Facebook or Twitter than to actually create that story themselves, and that it seems that we're getting to that point where we are too wrapped up and forgetting to put the devices down, but I think the novelty of our "magical toys" may be wearing off. I believe, we will start to realize that we need to utilize these as "tools" instead of "partners". Hopefully sooner, rather than later.

So to stay connected with each other, to share inspiration, this technology explosion is great. It's how I see the positive changes going on in the world. I get to see what people are thinking and feeling when I read the things that are being posted on Facebook or Twitter of amazing stories of love and gratitude. And, fortunately, I've been seeing a lot of that.

I guess, all in all it really is about balance. Being mindful and giving our full attention to others as well as ourselves helps us to stay present in all that we do. And making sure that what you are doing is goal oriented in a positive way and aligned with your true, authentic, Highest self is key to a happy life. If you are striving to be in alignment with that, you can't go wrong.

Here's a beautiful quote by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh:

"The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers."  

Thanks for reading today,

And as always, I wish you all the wonderfulness you deserve,

Nanette