Among the more promising changes, I think, is the way people communicate with each other, especially through social media. While communicating via e-mail was a radical change from pen-and-paper “snail mail,” social media such as Facebook and Twitter have turned things up a notch.
While many people of my generation shun these media on the basis that “Facebook friends” are not akin to “true friends,” I take a more tolerant view. Of my 340 or so Facebook friends, I have met well more than 80 or 90 percent of them in person. I would describe most of these as “acquaintances,” with a relative few being “friends” by the traditional view.
But I enjoy hearing about the lives of all of them (well, most of them) and a few of my “Facebook friends” have become “real friends.”
Despite how you view Facebook and other social media, don’t overlook their potential for fleshing out your own personal history. It’s easy to reconnect with old friends and classmates these days. Why not ask them about some shared experiences from “back in the day?” If you’re really brave, why not ask them what they remember about you? These outside perspectives can give depth to your own recollections and life experiences.
What are you doing for Mom? Mother’s Day is less than two weeks away. Why not give her something really special this year? Check out this post for some tips on how to create a personal legacy letter for that special woman in your life.
Larry Lehmer is a personal historian and chief legacy planner at When Words Matter in Urbandale, Iowa. To learn more, visit his web site, send him an e-mail or follow him on Twitter.
Flickr photo courtesy of Oversocialized.
I have met so many genealogists on Facebook. It's like an instant network. When we attend the same events, we greet each other like old friends.
Posted by: Amy Coffin | April 27, 2010 at 07:51 AM