The Positive Power of Technology and Social Media

I was only going to write once today but my mind is swirling and so much is happening. I have a third interview now set up for tomorrow morning and I am excited and nervous. I have all these thoughts and all the feels, and I am trying to sort through them all and handle them in just the right way, if that is even possible. I stopped for a bit and listened to a favorite Podcast for a little perspective.

Listening to this Podcast really got me to thinking. So many times, I hear conversations from family, friends or the media regarding the negative impact of social media and technology on our children and even ourselves. There are definitely some things I agree on and can even see in my own children’s lives. I think the core issue comes down to the amount of time spent and the content that is being searched out and used. What I want to talk about; however, is the positive effects. I see that also in my children’s lives and the value of them having access to the internet and social media. One great example is Snapchat. I have four daughters and two sons. One of my daughter’s lives in Maine, another three hours south of me and another an hour south of me. My daughters created a group snap with not only the four of them, but they included me. I cannot tell you the joy it brings me to see the photos shared or read the conversations. This social media app keeps four sisters connected despite the distance between them!

The positive impact on me; however, has been mind blowing and lifesaving. While reading a Brene Brown book some months ago, I somehow became aware of another author, Glennon Doyle. I googled her of course and read about her. I thought to myself, “I need to know more of her!” I ordered three of her books and got to reading. I also began to follow her on all her social media platforms and then became an avid listener to her amazing podcast, We Can do Hard Things. It did not take long for me to realize she was my spirit person. I made a comparable checklist. Started with an eating disorder as a child, check. Went into full blown addiction, check. Met and married a man and started a family, check. Got sober, check. Fell in love with a woman and left marriage, check. Married said woman……………………………… well, I almost paralleled her! There was so much more to my connecting to her though. I began to order books by other amazing authors she spoke about or spoke with on her podcast and began to learn so much more about society and about myself. I also remembered a long-time dream that I had buried. My dream to write.

I was on fire for about two weeks about writing and then one day, BAM! Those old tapes were being played and those voices of doubt began to get louder. “What makes you think you could actually write something someone would want to read!” ” Do you really think something could ever become of your writing?” ” You are not educated enough!” I had to dig deep to combat those voices, that’s for sure. I remembered when I first went into college (well into adulthood) and my English professor asked if I was a writing/English major and I said no. He said my writing was really could and I should consider it. I remember thinking there’s no way. I was a nursing major and had been conditioned to think that there was no money in writing, and it would be a waste of time. I also had to tell myself that if I was searching for connection through someone else’s words, then surely others were as well. In the end, I ultimately decided that I didn’t care because I was doing it for me.

All the reading, all the podcasts and all the writing I have been doing are all contributing factors to the peace I feel, to the courage I found to make a career change and to compassion and understanding I am building towards others. My social media actually grounds me and gives me perspective because when I feel lost, scared, angry or lonely, I know that I can hop on one of my social media platforms and connect with another human being who has shared fears or shared struggles and that gives me so much comfort and hope. I think if we as parents help are children to realize the benefits and guide them on how to use social media to enhance their lives as opposed to using is in the wrong way like comparing themselves to others. Social media; like anything else with our children, needs our guidance. If we are aware, invested, involved with all our kids are doing, I believe we can guide them towards the positive. I see that to be true with my own children every day, especially when it helps keep them connected to each other.

I’m writing this blog because it fills my heart, it helps me heal, helps me sort through everything and is a base for the book I so desperately want to write. If no one ever reads it, that’s okay and if one person benefits, that’s even better!!!