Twitter is amazing. It is a global conversation and place where most of my friends spend their time. It is a place where I can go when I need to reach out to a friend or ask for help. I have circles of friends who could not be more different, all on the same platform.
The only problem I see with Twitter is just how easy it is to be negative. I do it all the time. It is always easier to complain about something than look at the bright side. Negativity then breeds. Once you let the thoughts in, they are hard to stop.
The other day I was having one of the worst days I’ve had in a long time. I turned on some Louis Armstrong and started cooking (two things that always help me center). Not long after that I began to see the morning in a very different light. I was standing in the mountains of colorado. The sun was shining. I was surrounded by friends. The list of good was easy to see once I started looking.
Yesterday my daughter called me in the middle of the day that had gone south emotionally: “Daddy, I just HAD to call you and tell you that I had the bestest day ever!” She was calling because she was made stamp captain. A kindergartner’s day was made because she is the one who gets to stamp the hand of a kid that the teacher wants to recognize that day for good behavior. Something so simple. A choice to be happy.
Join me in my latest crusade. Let’s remind each other of the good things in our lives. Each day has SOMETHING to offer us, we just have to actively look for it. Each day on twitter, post the #highlightofmyday. No this is not a new tag or meme, I’m just wanting us each to spread it.
You can follow mine, I’m @objo on twitter. If I don’t post one, call me on it. And I’ll do the same if you want.
So, so well-said. I’ve been struggling with this same thing for a while. I love Twitter, but I’m amazed at the negativity of people using it. There are people I know who are bright, engaging people in person, but seem miserable and cynical on Twitter.
Perhaps it’s trying to squeeze things down to 140 characters. It’s easy to make pithy jabs than really convey why we’re happy about something.
And it may be that when we’re really enjoying what we’re doing, we’re less inclined to stop it and tweet about it. Regardless, thanks for the reminder.
I’m in! I may need a little reminding, but I’ve been _way_ too negative lately