31 Silver Linings – A Writing Challenge {Day 14}

More years ago than I care to count, my youth group turned me on to a new social media platform called Facebook.  Sure, I’d been familiar with Myspace and had secretly stalked people on Xanga, but I hadn’t heard of Facebook.  All the cool kids were doing it and I thought it would be a great way to (1) keep in touch with them outside of youth group and (2) share my photos from youth group events.  I could not have imagined what an integral part of my life it would eventually become.

Sure, I get irritated by folks’ drama now and again – especially during election season or when there are hot button issues in the news.  But I’ve learned how to pretty successfully manage that for myself and the good has far outweighed the bad:

I was able to reconnect with friends from childhood, high school, and college with the click of a button.  I am certain that without Facebook, there are some people I would not have reconnected with and always wondered about.  And I’ve been so blessed to have some old connections become truly wonderful, close friends.

I’ve been able to stay in touch with some of the people I left a piece of my heart with in Romania.  I’ve ventured to mail cards and letters on occasion but my luck with that hasn’t been the best.  Even though we are in different time zones, being about to send a quick note or post has been fantastic.

I’ve been able to better manage the bad news infusion that is the nightly news, CNN homepage, etc.  I have local and national news sources in my newsfeed, as well as less mainstream outlets.  I can pick and choose what I read and when and that has immensely cut down on that oppressive feeling that the world must surely be coming to an end.  (Side note:  this is also how I primarily use my Twitter account.  It is the best source for real-time news around.)

It has been a Godsend to me in these past two years.  I connect every day with my dearest friends and family. I “talk” to some of my closest much more now than before I moved;  Facebook makes it so convenient to keep up.  We are able to share our day-to-day lives, rant in the tough times, celebrate in the good, and reflect and comment on the same articles, blogs, and devotionals from afar. I can message my friend with three boys and know that she will see it and respond when she gets a moment – even if it is at midnight or 5 AM.  It’s been a touchstone for me, a way to check in and let far away folks know I’m ok and to find the same about them. On the flip side, it’s also been a good way to get to know some of my new friends here a bit better – by what they share, what photos they post, where they check in – all points of connection, often worthy of a comment online or in real life.

And anything that brings that much good to my life, that much connection, can’t be half bad.