The Social Good of Social Media

December 6, 2010 by 22 Comments

Half full.  That’s how I see my glass.  That’s how I CHOOSE to see my glass.

So, every day…. I use the tools available to me to insure I am seeing something good in my world.  And you know what makes me feel as though things are right in the world?  Seeing something good in yours.

I know…. I know….  I’m one of those cheery – TELL-ME-YOUR-GOOD-NEWS-PEOPLE on Twitter and Facebook.  And, honestly, I’ve seen people tweet general complaints about people like me:

“Don’t those cheery-nothing-is-ever-wrong-in-their-world-people just make you sick?”

27 comments later people are still yelling YES!!!!! and are STILL congratulating themselves on being ‘real’ and not being sucked into the vortex of the fake and happy.

Here’s the thing….  the REAL me IS happy.  The REAL me IS cheery and glass is half full. The REAL me does want to know what is making you happy.

It doesn’t mean I don’t ever have a bad day.  It does mean, I think LONG AND HARD before I share negative. More often than not, I CHOOSE to share positive.  I CHOOSE to ASK for positive.

Because really?  Surrounding myself by happy and positive makes me that much more so.

Let me illustrate.

Today, as I do every day, I tweeted this:

But WHY do I do this?

Tweeting for Good News is Using Social Media for Social Good

1)  This is an EXCUSE TO BRAG. Asking for good news gives wonderful people an opportunity to share something that is truly making them happy – and honestly – they might not share it if not asked.

2) I always ReTweet the good news – Joy is meant to be shared.

3) People share the outrageous and amazing – book deals, astronomical business growth, marathons, successful weight loss, pregnancies and engagements, and the everyday-this-is-really-making me happy: the first snow fall, a healthy child, a chance to sleep in or a favorite meal.

3) What an amazing way to engage – when people share – I LEARN something about them and we often end up chatting long after that first tweet

4) I am selfish.  The good news tweets?  They make ME smile.  So MY day?  Is off to a MUCH better start.

Just look:

After seeing these tweets this morning – and chatting with each of these people, I found myself smiling.

And there it was – I asked for the good news and they gave it.

I shared it.

We BOTH smiled.

And, I PROMISE, someone else who READ IT, smiled too.

Just one of the many reasons I love this space – for the good.…

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  • http://familyfitnessfood.com/ Carrie

    I’m with you. Part of why I love Twitter is reading people’s good news. There’s something about the positive comments that get me going.

  • http://deepintolove.com Craig

    Top 10 reasons Why Eeyores need Tiggers:
    1. Because I’m an Eeyore and morning Tiggers urk me – enough to make me rethink my morning grumpy
    2. Because struggle and pain are life – but so is Christian joy, seeing God’s hand in it all, that even bad is for our good, Tiggers issue a clarion call to shake off the “woe is me”
    3. Because Tiggers are wonderful people and make Eeyores open their eyes and get their little blue butts moving.
    4. Because can you imaging a boxer going back to the corner between rounds and hearing to a bunch of Eeyores saying, “You can’t do it, you shouldn’t try, you aren’t good enough.” We play those thoughts in our head without any help – after the tough rounds we need better voices.
    5. Because Jesus was a Tigger
    6. Because if you’re in a pit what do you want thrown to you – an anvil or a rope?
    7. And if you aren’t in a pit what do you want – a shove in, or a bridge over?
    8. Because Eeyores need help counting blessings
    9. Because Tiggers make Eeyores laugh
    10. And laughing and smiling are like chocolate – what you don’t like chocolate?

  • http://www.tidymom.net TidyMom

    I always LOVE your good news tweets Danielle!!……..and as someone who has spent time with you in person……..it’s one of the things I love most about you…….the glass is 1/2 full girl, the girl who always makes you feel like a million bucks, the girl who CARES about what you are saying…….♥

  • http://www.letsbegreentogether.com Cathy

    I love your good news tweet on Twitter, Danielle. Your sincerity comes through so strongly for me. When I happen to see the tweet, I rack my brain to find something I can share…..I think it forces all of us to find something positive regardless of the day we are having.
    I think people who mock or criticize are simply NOT happy with themselves or their own lives, sadly. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen “fake” happy and “fake” friendly and that is just NOT what I feel from you. :)

  • http://abbyandizzysmom.blogspot.com erin

    I love you, Danielle. I need more of YOU in my life, b/c I’m one of those half-empty glassers. So sad. At least I recognize it, though. I love spreading happiness, but I need to CHOOSE it more, like you said. A lot of it is due to my self-deprecating nature and low self esteem. I’m fighting it though! And it’s because of friends and people like YOU!

    ;-)

    Thank you for being YOU!
    xoxoxoox

  • http://quirkyfusion.com Christy

    This post made me really think. Ironically, I just wrote a post that sort of said the opposite. For me, there is good and bad, and I like to get them both out of my system. If I only talk about the good things, it means I’m internalizing the bad stuff. Having done that, I know it’s not so healthy. The other end of the spectrum (focusing solely on the bad) isn’t good either. I can appreciate that you love hearing the good things; I do, too. But I also don’t think people should feel bad for saying the bad stuff (not that this is what you’re saying). I don’t mind sending positive vibes toward friends and followers who are having a bad day (bad week, bad year), and I know that I really appreciate the good vibes people send my way when I need them.

    I appreciate your positive energy. I know we don’t know each other well, but it is something I have noticed about you.

  • Danielle

    Carrie – that is just how I feel- and honestly – I walk away with a huge smile – each and every time :)

  • Danielle

    Craig – Yes, I’m a Tigger :) and YED – I LOVE chocolate!!

  • Danielle

    Cheryl – thank you for that – you truly made my day. And I LOVE that you almost always respond to my requests for good news :) xoxo

  • Danielle

    Cathy – I appreciate that – so very much! The good news is fun for JUST the reason you mentioned – I love that you TRY to come up with something – I’m better and happier on the days when I can find SOMETHING that makes me happy :) Grateful for you! xoxo

  • Danielle

    Erin – you really are just a little slice of heaven! You DO spread happiness – every day – just by being you. Seeing your face, your tweets? ALWAYS Makes me happy….. Love having you in my life :)

  • Danielle

    Christy – THANK YOU for commenting. I’m really glad you did – especially because we don’t know each other well yet. I do agree with you that there is good and bad – and I’m not saying (at all) that you, or anyone else should pretend to be happy when you aren’t. And knowing that other people have bad days?? Sometimes it really helps. I’ve blogged (many times) about the things that are challenging/frustrating/hard about parenting and/or life. And when I admit it? I often get some of the most beautiful and understanding comments. However – on a day to day basis – I do TRY to look for the good – and I have found, personally – that I am happier when I am focusing on something positive – that’s why I ask for the good. I find myself smiling involuntarily as I read the ‘good news’ responses – so my day is automatically better. (Jedi-mind-trick:) And I would like to think that the very same good news made someone else smile just for a minute too. I really appreciate you stopping by!

  • http://www.lilkidthings.com Andrea (Lil-Kid-Things)

    And this is why we love you :-) I so love that you clarified your CHOICE to see the glass as half-full. I definitely think it is the right one.

  • Adam

    Ever seen Tony Robbins talk or read any of his books?

    He talks extensively about the power of your state.  Other people don’t put you in a good mood or bad mood.  That’s a choice that’s up to you.  

    Think about the state of just saying hello. 

    How do you physically and mentally choose to greet a neighbor who’s in your book club that you see at the grocery store?  Or your spouse after he or she gets home from work?  Or your kids after they went on a weekend dad-only trip?

    The first is probably very casual.  The second, less, with a hug and a kiss likely. And the last, a running arms open tight as you can hold ‘em hug. But it’s your state, how you choose to, just say hello to all of them that defines how that occurs. Your state is the center of how and where you choose to be that Tigger or Eyeore. Plain and simple.

  • Danielle

    Andrea – :) thank you!! I so adore you! xoxo

  • Danielle

    Adam – I agree – it is a choice. And that’s why I choose to operate the way I do. I have read/seen Tony Robbins. I know I have the power of action and reaction. I get to CHOOSE to be glass is half full. Or half empty. I’ve found that I am in a better state of mind when I choose the former. (plain and simple :)

  • http://www.skimbacolifestyle.com Katja of Skimbaco

    I love it – and I know we have talked about this so many times before… :)

  • Danielle

    Yes, My friend – Katja – we most certainly have! xoxo

  • http://www.justmalia.com Malia

    Your good news tweets make me want to have good news to share. I think I’m going to start looking a little harder, or a little more glass half full so that I can share good news more often.

    Thank you, friend. You are a blessing in my life and that is certainly good news.

  • http://amombyanyothername.blogspot.com/ Kristie

    Danielle-
    It makes me smile every time I see you ask for good news on my twitter feed. Even if my day isn’t going as well as I’d like, it’s a great reminder that I AM blessed! :)

  • Danielle

    Malia – and you are a blessing in mine – you made my day – thank you for that! I love the idea of you looking for good news! xoxo

  • Danielle

    Kristie – I truly love to hear that! In addition to my selfish reasons for asking (that the good news makes me happy), I really do hope that someone gets just a little bit of joy out of them :)