Going fast, but not really seeing anything

I came across an interesting post on my Facebook feed: Daily Dose Of Kindness (2023), that got me thinking about how their story also relates to today’s society. We are so connected to social media in our work, leisure, and home life that we probably also miss “life’s best moments” at times. If you let it, social media can suck you in like a “black hole”, making you loose track of all time and things around you. How many times have you posted something, had to check, or look up something, or commented on something on social media, that you ended up becoming so very “lost” in the content on that device, that you actually missed out on what was happening in your surroundings?

For an example, one of my family members had recently taken a train ride to one of the cities near me and had mentioned that many of the passengers were so absorbed with their cellphones and other electronic devices that they missed the views that were passing by outside of their windows. I don’t know about you, but that view is what I look forward to on my trips and outings regardless of the time of day or night. That, and chatting with the people sitting near me, because it’s nice to meet new people along the way and hear about their lives and experiences. And if I don’t have to drive too? It’s makes it more enjoyable!!

_{Train station platform, Photograph by A. Radford}

What are your thoughts on today’s society’s use of social media? Do you notice yourself or others missing “life’s best moments” because of it? If so, do you plan on making any small changes today or are you okay with the way things are right now?

Let me help you reconnect with people, places, and things! Follow me on Facebook and check out my blog at: https://bit.ly/3YETTUU

Stuck in the “Black Hole” of social media? Look for ways to get out on my blog on Twitter at: https://bit.ly/3YETTUU

#GetBack2LivingYourLife #DontMissOutAnymore

Making the good, even better!

I’m not sure about you, but I would like more of the fun stuff in my own personal life, especially on the weekends! With work, household chores, grocery shopping and a variety of other commitments and tasks taking up precious weekday time, I can’t wait for the weekend. Quality time spent with family and friends, lounging on the sofa reading the next best thriller, playing fetch with my dog outside in the sunshine, going to the beach for the day or other daytrips, and spending time working in my gardens are my usual go-to’s.

_{^{Backyard campfire,
Photograph by A. Radford}}

And if the weekend happens to also have a holiday involved? That’s EVEN better! My fun weekend of family BBQs, evening campfires and friendly games of Canasta or Pegs and Jokers, is now turned into a long weekend filled with concerts that are sometimes free, fairs with their own mini attractions, fireworks and multiple other community events.

^{_{Daisy in my garden,
Photograph by A. Radford}}

_{^{Outdoor concert,
Photograph by A. Radford}}

By using social media, I can conveniently find out what is happening on long weekends in my community or in the surrounding communities and what specials are being offered by the businesses I follow on Facebook. I no longer need to rely on the daily newspaper, printed flyers or “word of mouth”. With this vast array of knowledge that social media provides, I can plan more entertaining and even more enjoyable long weekend activities with my friends and family “in a heartbeat”.

How do you plan your long weekend activities? Does social media have any influence on it?

Don’t “miss” a long weekend – make plans right now! Check out my blog on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3KsFqpe

Not sure what to do on a long weekend? Check out my blog on Instagram at https://bit.ly/3KsFqpe
#StopBeingBored #WeekendsR4Fun #LongWeekendsRule

HOW DO YOU SAY “HELLO”?

There are so many ways of connecting with friends and family, and over the years I’ve seen some interesting changes. From writing letters (AKA snail mail) in my childhood and growing up with a rotary telephone, to upgrading to a digital wall telephone, then to cellular flip-phones with pull-up antennas and a battery bigger than the phone, then to texting, and multi-purpose “smart” phones, and now social media platforms and apps. Wow, how the world has changed. And I’m really not that old, lol!

_{Rotary Telephone,
Photography by A. Radford}

Thanks to Facebook, I’m now a proud user of Messenger. With this app, it allows me to see when my family and friends are active. And the best part is that I can instantly connect with them at that time, in real time! It’s like they’re sitting in the room with me. Goodbye text messages lost in space and phone tag! I can also video chat or make chat groups with specific family and friends. It makes planning and organizing get-togethers a breeze!

Messenger: a better way to connect right now! Do you use messenger? How do you say hello in today’s digital world?

Facebook – want to make planning get-togethers easier? Check out my blog: https://bit.ly/3Y1COUR

Twitter – wondering what “they’re” doing? Connect with them now! Check out my blog: https://bit.ly/3Y1COUR

#NoMorePhoneTag

Facebook – More For You in One Spot!

My life, like so many others, is so very busy! I have work, chores, catching up with friends and family, exercise, and about a million other things to do.  So where can we go to help make it easier for us and less time consuming? I have the answer….Facebook!

I’m new to social media, so I need something that doesn’t require a PhD to navigate; and, I get bored quickly, so if it’s exciting I’m there! On this platform, I can easily update my friends and family about my day-to-day life, get great recipes for quick and healthy meals along with delightful desserts, and plan my next great escape for when I just need to unwind with travel. With friend list suggestions; I can reconnect with childhood friends or make new friends through my mutual friends-of-friends. I wish Facebook was in my life before Covid – my social “bubble” would have been so big! And the best thing: I can pick and choose who “gets in” – it’s like my own exclusive club.

On Facebook, I can see what’s trending, get updates on the pages that I Like and Follow, find out what my friends and family have been up to, and get suggestions for similar pages that can work for me. I have an array of how to clean/cook better, travel suggestions/hacks/videos, gardening tips, DIY projects, along with other pages that are just for fun and make me laugh. 

_{Flowers in my backyard garden. Photograph taken by Purdy Radford.}

There are even LOTS of videos for working out. I don’t think my body was ever able to do some of the moves that are being shown, but as I am now on social media and learning new things, my new motto is “never say never”.

Facebook: so much to do and handy tips for life. So the question is: what do you want out of it? How will you use it to make your life easier? How will it bring you, your friends and family even closer?

On Facebook: Why You Need to Join Facebook Now! Check out my blog at: http://bit.ly/44LBIi2

On Twitter: Do you have friends or family living in another City, Province or Country? Take the LONG out of Long Distance! Check out my blog at: http://bit.ly/44LBIi2 #Facebook4Life #NeverSayNever