Social Misfit

Why am I such a misfit, I am not just a nitwit...

Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
~ Mother Teresa ~

I walk into Church on Sunday morning, hand outstretched to greet someone, I smile and say hello to the regular Sunday morning attendees, and I have a big smile for the ones I might not recognize and see them as new potential attendees. I go on to praise God, like it says in the bible, and to lift my voice in Glory to Him.

I might walk into a store and have the greeter greet me, but I return a big smile and an ample “Good Morning” too. I might attend a dinner with family members and I always have a smile and a chuckle for anyone who might be in need.  I think this is what is called socializing, in the real world, that is.

In the cyber-world, socializing is made up of  liking all sorts of things, doing things you might not normally do, and pleasing everyone you possibly can. I watch as Social Kings and Queens, meander through the walls and halls like ghosts, linger and haunting, liking and chatting, communing and accepting many things that in the real world, they might be totally hardened to act upon. To me, they seem like stalkers hunting their next prey. Eagerly over compensating, they try too hard to be something in the virtual social world when really, they are painstakingly lonely and crying out for help or some form of attention and this is their only means of communicating with people and touching in part, a part of themselves they need to reach.

Now some, socialize with finesse. I’ve witnessed them post, say thank you and go on their way. Very sparing with their bubbles, I have the utmost respect for the Classy Socializers, but the stalkers, just as in real life, are annoying to the brink of insanity and I’m wondering where I fit into this crazy scheme of things. I know where I belong, in the palm of my Lord’s hands embracing the reality of His world!

As I write this I realize some people will spit on my thoughts, fear of the truth, possibly become aware of their own behavior, and might decide to work on their addiction. I DO NOT apologize for my writings, my beliefs, I make no apologies for my faith; I AM who I am because HE made me who I am. No apologies necessary. God makes no mistakes. We need to realize that when we hit the TURN OFF button to the computer, we are then allowing ourselves entry into HIS world. Leave the virtual world behind, it is not the be all and end all of living! You DO turn your computer OFF, don’t you?

Sometimes I might feel worthless and alone, but an addiction is no way to fix what I broke, it only feeds the addiction more. I know I am loved, and who I am, makes me SPECIAL. It’s not about how many friends are on my list, not about how many likes I click that makes me who I am, it is about the light that shines from me, and everyone wanting a small tiny portion of that, and to them I offer... my outstretched hand, as I always do.

I do apologize to you, if you feel targeted by this post. I have no target in mind, this is just me sorting through the things that tried to swallow me whole in 2011. I watch as other people get swallowed up and I can only hope they recognize it also OR maybe they are happy and virtual socializing is what WORKS for them. Me, I’m happy being a Social Misfit.

Matt. 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Goals for the New Year

"So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible."
Marian Wright Edelman

As the new year begins, this is the perfect time for setting your goals; whether it is for the week, the month or the coming year! As writers, we need to have goals in order to accomplish them. A lot of writers make plans by spelling out their goals; they make a list, either on white board or in a document, so they can visually SEE the goals and once they’re achieved it gets marked off.

Say for example:
January’s Goals
write story
revise story
edit story
find market
query
send

Or maybe the goals are simpler in that it’s a time line for your novel. You’ll need to follow each character created so the consistency remains solid throughout the novel. Or maybe executing goals was your problem in 2011? Whatever it was for you, goals were made to be broken. It seems like thousands, no, millions of people make resolutions when the year ends and the very next day, they break them like an egg into a frying pan. There goes your goals, all fried to bits.

You need to set realistic goals, ones that are possible to accomplish and carry out. How many people say, “I’m going to start going to Church! Every week in the new year!” or “I’m going to quit smoking!” or my favorite resolution across the country, is, “I’m going to lose weight.”

You’re setting yourself up to fail. I’m setting myself goals that I aspire to keep. But when you’re addicted to things it is not easy to just say, goodbye addiction. Some people are in the throes of social addiction. They NEED the sites, so they feel a part of something solid and whole, even though it is a virtual, temporary, blissful world. Maybe it is what completes them as a human being, maybe it fulfills the empty aches in their heart? I don’t know, but I realized that while the internet is a voice-box to the world, I also realize it can suck the oxygen right out of your lungs! Some know where to draw the line, some can’t draw the line, and some have no desire to draw the line. I’ve decided to draw the line and work on my writing, not the social ins, outs, gizmos, apps and gadgets. A danger to computers and lives, everywhere!

Networking is an entirely different use of the net, that as a writer, is necessary. But is it all about pics and ‘like’ing? Networking is connecting, it is not a social popularity contest. Suffering from low self esteem is an entirely different blog!

As we enter into a new year, goals are all a part of feeling as if you have something to reach for in the year, and maybe accomplish them too. And when next year ends you can look back and say, “I set goals, AND I followed through!”

My goals for the new year:

1. Use facebook to network with other writing sites/writers.
2. Focus on MY writing!!!
3. Focus on my health and not being a Socialite
4. Remain focused on my Lord and Savior.
5. Be strong, endure the pain, chin up and move on!

Basically I’ve set pretty achievable goals for myself, so I don’t set myself up for failure. The tie that binds my goals? FOCUS!!!

authors note: Please keep in mind the views on this blog are entirely mine and not targeted at anyone. I’m entitled to an opinion too, I’m a writer! 

addendum: My Lord and Savior has and always will be first on any list in my life, it's a given. 
 
 Happy New Year!