Social Media and Creativity

[A real happening]

Over the last 17 days, I've finally joined the masses in embracing social media.

I've had Facebook and LinkedIn accounts for years but be a more sideline user than an active participate.

Now I'm trying to post daily and it is not a natural thing for me. Instead I have a love/hate relationship with social media.

It is amazing that I can in an instant check in on a friend on the other side of the world. I can seek out buddies and acquitances that I haven't talked to in years. I can know personal secrets and frivolous facts of those who care to post. And yet I can do all this as a silent lurker.

Yet once I post I join the group of posters.

I can send condolences to friends who have lost a loved one, pass on telephone numbers yet never call the friend, can chat with others about good times in sixteen words or less, and I can talk with childhood friends as if no time has passed.

Such a different world.One that I'm still struggling to embrace. I'm a private person by nature, posting "me" to the world is beyond my comfort level, especially since I prefer personal, one-on-one connections.

Yet I'm trying to change in a positive way. In fact I need to change. It's required of me to evolve with society in this social media changing world. 

Then I look at what social media has done for creativity and it is incredible. This week I set up an account with wattpad, where complete strangers can start following my writing posts. Anyone can create and then share. No middleman is required. What a powerful gift to create, to share, to receive, and enjoy. Artist directly to recipient. All thanks to the power of social media.

What a world we live in.