I have been busier than expected
this summer and haven’t made much time for my blog or Twitter. For the most part, this has disappointed me.
I have always enjoyed the moments reflecting on my blog, and have loved the
resources I’ve gained through Twitter. However, about a month ago I started
feeling bitter about Twitter. It began when I sent a string of tweets on consecutive
days to which no one responded. I started wondering if my voice was impacting
anyone, or at the least, if anyone noticed my thoughts. I started playing the self-pity game: “on
Twitter, some people are only looking for self-promotion”; “my name isn’t
popular enough to make my tweets valuable”. I became slightly cynical, which is
a personality trait that I despise. But then I thought of one of my favorite
quotes, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” by Mahatma Gandhi. The
change I want to see on Twitter is for each member to feel they have something
worthwhile to contribute. At this point,
I started shifting my thoughts towards my own personal practices. This is when
I realized that I wasn't putting forth a conscience effort to interact with other
people. I had become a hypocrite. The
person I was truly upset with was myself. Then I started to realize that I
haven’t been the best in my own life at taking interest in other people’s words.
I knew I could improve so I made a few propositions
for myself.
In my own life:
·
I need to listen more intently to people when
they are speaking so they feel their words are worth sharing.
·
I need to ask more questions to show my interest
to whomever is speaking.
·
I need to become more open about my own
experiences so I don’t appear closed off and disinterested (sometimes I have
something to add to a conversation but stay quiet instead).
On Twitter:
·
I need to comment on other people’s posts. I will
strive to comment on at least three other posts for every post that I send.
This will ensure that I am making an effort to be engaged with the community.
·
I need to retweet posts that I find interesting,
educational, or funny to show people their thoughts were enjoyed by me.
·
I need to become more interactive with people to
develop better relationships.
Before I can
consider being bitter about other people, I need to look at myself. I know I
can change for the better and want to do my part to make anyone I interact with
feel important.
Don't feel disappointed in yourself. I feel somewhat opposite about my summer - spent a lot of time connecting online and have one week left to finish my to-do list! I totally understand what you mean about wondering if your tweets were missed. I think it depends on # of people that follow you that are online regularly. I find that putting a # with your tweet helps, as well as joining conversations, replying and retweeting. I have enjoyed reading blogs this summer and almost always respond if it connects with me in any way.
ReplyDeleteJen, I appreciate your comments! You are a person I continue to interact with and someone I am happy to consider a teaching partner.
DeleteDerek- Love the honesty you shared here. I sometimes feel the EXACT same way. Tweets and blogging make your thinking visible. At times people notice your thinking and other times they fly by. As long as you are putting the ideas out there is what matters. Reflecting on your practice so others can see. Don't worry if they notice because they will if you continue sharing great reflections like this one.
ReplyDeleteTodd
It's moments like this that make it all worth while. Since my post I have had some awesome conversations with a few different peers. These are the times that I feel driven to share! Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog Todd!
DeleteDerek,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your authenticity. It is easy to only put our best foot forward in the social media, but you were raw and honest. I can only admire and respect that. I can honestly say that when comments stir me (from you or others), I try to respond. As for my own writing, I find it helpful to only concern myself with what I can control - which is getting my voice out there - sharing it with the world and hoping it blesses others. I cannot control whether or not others listen or respond. While I enjoy knowing if my words resonate with others, I cannot control that part, so it only hurts me to fret about it.
You have a truly unique and wonderful perspective to share. Shout your message to the world. I'm, listening, as I'm sure many others are. And while we will be made better by your words, the main point is, that you are made better by bringing them forth and sharing them.
Thanks for your authentic post. It was a pleasure to read, and I look forward to continuing to learn with you and from you.
You're the man Greg! I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I completely agree about our inability to control others. This is a piece of advice I often share with my students. It is also a piece of advice I need to hold on to more tightly for situations similar to the ones I discussed in my blog. By the way, my training calls for 15 miles next Sunday. That will be the most I have ever ran at one time... I'm feeling slightly nervous!
DeleteWalt Whitman writes of the "noiseless, patient spider" sending out web after web, waiting for one to stick, to make that connection. I feel much the same way about my voice and written words, even after several publications. Partly for me this is psychological, but there is truth to it as well, as you eloquently put. For me, family is a great source of comfort, a place where my voice is heard. Faith, too. But, like you, I've made a conscious effort to see that others' voices are heard and acknowledged. So take heart, someone in Grand Rapids, Michigan heard your words at a moment his own life he needed to hear them.
ReplyDeleteGregswritemind.wordpress.com
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts Greg. I love the Walt Whitman comparison. It's definitely an encouraging quote that I should consider more often.
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