Tuesday, September 6, 2011

So much

Twitter and Bloggyland have been abuzz of late.

I find myself overcome with the emotion, frustration, the angst of it all.


I took a few days of nothingness and yet I read and I read and I read. And I watched.


I watched a video about how a beautiful woman was made to feel like sh!t because Southwest Airlines couldn't get themselves together. So they had to embarrass her and her family instead. Just ridiculously awful. And I seethed.


I've read about Trey Pennington, and incredibly well known social media man who tweeted the following on September 4th:


"Sure am thankful for online friends who are real friends offline, too. Love you."


And shortly after that he took his own life.


My friend Kimberly posted about National Suicide Prevention Week in this raw and emotional post in her 'hood: You are worth the fight and it brought tears to my eyes.


She reminded me about an incredible effort for the week spearheaded by The Band over at Band Back Together.


A few words from their important reminder how just a few words from any of us could, in fact, save a life.

"Here’s the message to Tweet, Tweet and Retweet now through September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day:

I’m talking to YOU. #youarebeautiful #youareloved #youareNOTalone #StopSuicide please RT

You never know who might see it, who might really NEED to see it at the very moment you are tweeting it. Let’s use our power of social media for good. Lots and lots of good.


You just might remind someone of who they are and how much they are wanted.

You just might save a life."


Look over at my friend Suzanne aka Pretty Swell's place and find her coordinating efforts for a friend who has been through the unfathomable. Two babies born too soon and taken away even sooner. Have you donated yet? Could you? She isn't even asking for something for nothing. Click the button at the side of my blog, donate $5 and you'll be entered into an incredible raffle. The donations are pouring in. They'll never make up for the loss, but if we can ease the sorrow just a little bit by helping, why not try?

Top that all off with the incredible women of #PPDChat and the ways that they form an army and band together whenever one of them is in need and I'm all sorts of emotional of late.

But one thing that I do find incredible is the power of the online world. Despite the way many may say this cannot take the place of the people who surround you in real life and support you when you need them (and I do agree, we all need proof that we are worthy and loved, and we need real life, face-to-face connections, as well as those we form in our virtual and online bubbles!) this community finds themselves connected and together like no other. We are an incredible force - and one not to be ignored.

I'm kind of in awe of the way the internet has connected so many together during times of need, support and then some. And I'm proud to be a part of it all.

14 comments:

  1. It can be a truly awesome place can't it.
    This Internet world never siezes to amaze me. Thank YOU for being a part of mine and supporting me when I needed it most.
    Love your face.

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  2. Lovely. What a nice roundup of good things happening online.

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  3. Thank you for including our Love to Zaria fundraiser in your roundup. Means so much to me!

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  4. I have also been amazed what a supportive community I have discovered online.

    Ps I hope to start reading 'The Wednesday Sisters' today. Look forward to your discussion at The Smart Chicks Book Club.

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  5. This is important and touching, girlfriend. Thank you for writing it!

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  6. Social media is a powerful force and when we use it to do good, it's phenomenal.

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  7. I am so new to this blog world that I am amazed at all I learn from my blog friends. You did a beautiful job of reminding people of that.

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  8. Revolutions are happening all over the Internet, in particular on Twitter. So well said!!

    Off to Tweet this message.

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  9. i know.. and Im so glad you blogged about them!!

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  10. Its a beautiful thing when you see it all come together for good!

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  11. Sometimes we don't realize the power social media gives us to influence for the good!

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  12. There is always so much sad among the beauty in life. I will go and read your friends blog because, there but the grace of God go I. My twins were born at 29 weeks gestation and we fought tooth and nail to get them that far. I was just seconds from losing Bethany- 12 minutes without oxygen for a not-quite-2 pound baby is really bad. I got a small taste of your friend's pain but didn't have the full impact as she does. My heart breaks for them. I am so sorry they've been called upon to bear that!

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  13. Powerfully written. Such an important message you have shared. And, I am certain, impacted someone's life for the better.

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  14. I loved this week's guest post too.

    I totally agree with you. The web is filled with amazing people that are real friends. It is important to have friends in our offline worlds too. I love that you can have both.

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