Thinking Out Loud
"Like"

February 22, 2014
By: Diane Szczepanski

"Understand your audience and you will understand the impact of your message on each follower in your social media networks."
Matt Gentile

The power of social media is far reaching.

It connects us to people we would might not have met otherwise. It provides information, makes us laugh, riles our senses and helps us to understand others.

It also sends us flowers.

This past Valentine's Day I made what I thought was a simple post to Facebook, something to the effect of, "I'm a little blue today being single, because I have always enjoyed receiving flowers, but I have much love in my life and for that I am grateful".

Sometime mid-afternoon, to my delight and surprise, I received a delivery at my office, in the form of a magnificent pink explosion of flowers..."From Facebook Friends"...was all the card read. Needless to say, I was completely touched by this anonymous act of kindness.

I still don't know the warm-hearted soul that made my day and I admit it is actually nice thinking it could be any one of the many friends I connect with. I do however, thank them immensely for using to the power of social media to the generous extreme.

We have been afforded the ability to help or harm in this world of technology. The use of all of the social networks available at our fingertips can be one of positive affirmation or negative hate.

It is an awesome responsibility to bear and this past week reminds me we must be always take into consideration how our words affect others. Choosing to be uplifting and compassionate in our communication is a conscious decision and one not to be taken lightly.

It is a beautiful thing when we can use it to share love, as my secret Facebook friends did and I intend to pay it forward at my very next opportunity.

Kind words. Generous actions. Good deeds. That is what I would like to think social media is all about.

Nothing more, nothing less.