A Journey of 1000 Miles, er Followers.
This time last year I was only vaguely aware of a thing called Twitter and social media meant watching TV with friends. Then, last fall I decided to take some good advice and reach out to my readers and friends on Facebook and Twitter. You know how they say a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step? Well, that first tweet was my first step.
To be totally candid, I had NO idea what to do or say and the first month or so had all the grace and eloquence of an elephant delivering the nightly news in a tutu. Not pretty. But even so, there was grace and eloquence coming from a warm and welcoming community of moms and dads and organizations that listened, reached out and even followed back. I was humbled and grateful and I still am.
About 6 weeks in to my Twitter adventure I was bemoaning my awkwardness when I got some life changing advice. Jenn, I owe you. She told me to think of Twitter as one more way to simply talk to people, to have a relationship and share a laugh or a tip or news. Then she clinched it by relating tweets to something only those of us over 30 might get. “It’s like passing notes between friends.”
Cue the Alleluia Chorus! Finally I understood. Twitter is about friendship and a community of support that reminds me daily that we are not alone and we are here to help each other. When Super Storm Sandy struck, we shared emergency alerts and power outage updates and when the Tragedy in Newtown happened we shared prayers and tips about helping our kids feel safe in an unpredictable world. My Tweeps now join me on Monday nights at 9EST for #marilynnsinn and we share parenting tips and come together to celebrate the privilege of parenthood and the joy of the journey.
One of my very first followers, @janeeric03, and I even exchange gifts from time to time and I get the honor of having some of her daughter’s original artwork inspired by my stories. I can’t describe how much that means to me. To write for children and young adults and to actually hear back from them is the greatest gift a writer could have.
So here we are now, cruising through the 1000 follower mark and I am so happy to celebrate! In our family we have a tradition. For each of my kid’s birthdays I bake a cake in the flavor of their choice, (lemon and chocolate tend to be perennial favorites.) Then I cut the cake into the shape of whatever age they are turning. This was a great idea with a one year old, but I must admit, certain years I wonder how I’ll do it, (i.e. 3, 6, 9???)
No matter what though, I keep at it because it has become a way to remind my kids how happy and grateful I am to have them. So here it is, I wish I could give you all a slice, but I think I’d need a food handler license in most states, so we’ll just have to use our virtual imaginations. I baked our family’s favorites, lemon and chocolate and I was thinking of you. To all my Twitter friends, the first 1000 and the thousands yet to come, you are a cherished part of our 4 Sunflowers Media family and so I baked you a cake to celebrate you because like my friends the Fuzzwippers always say, YOU ARE LOVED, NO MATTER WHAT.
Thanks for being a part of our family.
Marilynn
Categories: General
