Tag: Facebook

Once Upon A Time

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Typically, you’d find my Flighty Friday rambles here, as today is Friday. Alas, as the writer, I am taking liberties to change up the post for today.

.:: Once Upon A Time
I did it. I went through my entire list of 177 Facebook (FB) friends. I took a moment to write a nice salutation to each and every one of my friends. The entire project took 14 days, and I enjoyed all 14 days.

Oftentimes we are told: Look forward not backward; Live in the present; Don’t get bogged down with yesterday; Focus on today; etc. It’s true, you can do more with the present than you can with the past. And, rehashing bad experiences of the past does little to no good. However, sometimes it is nice to reflect back to the past. Good memories should be relived; so says me, anyway.

As I posted comments to each FB friend, I was able to relive countless memories. And, I am amazed at how much those memories mean to me. I haven’t seen or talked to many of my FB friends in years – over 30yrs for some, in fact. Yet, when I recall a memory, I can still see and hear their smiles and laughter. I can still recall the stories they shared with me, as well as the advice they gave me. And, when I remember moments from my school years, it’s as if I am walking the halls all over again.

The moments with many of my FB friends are merely blips in time, but even a blip can last forever as a memory. As I went through each and ever person on my FB friend list, it was another example of how easy it is to touch the life of someone else for better or for worse.

I have a temper. And, there is an email that went around for years regarding a boy with a temper who was instructed by his Dad to hammer nails into a fence whenever he was mad. Well, after a few days of being mad and hammering the nails, his Dad told his son to pull out the nails. When the nails were removed, the fence was full of holes. The point of the story is to show how anger can damage things, even when one apologizes. Holes remain.

Now, I am not trying to convey that some of my FB friends left me with holes. And certainly, I hope I haven’t left any holes in my FB friends (or anyone else). However, it brings home the point (nails the point, perhaps?) that even ‘blips’ in life can leave a mark. And, it serves as another reminder to me that I need to – while living in the moment – realize someone may look back and recall something I said or did. My hope is their recollection will be a good thing. I need to work on that.

I realized something else, as I went through each and every FB friend. I realized I had a crush on many boys in school. Yes, odds are that any of my male FB friends from school were a crush of mine. Are you one of my FB male friends from school? Did you talk to me in school? Did you look at me in school? Did you accidentally bump into me while walking down the halls or in class? Did I accidentally bump ito your while walking down the halls or in class? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then I am here to tell you – I probably had a crush on you. Don’t worry. I am happily married, and my ‘driving by your house’ days have long gone by. And no – I didn’t drive by your house. You lived too far away. In our next life, would you please live closer? Thanks.

So, once upon a time, for a moment, I had a friend in my life. My friend left behind his/her personal imprint on my life. And, I have thought about that imprint a time or two, remembering the good times. I may never see my friend again, but I will reflect back on his/her imprint, happily ever after.

I thought we were close

~ Lenore Diane ~ 2 Comments

I’m trying to put it to the side. Honest. And by ‘it’, I mean Facebook chatter. I mean, seriously, how many of you are growing increasingly tired of reading about Facebook woes? Put your hands down, please. It was a rhetorical question.

A friend of mine sent me a YouTube video from Prairie Home Companion. I really enjoy Prairie Home Companion, and I find Garrison Keillor funny and entertaining. The video (really just audio) was from a Prairie Home Companion episode in early October. And Garrison’s song? “Unfriended”.

As one might assume from the title of the song, “Unfriended” is about being unfriended on Facebook. His lyrics are quite comical. And I feel confident enough to safely assume many people have literally felt what he describes. The line I liked best was “You posted a comment, I thought we were close.”

I find it funny that Garrison, a 68yr old man (I checked Wikipedia, so it must be true) is writing and singing about Facebook. And, I love the fact that the folks in the audience laugh at his lyrics. It is comical. Quite comical. Yet, a part of me is curious about the people in the audience. How many of those folks are active Facebook users? How many of those folks have gotten excited when they received a comment from some obscure ‘friend’? How many of those folks were disheartened when they noticed a ‘friend’ was suddenly gone?

As silly as Facebook is – we still manage to get sucked into it. Oh, I know, you are the exception. You just access it every now and again, you don’t really pay attention to all the status updates, etc. Yes, I know. Clearly, I’m not speaking to you. But for the others, including myself, we’re sucked into it.

I have two friends – real life friends that I can see, feel and converse with using my real vocal chords – and they have yet to step into the world of Facebook. Good for them. To reach out to these two gals, I actually have to pick up a phone, get in a car or send them a note. Get this. These gals aren’t even on Twitter! I know. Shocking, eh? The humanity.

In truth, I know just as many folks who don’t use Facebook and Twitter as I know that use Facebook and Twitter. There are several people out there who are still Facebook free. And sometimes – sometimes I wish I was free from Facebook. Then again, my boys are really cute and well – I think everyone wants to see just how cute they are – right? Am I right?! Plus, Stacey commented on my last status update. I think she and I are close, and I’m sure we’ll meet face to face soon.

It Starts with Me – It Starts with You

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Someone asked me the question, “Where did you get this idea from?” The response was simple, “Me.”

However, it is rare I provide one word responses, so I went on to say, “I am literally sick of all the negative crap. Rather than complain, I’ll do something. I’m on a mission. And, I am just barely 1/2 way through.”

What’s my mission? I am posting a positive thought or a kind remark to each and every one of my Facebook friends, via my status. I average three people per status update. I have over 170 friends, and I started this project 5 days ago. I still have about half of my Facebook friends left to mention. And, you know what? I am getting some nice feedback.

Please understand, I did not start this project to get positive feedback. I started this project, because I want to make a conscious effort to make a change, even if it is a small change. I wanted to try to make folks smile on a daily basis. Perhaps, if I send them a smile, their day will go a little better. Better yet, perhaps they will pass their smile along to someone else. At the risk of sounding corny (too late?), perhaps the receivers of my positive posts will ‘pay it forward’. (Though, if you’ve seen the movie Pay It Forward, please avoid scuffles on school grounds. Really. What a horrible ending for an otherwise uplifting movie. I digress…)

Oh, you know what else? I am having a great deal of fun posting positive things; I am. And, I am having a bit of a challenge. I don’t truly know all of my Facebook friends. I accepted their friend request and/or sent out a friend request for various reasons, including the fact that s/he were friends of friends. So, though I may not share a personal note with my FB acquaintances, saying a kind word about anyone and everyone is really not a hard task. Plus, you never know what kind of day a person is having. Your kind words could potentially uplift an otherwise sad spirit.

Sometimes, like on days when you pick up your child from school and the teacher tells you that your child did not have a good day, and he unscrewed the spicket on the faucet creating a watery mess, and he said ‘Never’ every time he was asked to do something … yeah, sometimes on days like today – er those days – a random kind word is appreciated.

George MacDonald, an author, poet and minister, said “Instead of a gem, or even a flower, cast the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend.” I suggest you take it one step further, and cast a gift of kind thoughts to a non-friend, a stranger, etc. Going back to my post yesterday, Just Another Opinion, as negativity and browbeating are seeds that grow into ugly trees, creating an ugly forest, positive thoughts and kindness are seeds that grow into beautiful trees, creating a beautiful forest. So, will you join me? Help me plant a beautiful forest.