Recently, Mamiverse hosted an uplifting and motivational Twitter party, with the #DreamUp13 hashtag. It was all about sharing our dreams and goals for the New Year, and finding accountability partners to help motivate one another throughout 2013.
Attendance and engagement were an overwhelming success. And we measured this not only by statistics and social media impressions, but by what happened after the party. Participants posted their feedback, comments and commitment to their goals on our Facebook page. It was exciting to see such enthusiasm. I felt something really good had happened that night, for a lot of people, and I felt satisfied by our combined efforts.
Then, as I readied to power off my laptop at midnight, I received an e-mail.
It was from an online writer and blogger, a woman with whom I’ve corresponded and who I’ve met in person at various social media conferences. She’s an outgoing, cheerful lady who exudes likeability. I had asked her months before to write a post for me, and she hadn’t delivered. I chalked it up to her being too busy. After all, what online mom isn’t? We all meet in cyberspace at night, when the kiddos are asleep. We share blog posts and articles on social media, exchange tips and give each other a virtual hug, or even a nudge. We’re on, 24/7, and sometimes, finding time to do “just one more thing” is harder than it seems.
But in her e-mail, this apparently confident blogger shared with me her fears. She hadn’t delivered the piece I’d requested because she was afraid it wouldn’t be good enough. And there and then, she committed to facing her demons head on and giving herself the same chances she gives everyone else. It was, for me, the best moment of that night.
Read Related: Never Give Up on a Dream!
Her honesty prompted me to share my own confession: I’m not always as positive, as organized, or as go-getting and cheerful as I’d like. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t wear makeup every day, nor does my hair always look like I just stepped out of the salon. I sometimes lose my patience with the kids. I bicker with my significant other. I lose friends, have spats with family and I’m still struggling to train my dog properly. And, throughout life, I’ve overcome many fears, including fear of rejection, fear of flying, fear of heights and fear of public speaking. I’ve conquered a poor self-image and gotten over extreme shyness. I’m still shy to a degree, although nobody believes me!
And day after day, I continue to be amazed by the strength and inspiration I derive from my “virtual” friends and family, most of whom I’ve never met. In our online community, we have the power to connect with other like-minded people in ways and numbers we’d be hard-pressed to do in person. Through our blog posts and online articles we can be role models for one another, but not in the traditional mentor-mentee way. We do it not with a holier-than-thou attitude, but by sharing our fears and weaknesses along with our dreams, goals and successes. Because in the end, together we can do so much more than we can on our own. And because by sharing who we really are, we can help one another realize that great things can be achieved not despite our shortcomings, but because of them!
Here’s to a 2013 filled with goals set, dreams realized, and the road of possibility wide open. Follow the #DreamUp13 hashtag, and let’s all continue this commitment to ourselves and one another.
