Initially, I'd planned to post something else today, but a series of things let me astray.
Last night I had dinner with a lovely couple. I met the wife through social media and you met her on the blog last year.
We finally met for the first time in real life last night. I drove home feeling ecstatic that I had new real life friends in Montana who are awesome people.
Today, I'm speaking with two co-workers to a college class about women in leadership. When my co-workers asked me to join them, one said I should talk about how I got my job.
Fun fact, getting the job started with following said co-worker on Twitter and then emailing her to see if she'd be interested in a coffee date while I was in town. This was about a month before I quit my D.C. job and decided to move to Montana. We had coffee one November morning. That afternoon, she sent me an email saying they'd just posted for a reporter job and I should apply. So I did. (This whole crazy story will be a post of it's own sometime soon)
There are plenty of ways social media is ruining us. We spend our time chained to our devices, or caught up in the lives of people we don't even know, or suffering through comparing ourselves to others.
But I've met many wonderful people through social media who have become good friends in real life. There are some I haven't met in real life, but have brought perspective and meaningful conversation to my online life. And you guys, I didn't look at my phone in the whole two hours that I chatted away with Jessica and her husband over Mexican food and margaritas the size of your head. Not once.
Last night I had dinner with a lovely couple. I met the wife through social media and you met her on the blog last year.
We finally met for the first time in real life last night. I drove home feeling ecstatic that I had new real life friends in Montana who are awesome people.
Today, I'm speaking with two co-workers to a college class about women in leadership. When my co-workers asked me to join them, one said I should talk about how I got my job.
Fun fact, getting the job started with following said co-worker on Twitter and then emailing her to see if she'd be interested in a coffee date while I was in town. This was about a month before I quit my D.C. job and decided to move to Montana. We had coffee one November morning. That afternoon, she sent me an email saying they'd just posted for a reporter job and I should apply. So I did. (This whole crazy story will be a post of it's own sometime soon)
There are plenty of ways social media is ruining us. We spend our time chained to our devices, or caught up in the lives of people we don't even know, or suffering through comparing ourselves to others.
But I've met many wonderful people through social media who have become good friends in real life. There are some I haven't met in real life, but have brought perspective and meaningful conversation to my online life. And you guys, I didn't look at my phone in the whole two hours that I chatted away with Jessica and her husband over Mexican food and margaritas the size of your head. Not once.
Some of my best journalism mentors turned friends started through Twitter interactions. And I've found friends from a study abroad semester, years later, on Twitter.
Later this month, I'll be running the Shamrock Shuffle 8K with Alicia and Eileen. It will be the first time we meet in real life and I'm looking forward to the run, the fun and friendship.
Perhaps social media is ruining us and causing us to think in 140 characters or Instagram photos, but I think it's still capable of connecting us in ways we couldn't before.
Later this month, I'll be running the Shamrock Shuffle 8K with Alicia and Eileen. It will be the first time we meet in real life and I'm looking forward to the run, the fun and friendship.
Perhaps social media is ruining us and causing us to think in 140 characters or Instagram photos, but I think it's still capable of connecting us in ways we couldn't before.
So, if you're ever in Montana, or I'm in your town, don't be surprised if you get a note from me saying someth
And now, for Five Things.
1. Catching up on a million and one things.
2. Cleaning and getting the house together for our first out of town visitor.
3. Connecting people and organizations through work and the rink event I'm frantically pulling together.
4. Cooking breakfast for the first time in ages. M is usually the one to do the cooking, but honestly, I've missed it a bit.
5. Sunny skies, warmer temps and a break from winter. Though it will likely be short lived.
Have you met any online friends in real life?
And now, for Five Things.
1. Catching up on a million and one things.
2. Cleaning and getting the house together for our first out of town visitor.
3. Connecting people and organizations through work and the rink event I'm frantically pulling together.
4. Cooking breakfast for the first time in ages. M is usually the one to do the cooking, but honestly, I've missed it a bit.
5. Sunny skies, warmer temps and a break from winter. Though it will likely be short lived.
Have you met any online friends in real life?
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