A while ago certain parts of Columbus, Ohio felt the aftershock of an earthquake in Canada. It wasn’t just Columbus it was actually several surrounding states. I happen to be on Twitter when the aftershock occurred (I didn’t feel it). I am amazed how fast word spread of the Columbus earthquake; within minutes my Twitter stream lit up with people talking about the Columbus earthquake. The great thing about
social media, and Twitter specifically, is the access to instantaneous news and feedback. In a way we are all journalists now recording our own unique experiences via multiple online platforms. I knew about the earthquake way before my co-workers did and they were shocked I got the information so quickly.

After the Twitter/quake experience I started thinking about how an earthquake is a great metaphor for the social media landscape. For every social media advocate there’s at least one social media hater (if not more). Us advocates have felt the social media earthquake and we see the way it’s changing communication and community. The social media haters don’t feel the earthquake; they see technology as a burden or a means to hear meaningless details about people’s lives.

There is something to be said for taking time to investigate technology and to see how to adapt to it and use it in a meaningful way, but social media isn’t new anymore. It’s time to get on board and get involved in the social media conversation and community. How do you explain to your non-social media friends why social media works for you and how it’s impacting your life?

A week or so ago our sinks clogged. Hess and I have a house built in 1952 so our bathroom and kitchen sinks are connected and there’s a curve in the pipes that makes it difficult to get unclogged without a professional. Luckily, my parents recommended Brad the plumber who came over and fixed the clog.

We’ve had several plumbing issues this last year and this one was the final straw; we have finally decided to remodel our bathroom. I thought I’d take a before picture and post it here and then post the after once it’s completed (hopefully by the end of summer). Financially this sucks, but I know we’ll be so much happier once it’s done. These pictures really don’t show the full extent of repairs/updates we need to complete.

The floor is stick-on tile and the walls are two different colors right now.

The window in the shower will be a block window when we are finished.

Well I fell off the gift giving wagon on day seven, which was Monday. I just forgot all about giving a gift and got wrapped up in my own world. In all fairness I did have something important happening Tuesday morning that was consuming my thoughts.

Needless to say I started the whole process over on Wednesday by giving a co-worker a book called One.  This book was sent to me as a gift from one of our customers at work. After seeing me open the package and receive the  book my co-worker commented she loved looking at this book the last time we visited the customer’s facility so I gave her my copy.  She was happy and surprised.  The remaining days of gifts have mainly involved me spending time with others or going the extra distance for Hess.  For example, today (gift six) I work up early for a work event and made Hess some toast and then brought him a latte when the event was over. It’s not a lot, but it seems a little thoughtfulness goes a long way.

I’ve definitely learned gift giving takes a conscious effort. Some days I see only a handful of people so I really have to pay attention to see what I can do that day. I’ve also learned sometimes I give a gift and realize that what I gave wasn’t really the gift at all. For example, one of the gifts I gave a friend (prior to falling off the wagon) was a silly collage I made. We met for dinner and I presented the collage, but after the evening was over I realized the real gift wasn’t the collage it was taking the time to listen. At the end of dinner she thanked me for letting her vent and for understanding her perspective on the issues she’s dealing with.

As I continue to move through this process I’m learning a lot more than I thought I would and am looking forward to reflecting on the 29 days after I’ve completed. Hopefully this time around I’ll move through the full 29 days without starting over.

For those of you just joining in I’m currently giving a gift and journaling about it for 29 days…go here to read the initial post, which explains why.

Gift 1

I gave gift one on the airplane on the way home from a short trip to Arizona.  The lady seated to my right decided to order a gin and tonic for the ride from Phoenix to Chicago.   If you travel on Southwest you may be familiar with their drink tickets; these are tickets you can pre-purchase for alcoholic drinks on the plane. I always seem to have some of these tickets laying around. The lady to my right didn’t have a ticket and was going to have to charge her $4 cocktail to her Visa so I offered her one of our drink tickets and she accepted. She seemed genuinely surprised that I offered the ticket.  She and I exchanged surface conversation the rest of the flight and we traded magazines. Although it wasn’t earth shattering I did learn somethings…

1.  I rarely talk to strangers on planes or anywhere for that matter, but for whatever reason I was offering her the drink ticket before I even realized I was doing it.  It just seemed to be the thing to do.

2.  This woman’s reaction made me want to give more! For example: while waiting in the Chicago airport to fly back to Columbus a woman commented she wished she had a sweater.  I found myself wishing I had one to give her.

All in all day 1 was a great expirence.

Gift 2

Gift 2 didn’t go as well as gift 1…for gift 2 I cleaned the kitchen and packed Hess’s lunch.  Typically I cook and he cleans the kitchen and we’re on our on for our lunches. It may not seem like much, but our fruit was strawberries and they had to be chopped and cleaned so it was a more time consuming than normal.  Hess didn’t really notice the extra effort and I was a little grumpy about this.  This has taught me I need to work on my intentions. If I give a gift I need to give it without wanting or expecting anything in return; afterall, that’s the whole point of this exercise.

I have yet to give gift 3, but will soon.  I’ll keep you posted as I continue to move through the process.

From the time I was young until the time I graduated college I was involved in philanthropic work, but after college I stopped giving back.  I guess I found myself feeling too busy to volunteer afterall I was getting married, buying a house, figuring out a career, going back to school for a master’s degree…the list goes on. The past few years have been challenging for me emotionally as I struggle to find what my passion is, who my true support system is, how to direct my career, etc. In other words, I have become very ME focused.

Recently, my mom gave me great book called 29 Gifts (thanks mom!).  This book has served as a  reminder to me of how much giving can impact our lives. When I talk about giving I am not talking about giving so you can recieve something; I am talking about giving because it feels good to give. Not only do we feel good when we give back, but helping others often allows us to see how we can help ourselves emotionally and spiritually.

29 Gifts is by a woman, Cami, who has MS and is struggling to fight the disease while remaining positive.  After a series of events lead to a downward spiral of depression a spiritual friend, Mbali, tells her to take 29 days and give 29 gifts. Each day she must journal about her expirence.  Mbali says, ” By giving, you are focusing on what you have to offer others, inviting more abundance into your life. Giving of any kind is taking a positive action that begins the process of change. It will shift your energy for life.”

Reluctantly Cami agrees to the challenge and sets out on her 29 day journey. Sometimes she gives material goods or money other times her gifts involve no money or objects, but instead she gives away things that are invaluable like taking the time to listen to an upset friend, cooking dinner for her husband, or giving career advice to a client for free. After the 29 days is over Cami emerges with more energy, a better outlook on life, her health improves, her business begins to thrive, her relationship with her husband is closer, and much, much more.

Inspired by this book I am going to give 29 gifts in 29 days and journal about it each day. I probably won’t post all of my thoughts or the events that transpire on here, but I will let you know how it goes.  Be sure to take a moment to visit Cami’s website, 29gifts.org and read some of the blog posts and stories; I think you’ll be inspired.

So I’m writing a paper for my Democracy class on how women entering the workforce has led to women gaining more political rights in the U.S. While researching I realized how impactful first ladies have been on furthering women’s rights. This got me wondering what the chances are that a female will be president in the U.S. in my lifetime? It also caused me to reflect on the role of the first lady. Here are the conclusions I’ve come up with:

~The role of first lady is the ultimate balancing act between nurturing and political involvement. It reminds me of the balance between working full-time and caring for kids.

~Many first ladies have had enourmous political impact, but have not been credited. When you think about it how could they not? My husband I often talk about the pros and cons of various situations; I imagine the same conversations happen at the White House between married couples.

~Finally, I think the reason a women has not been elected president (assuming there has been a worthwhile canidate) isn’t because our society can’t picture a female in the oval office, but rather our society can’t picture a man in the “first husband” role.

Those are my general thoughts. Your comments would be greatly appreciated as it might further spawn some great points to make in this paper.

One last thing, please disregard any typos…I’m typing this on my Droid on my lunch break.

The first day of spring has finally arrived and the plants around our house have begun blooming.  The first crocus to bloom (pictured above) came up when there was still frost on the ground.  It’s amazing to me this delicate flower managed to survive the cold.

The 21 day challenge hasn’t been much of a challenge.  The only time I felt a tinge of upset was when the Oscars were on.  Otherwise it’s been relatively easy.  When the 21 days are up I think my habit will officially be broken. I’m definately more mindful of how I’m using my time.

The next 6-8 weeks will be very busy for me.  I’m wrapping up two grad school classes so I can start my thesis in the summer.  This week I will be immersed in research for a paper I’m writing in my Democracy class on women in the workforce.  I hope to share my questions, thoughts, concerns, etc. here so stay tuned.

Experts say it take 21 days to change a habit.  I’m not sure if this is true or not, but I have an awful habit I need to break.  Most people don’t know this, but I LOVE television.  I can watch hours and hours of TV.  I watch reality shows, sitcoms, talk shows, late night shows, comedy specials, movies on tv, reruns of classic tv…you get the picture. The problem is I often come home from work and immediately start watching TV. In fact, the only reason I’m not watching TV right now is Hess (my husband) has demanded the TV.

I realize coming home and sitting in front of the TV is part of a bad routine.  On weekends I don’t do this and when I’m somewhere without a TV I don’t really notice it’s missing.  In fact, in September 2008 when the electric at our house was knocked out by hurricane Ike for seven days I didn’t even miss the TV.

Ultimately there are only about five shows I really like to see so I’ve decided to try to break this habit once and for all. I’m going to go 21 days with only one hour of TV a day (try not to fall out of your chair Hess).  I’m not cutting out all of my TV time because ultimately I want to learn to manage my time with the TV more effectively.  I’ll track my progress here so you can follow along. Wish me luck!

On February 4, 2010 I became and Aunt for the first time! My nephew, Spencer James Harper, was born to my brother Brandon and sister-in-law Amanda.  I’m very excited to welcome him into the world and look forward to getting to know him.  At Amanda’s baby shower I gave her and Spencer a Bob Marley lullaby CD from local store What the Rock and I guess he’s been loving it.  I knew he would have excellent taste in music!

Here’s a picture of our newest family member & his Daddy:

We all know there are a bazillion social media “experts” out there.  I don’t claim to be an expert because I don’t think it’s possible to be an expert in a field that’s constantly changing as technology presses forward.  Many small businesses are being duped into thinking they need to hire an expensive contractor to handle their social media needs, when in fact the solutions may be in their office already.  The trick is changing the company perspective on what or who an expert is.  Here are some of the questions I would ask a so called social media “expert”:

• How do you define social media?
• Can you give me an example of some of the clients you have worked for and the type of work you’ve completed for them?
• How do you establish relationships with bloggers and how do you pitch to them?
• How do you monitor what people are saying about you online?
• How do you measure results?
• Do you have a blog or a website and what’s your strategy for your blog or website?
• How long have you been on twitter ( or insert your fav. social media site or tool) and how are you using it?
• What do you think the future social media trends are?

What are the questions you would ask to determine if someone really knows their stuff in the social media world? If you are a social media “expert” how would you answer these questions?