Did you know the entire world is going to hell in a hand-basket? Yeah, all because we have laptops, tablets, and smart phones. All because we use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (You should totally follow me on those accounts, BTW).
Or at least that’s what the constant fussing and hand-wringing would have you believe. Just take a few photos of people on their phones, strip them entirely of context, and tell the world how we’ve all disconnected from each other.
I love technology. I love social media. And not because I connect my Instagram likes to my self-worth. (Although if you haven’t already, you should read about Essena O’Neill, the Instagram star who quit).
I’ve lived in quite a few places. My friends and family are scattered across the globe. Back in May, I reunited with my three best friends from France: an Australian, a Canadian, and a fellow American. Technology and social media allow me to stay in touch with all these people.
Technology and social media also help me meet new people. Dan and I met on OKCupid, an online dating website. I found my job in Columbus through Craig’s List. I’ve turned my blogging friends into real friends, some of whom I’ve even met in person.
This week, I’m thankful for technology and social media!
I’m in Ohio right now, spending time with my friends and in-laws. I miss Dan, but I’m enjoying quality time with everyone here.
This week, I want to focus my gratitude on:
Smelling hot spiced apple cider. Last week at the grocery store, I saw apple cider and wanted to buy some, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to drink it all before I left for Ohio. I reluctantly didn’t buy any, but Dan reassured me that his parents would have so. Whaddya know, they do! So I’ve had hot apple cider with my in-laws twice already this week.
Loving Ohio! I told my best friend Libbi that I can appreciate Ohio so much more now that I’m not living here. That sounds awful, I know. But it was really hard being away from my parents for so long and only seeing them once or twice a year. Then add three harsh winters to the mix, and my time in Ohio was good, but hard. Being back in the South is good for me, even if now I miss everyone in Ohio!
Wanting to listen to Christmas music. I have always had such a strong stance on not listening to Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving. But I’ve just been feeling so festive lately!
Missing my sweet husband. I am so grateful to be in Ohio right now. I am so grateful to have the flexibility in my schedule to write from anywhere and help clients from anywhere. But since Dan works in a more traditional job, he doesn’t have the same freedom that I do. I’m having a wonderful time in Ohio, but I still wish Dan were with me!
What are you thankful for this week? I’m also linking up for A Grateful Heart with Ember Grey!
I’m incredibly grateful for social media. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain some of my friendships back home so readily, I wouldn’t be able to speak to my family, and I wouldn’t have met some of the incredible women that I have! (Aka online friends)
I also have some very complicated feelings about Essena… x
Not just social media, but our blogs! That’s how we met, at some point, several years ago now. 😀
Very true 🙂
I completely agree! (I mean, obviously, right? It’s hard to be a blogger and hate technology). Anyway, I do think it can be used for bad and it can have negative influences on people if they’re too attached or put too much stock in likes and comments. But it can be used for good too. And I think the good outweighs the bad. And how you use technology is a reflection of the person using it, not the technology itself.
P.S. We should totally meet up while you’re here in Ohio! If not, I’ll be in Buford a lot in December. I’d love to finally meet you in person!
Exactly! Technology is a tool. It’s up to us how we use it.
I want to meet you too!!!! This trip has already been jam-packed between the wedding and Thanksgiving. I actually originally planned to see if you and another blogger I know in Bowling Green were available during my trip… until I saw my schedule and realized I hadn’t planned enough time with my in-laws!
When will you be in Buford? It’s not that far from Duluth! I’ll actually be in SC a lot next month, but if I’m in GA while you are, I would totally come out to Buford to meet you!
Obviously as a blogger, I totally agree but technology has also allowed me to live hours away from friends and family and I still feel like I’m involved in their lives.
Exactly! I love being able to keep up with people long-distance.
Awwww, I can totally understand missing Ohio (well, the Midwest)! I always miss Indiana something crazy when I’m out of state. Moving to Texas in January, so I’m sure suddenly Indiana will seem super-special!
You’ll probably love Texas in January, but I can’t make any promises on the summer. I really missed Ohio during my Georgia summer earlier this year! Although I grew up in South Carolina, so I tolerate southern summers more than I do midwestern winters.
Technology and social media are wonderful, and definitely good things to be thankful about. You can connect with people so easily these days and it makes the distance not so far after all.
Obviously I agree. 🙂 I’m excited to see which technological advances come next! I’m not opposed to anything that might make travel easier…
I like that you focused on technology. It is a double-edged sword since it can get a bad rap because it can be used for wrong or can be a time-waster. BUT it can also be such a blessing because it allows us to communicate in ways we otherwise could not. My grandma was amazed that I could stay in touch with my long-distance boyfriend (now my husband) through FaceTime. She kept calling it a miracle. I would laugh, but then it would hit me… It IS a miracle! 50 years ago, long-distance relationships did not have that luxury, so I am indeed grateful for it!
My husband and I were long-distance during the first year or so of our relationship. In fact, until I moved in with him a month before our wedding, we lived about two hours apart for the rest of our dating/engagement. I called that a medium-distance relationship. Skyping every night before bed allowed us to become close. In fact, even though we had a few dates in person when we first met, we fell in love over skype. <3