-Bend and stretch, reach for the stars

Over the past month I’ve stretched in several ways. First, I literally stretched muscles I’d let be lazy for months. Next morning, I hurt all over. I still hurt, but a little less. Obviously I need to stretch, but I also need to start a little slower. When the soreness goes, I’ll try again. In the meantime, pass the ibuprofen.

Sticking my toe into the online social community was another stretch. In one weekend, I set up Facebook and Twitter accounts and reactivated my blog.

Facebook isn’t just a cool place for young adults any more. In fact, I read somewhere that if it were a country, it would be the fourth most populous one in the world. Businesses have Facebook pages now, too. If you don’t, you’re not in the game, marketing consultants tell us. Pretty soon not being on Facebook will be the equivalent of not having a phone.

For the digitally naive, Twitter is a site where people share what they are doing – right now – in 140 characters or less. Sometimes it’s silly, and sometimes it’s profound. I’m feeling my way.

I don’t see that any of these online “communities” will ever be real communities. They might connect people, but not with great intimacy. I thrive on face-to-face talks, on hugs, on eye contact. By the way, video messaging also stretches me. True, it’s better than not seeing my family, but it’s not the same as being with them. Touch counts.

I suspect that when the telephone was new people felt the same way about it, and look at us now. New media don’t replace the old. They just add more layers.

Even if I’m a newbie at social media, I will learn. I know that doing only what I’ve always done stiffens me up as much as sitting long hours at my desk. Staying agile means stretching, using muscles both literal and figurative in ways they aren’t used to working, until eventually they move with grace and strength. Onward.

Carol Willis is a freelance writer and editor. She specializes in written communications for businesses and nonprofits and other editorial projects.