not brilliant, not clueless, but juuust right

not brilliant, not clueless, but juuust right

I know all of you out there who thought I was nuts not to use social media outlets are exclaiming I told you so! You’re right. There were a lot of reasons I was anti-Facebook, Twitter, etc. before (don’t get me wrong, I still think they are slightly annoying, invasive and take more effort than i’d like to maintain) but they are pretty incredible tools, and I’m loving them right now. I’ve connected with hundreds of people in the past few weeks. I’ve gotten encouraging messages from old soccer teammates who I haven’t seen in 16 years, who instantly “get” why I’m doing this trip, I’ve heard from elementary school friends’ moms, and found other people I’ve met in my travels who have profiles and they’re in their 70’s. It’s great.

I’ve been teased many times in the past and am sure will be in the future about being so behind the times. I figure if I am like the bazillionth person to buy or use all the new shiny, fancy tools and items, by the time I start, either everyone I know will be such pros they will be able to teach me about them in 2 minutes, or instead of spending top dollar the second these items come out, by the time I get around to purchasing one they’ll only be 2 bucks.

I can’t lie, it’s actually fun to live a bit behind and old fashioned. I’m strategically making a life out of taking advantage of modern technology to advance, but using old-school practices on a daily basis too. I feel this way, I’ll be able to continue to connect with all varieties of people. I’ll reach the goals I have, advance in the areas I want to, while appreciating the little things and not ever forget where I came from. I’ll take the “Duh Diane! That has been around for years! Where have you been?!” any day, because I can always tease right back with a “Yeah, well I bet you don’t know the land area or capital of Alabama punk! I do because I still use paper maps!” (Laughing. These conversations really happen.)

Adding Facebook and others to my life, I’ll use them along with still sending snail mail, I’ll keep eating food from country bumpkin diners right along with eats in 5 star restaurants, and I’ll always be able to do a keg stand, but love sipping a cosmo too.

The Birkenstocks will sit indefinitely right next to the Kenneth Cole’s.