Why I Am Unfollowing

Many of my Twitter follows may notice I am in process of cleaning up my account and unfollowing several. Due to my medical condition, I need to reduce stress in my life. I get upset while reading certain tweets. I've tried muting and lists, but it's time to take out the shears and prune back my follows, particularly since I randomly followed anyone. 

I am sure many of the ones I unfollow are nice people. I need to take care of myself at this time. If you tweet "@" my account, I will continue to respond. But I cannot follow you for these reasons:

- You are not following me. If you are not following me, why must I follow you?

- Inactive accounts for 8 months or more. Some have been inactive for up to 5 years. It's been a long time since I last pruned. 

- Hate tweets. This includes but is not limited to anti-gay, anti-muslim, anti-Christian, and especially the anti-Obama, conservative tweets that have become particularly nasty. This stresses me more than most, particularly from self-proclaimed Christians who do not follow Christ's teachings. 

- Ads / Sales Pitches / Promotions. I know several accounts are out there to make money or promote a product, but I am not interested in having these in my tweet stream. 

- Make Money Tweets. Similar to ads, I am not interested in these, including marketing advice. 

- Contests / Giveaways / Win Prizes. I do not want to "check out" something, particularly when asked for my email address, personal information or computer cookies. 

- Pornography and Solicitous tweets. No, I am not interested in how big your breasts are, details of male anatomy, having sex with you, or watching you have sex. 

- Facebook / Instantgram / Others. These are tweets that are either the link alone or are cut off with the link at the end. If I must go to another social media site to see the full message, I don't want to read it. 

-  Just links. The same as above, with the added caution that I don't know where the link will take me. I don't want trojans on my computer. If I cannot see the link address or see a preview on the Twitter page, I will not follow. 

- Automatic Tweets. These include horoscopes, iPapers, follow/unfollow counts, and others. These are particularly irksome in inactive accounts, which makes it impossible for search engines to identify it as inactive. 

- Tweets used to gain followers. I'm looking for more substance and less focus on how many followers you can get. 

- Tweets that are groups of names only. Primarily these are used for the same purpose as above and unfollowed for the same reason. 

- Repeated tweets, including those who retweet themselves. I don't want to read the same tweet multiple times. 

- SHOUTING TWEETS. TWEETS THAT ARE IN ALL CAPS may catch the readers attention, but if you are constantly shouting it is irksome. 

- #Hash#tag# #Extreme#. Tweets where almost every word is marked with a hashtag are not only difficult to read; it is impossible for online translators to translate. One does not need a hashtag to trend on twitter; the same for searching on Twitter. 

- iRegUlar Grmr. Irregular use of capitalization and grammar may be creative, save on the character count, but it is difficult for me to read, and does not translate. 

So, if I have unfollowed you recently, now you know the reason. It is not anything against you personally, just a pruning of what I do not wish to read in my twitter stream. 

~ ESA

Streams of Light and Love (eBook)

For those of my readers that enjoy the stories and poems I have written and freely shared on my blog, I want to share this collection as an eBook, so you may easily share it and take it with you in electronic form.

It is available FREE OF CHARGE in both ePub and PDF versions; you do not need to send me your email address. Please feel free to download a copy, and share with those who have touched your heart.

Give them a gift that will inspire them all year through.

And may Divine Light and Love continue to bless you.

Click here for ePub version (works with all digital readers except Kindle).

Click here for PDF version (works with all readers and computers).

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
~ ESA

Twitter Trolls

A friend who is new to Twitter came to me with a problem. I wanted to share my response, in case my readers face similar.

Twitter trolls will happen, no matter what you do. It's sad, but some insist on trolling as a way to get their kicks. Don't let them irk you.

I usually investigate to discover why the person attacks a tweet that is not addressed ("@") them.

For this particular troll, he is a frustrated Atheist / former-Christian, who is mad at God because God didn't turn out to be the way he wanted. He also suffers from poor health, which only adds to his frustrations and beliefs that if God really was there and really CARED for him, none of this would happen.

Because he now believes that God doesn't exist, he can no longer take his anger/frustrations out on God - so he targets others (particularly Christians) to troll instead.

So you have a choice:

(1) You can try to get into a theological debate, which will only increase his animosity and attacks. He will continue to "dis" you (is that still a term?) and bring in reinforcements by including other Atheists. They will join in trolling you until they drive you in tears from Twitter. You will not get them to listen that way as the ego can only listen to another ego. And egos love fighting with one another.

(2) You can block him, so you don't see any of his tweets, which helps buffer you from his attacks. This, however, gives his ego a boost. Trolls count "blocks" as "points" in their game. It depends on how much your ego wants to let them "win" that stupid game.

(3) You can ignore him; pretend that his tweets do not exist. Shunning does work. Eventually he gives up and goes away.

(4) You can continue to treat him with kindness, love and respect. He will continue to belittle what you say, but at the same time you are teaching through example, rather than through words alone.

On social media sites, you show others - even those you don't realize - what it is to walk in Christ's steps. What it means to forgive and turn the other cheek.

The lyrical Blessing that came to mind: "May good health return; may you wear a gentle smile. May laughter and Love fill your heart all the while." Feel free to use it. I can't claim full credit anyway, as the Spirit helps me.

May your days of trolls be few

May the Spirit guide what to do

~ ESA

Hide and Go Tweet

It is no secret I enjoy tweeting, but sometimes I am so overwhelmed I tuck tail-feathers between my legs and hide.

A recent count revealed that I received 540 responses in one 24-hour period. I get hundreds of direct (@me) tweets per day, not counting in the main twitter stream (home page).

At 300 followers, I could not read every tweet from every person I follow. I continued to read every direct tweet, however. But I needed a smarter way to manage them.

I once thanked each mention, retweet, favorite and follow. Plus there are endless loops, where I would thank someone, they would retweet that, I'd thank them again, etc... Thanking each via DM (direct message) took even more time.

So as I reach the 10,000 mark... 

Replies and Responses:

I send lyrical blessing or response when I can to every mention in chronological order. Sometimes I am months behind, due to health reasons or other responsibilities.

An exception to this rule: I respond immediately when Spirit grabs me by the scruff of the neck and points out a tweet. 

There are a few that clearly try to get someone to mention them (think "advertising"). I may respond, but often not.

I respond to tweets in large groups, responding as little as ONCE per account per grouping, regardless of number. I sincerely appreciate each one, but I can no longer respond to all.

I also cannot reply to every "amen" or "thank you."

Retweets and Requests:

If a tweet really inspires/impacts me positively, I may favorite or retweet it.

I share prayer requests, if asked. I also do pray when I receive a request ~ sincerely.

I do not (re-)tweet ads, company pages, voting sites, fundraisers or similar. On occasion, I share a link in response to major disasters. But my tweets are ad-free.

Direct Messages:

I may not respond to DM's immediately, as I do not check Twitter daily. Please also note, based on Twitter's technical requirements, you need to follow me in order for me to respond to your DM.

I delete DM's with unknown links, unopened.

I happily accept prayer requests via DM, and will tweet a prayer request (including anonymously), if asked.

What you tell me privately remains private, unless a life is in danger, including yours. In which case, I do NOT post anything on Twitter, but may contact others via other DM's or make a phone call to appropriate authorities.

Following and Friends:

I follow people who mention, follow or retweet me, as well as accounts suggested by others or Twitter on a whim. 

I do not refuse to follow based on religion, opinions, political party, language (either foreign or foul), or adult content.

I don't tweet follow requests.

Occasionally, I free account space by unfollowing those not following me.

I also unfollow accounts that read like a newspaper classifieds section (all ads), or are full of hatred and animosity.

In Sum:

While this seems unnecessarily complex, I seek to find a balance between sharing positive tweets, showing my gratitude and not feeling so overwhelmed.

May God's Blessings reach you each day.
May you find Joy on Twitter I do pray. :D

~ ESA / @JesusSister

A Response

There has been many tweets about a particular individual who gets nasty and venomous when he sees people have unfollowed him. While I have read the reports, I also did my homework and researched it myself to confirm this. There have been many requesting I unfollow this individual as well. I would like to share with these people, and all who may be interested, why - after prayerful consideration - I will not.

You are not the first to request I unfollow one person or another, due to a wide range of reasons, including that those I follow may be:

- homosexual
- pagan
- atheist
- jewish
- muslim
- republican
- democrat
- liberal
- conservative
- right-to-lifer
- pro-choice
- Obama supporter
- Obama hater
- OWS supporter
- OWS hater

... you get the idea.

As I state in my blog "About Me" - I'm an open, friendly person who gets along with any type of person and welcome anyone to converse with me on any subject. Everyone brings with them something I can learn no matter their ability, background, education, income, intellect, lifestyle, nationality, position, religious beliefs, or any other lines with which humanity tends to divide itself. The world is filled with wondrous variety and I strive to find the Light and Love that exists in each and every person.

While this particular case is about one person, I still see the trend, a pattern. The call to isolate and banish someone. I grew up the outcast one! I was the outsider! Even the kids that were picked on and beaten up by the class bullies did the same cruel things to me, just to prove to themselves they were not the very bottom of the social pecking order! I hated it. I still hate it! When I see a group rally to do that to someone I cringe. I cry.

I will not unfollow, nor will I promote what is wrong - on either side of this battle. I am here only to erase lines - not draw them. I am here to connect with all of humanity - we are all the same under the skin. I encourage people to shine the Light within and share the Love we all have inside. I will not encourage hate.

If I choose to unfollow, I only do so for two reasons: either they are not following me, and I need to free up some follows to follow others who are interested in interacting with me, or their profile page reads like an advertising column. I get enough sales pitches in my day job and on TV.

I will not condone your reasons for not following one you find offensive; that is your right and your choice. But I recall that Christ was found in the company of tax-collectors, prostitutes, lepers, Romans and those whom others found repulsive and avoided being seen in their company. I choose to follow where He leads, not where others tell me to go.

I choose not to cast a stone.

Thank you for reading this.
May Peace be found in your heart.
May you follow Love from the start.

- ESA

Judge Not

This post is essentially a lengthy response with which Twitter would be a poor medium. Forgoing my typical rhymes, I will speak plainly here.

"Judge NOT, lest you be judged."

There are many who advocate that to be a good Christian, or even a good person, one not only has the right to judge another, but has a sworn duty to do so, sometimes with a vengeance. I tweet against judging others, but here I will say why.

I believe we are called to Love each other, and to Forgive - not condemn - our brothers and sisters, essentially all of humanity. I agree that we should learn concepts of right/good actions and wrong (irresponsible, greedy, self-centered) actions. We can assess a situation without condemning a person.

When we judge, we place ourselves at a higher ground than the person whom we judge; we help feed our own ego in doing so. When we judge, we have in mind that we are better, wiser, even "holier" than another. Yet, we are all still very human and do NOT have knowledge and complete understanding of every situation - including precursory events, minute details, thoughts, feelings, the "big picture", and where the events lead to in the future. We are human, not God. Thus Judgment should be reserved for God alone.

Further, when we judge another, we hold up what we find wrong/offensive/evil, and our mind sees that instead of the person whom we have judged. If we hold this "sin" in mind when our thoughts are of that person, did we truly Forgive them? Is this the type of "Forgiveness" we seek for our own mistakes in this life?

Does "not judging" mean our hands are tied or we face the world with indifference? Certainly not! We do not judge the person, but we can assess an action or event. If we look at the event separate from the person, we can see what can be done. There is potential to do great good as well as great evil within every person. Our primary responsibility is to see the potential to do great good and see what we CAN do to enable that good to be accomplished, regardless of the past. That is a foundation for Forgiveness.

When we judge, we push the PERSON away from us, we condemn the person, not just the act. If we push the person away, there is no real way we can see the means to open paths to positive actions. We have shut the door.

We are called to be witnesses, not judges.

Do we see the good deep inside
Even when behavior helps it hide?
Do we open a path to a better day?
Or condemn & move on our way?

Be a witness to the good in another;
You will see your sister or brother.

- ESA

Ant and Grasshopper (Story)

(c) 2008 - Free to share or copy/paste provided story is not changed and you do not receive any funds in doing so.

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Ant and Grasshopper

Anita Ant and Gabrielle Grasshopper were cousins from the same town. Like many in small towns, they attended the same schools when they were younger, worked at the same place and lived near each other. But the one major difference between these two cousins is what they did with their spare time.

Anita would often walk around the neighborhood, stopping whenever she spied a neighbor out on their front porch or yard, and would wave to them as they went past in their cars. She always had a friendly smile and an open ear for anyone she came across, friend or stranger.

Gabrielle – Gabbie to her friends – spent all her spare time in the electronic world. If she was out for a walk, she had her cell phone to her ear and chatted with someone a great distance away. She also spent a great deal of time chatting with people online from around the world. She had many good friends online, almost more than the entire population in the small town they lived in.

One Monday, Anita saw Gabbie walking past her cubicle on the way to the restroom, she smiled and waved. Gabbie just walked right by obviously caught up in the conversation on her cell phone and she never saw the wave. Anita thought about this a moment and realized it had been weeks now since she actually traded more than two words with her cousin. She knew her cousin wasn’t mad at her or intentionally ignoring her, but was just caught up in her friends outside the town.

At lunch, Anita grabbed her plastic container from the pile of similar containers in the lunchroom fridge. She noted that Gabbie had yet to get her lunch. So she grabbed her cousin’s container and walked it back to her cousin’s cubicle. Gabbie was there, chatting online with three people via IM and holding a fourth conversation with someone on her cell phone. Anita placed the container to one side of the keyboard and patiently waited for her cousin to take a break and say “hi.”

The half hour passed quickly, and Gabbie didn’t even look up. She did nab the container, pulled a plastic fork from her drawer and started to eat, however. At the end of the lunch break, Anita, sighed and hoped that this wasn’t going to be the way her cousin behaved all the time.

As the days of the week passed, Anita realized that Gabbie treated all her co-workers the same way. Anita would take the time to get to know them and exchange news or stories with them during the breaks, but Gabbie was so wrapped up in people elsewhere, she had even stopped smiling and nodding greetings to her coworkers that saw her everyday.

Week by week, Anita realized this was also the case with people in the neighborhood and even when they both attended family gatherings. Gabbie was there physically but mentally she was in cyberspace or deep in conversation with someone miles away. Anita finally decided to bring this to Gabbie’s attention.

One Saturday morning – VERY early in the morning, Anita went over to Gabbie’s apartment and pounded on the door. She could hear a half-asleep Gabbie fumble around inside the apartment. The door swung wide and a disheveled head stuck out. She opened her mouth but only got out a startled “What the – ” before Anita jammed the door open with her foot and shoved a hot cup of coffee into her cousin’s hand.

“We really need to talk, Gabbie.”

Gabbie’s eyes widened in panic. “Someone died?”

Anita smiled. “Not quite, but close. You haven’t talked to anyone around here in almost two months now.”

“Whaddaya mean? I see you at work everyday?”

“See, yes. But we haven’t spoken in ages. You’re always on your cell phone and computer. Heck, girl, I even hear you in the bathroom stall! You really should take a moment and talk to the people around here too.”

“You’ve GOT to be kidding me, Anita! People around here are boring! Heck, we’ve all gone to the same school, had the same teachers, live the same lives. You and I even have the same jobs, for crying out loud! I want to connect with people from different backgrounds, different countries, different lives! The world is too wide to just keep yourself in one small town your whole life.”

“I agree with you there, I do go out online from time to time too. But I don’t sacrifice my life here, my contacts with those in this town. Gabbie, you didn’t even talk to anyone at Jimmy’s birthday party last weekend.”

“I was there, wasn’t I?”

“Yes, but you talked on that cell phone the whole time. You even had the laptop out a good part of the day. Couldn’t you have at least stopped talking on that cell phone long enough to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ with the rest of us?”

“So you’re upset that I didn’t sing???”

“You’re not getting it at all, are you?!?” Anita’s temper flared. “I give up! I tried but I don’t think there’s a way I could get it through your thick skull!” Anita stormed out of her cousin’s apartment.

Gabbie, shrugged, sipped her coffee and opened the laptop to check her email and see who was online. Even at this hour, someone in the world was awake.

Weeks turned to months. Gabbie and Anita’s uncle passed away and willed the duplex he owned to the two girls. Both were thrilled as their rents were rising faster than their paychecks.

When the day came to move, most of the company where they worked and a good part of the neighborhood showed up at Anitia’s apartment early to help her move. With the number of hands and vehicles they had, they were able to haul all her belongings over in one collective convoy and had her settled within three short hours.

As they passed the pizza boxes, beer and soda, they noticed Gabbie pulling up before the duplex. Anita looked around, no one had offered to help her cousin move. She tried to encourage a few of her closer co-workers and neighbors to go out and help, but many offered excuses such as being tired or that they had other plans for the afternoon. Some offered no excuse at all but simply refused to help.

After thanking everyone for their help and encouraging them to eat up the pizza, Anita went out alone to help her cousin with the first of many carloads.

While the two girls were wrestling a mattress onto the car’s roof for the third trip, Anita huffed, “What happened to all the friends you have? Couldn’t any of them help?”

Gabbie laughed and nearly slipped off the curb from where she wrestled with a rope, “Are you kidding? They’re thousands of miles away! They’re not going to come out here just to help me move!”

Anitia looked sadly at her cousin, “Who else is there to help you then?”

Gabbie froze as if the thought had taken hold a moment. Then she shrugged and replied, “Well, I have you, so I guess I can always depend on my family. Right?”

Thus Gabbie didn’t change her ways. The months became years. One day on the way home from work Gabbie was talking on her cell phone and didn’t hear the nearby car out of control. The driver’s side door of Gabbie’s car was completely crushed. Her cell phone flew from her hand, completely destroyed upon impact.

Gabbie woke up in the hospital. No cell phone. No laptop. No visitors.

Doctors and nurses came and went. The administrator said that both her place of work and family had been notified.

Hour by hour the time dragged. The little TV on the wall near the foot of her bed was definitely not as stimulating as being connected to the world had been. She was lonely – very lonely.

Hours turned around the clock once, night was over and day started again. Gabbie jumped a little when the phone rang beside her bed. Anxious to connect to someone – anyone – Gabbie answered the phone, “Hello?”

“Hi, Gabbie, it’s Anitia. I’m so sorry to hear about the accident. I just got the message this morning when I got into work. I’ll swing by after hours today, OK?”

“Is anyone else coming?”

“From here, no. Has anyone else from the family called?”

“No. Nobody since I woke up here yesterday. You’re the first.”

“Oh….. Well, you should see all the virtual cards that are pouring into your inbox. IT had to ramp up the server.”

“Swell…” Gabbie replied sarcastically as she sadly looked around at the empty white walls around her bed. She could see past the curtain all the cards and balloons and flowers her roommate had.

“Well, I need to get back to work, I’ll see you later. Bye….”

“… Bye.” Tears welled up in Gabbie’s eyes. All the friends she had. Where were they? Why hadn’t anyone come yesterday? Why is Anita the only one coming today? Where are her family members? Her co-workers? Her friends from the neighborhood and school? The people she saw everyday?”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she tugged the curtain between the beds a little to one side and smiled warmly to the stranger on the bed beside her. “Hi, there, my name is Gabbie Grasshopper. What’s yours?”

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-ESA

Twit-Gusted!

Those that follow my Twitter account closely may have noticed I dropped off twitter for a bit. Before I disappeared, I stopped thanking people publicly for re-postings/"retweets" (RTs), follow recommendations (FF), and mentions of my user-name in general.

While I still believe it's polite to thank someone when they recommend me, send greetings my way and sharing (RT) one of my posts that they liked, I came to realize that people like to see their user-name mentioned publicly on Twitter - including me. In order to perpetuate the mention of their user-name, some would re-post anything containing their user-name, including posts where I thanked a group of people.

This produced multiple copies of the same list, as one person would re-post it and others would re-post the re-postings, and so on. Soon my inbox was inundated with more nonsense re-posts than there were tribbles on the Enterprise!

All this is simply because people enjoy stroking their own and each other's egos. No useful information, inspiration, motivation, conversation or humor are in those posts, just repeated strings of usernames for the sake of seeing your name again and again.

It disgusted me when I realized what it was. Not only when I saw people do this earnestly every day, but also because I kept adding fuel to it when I continued to thank them publicly. I was also shamed because I also took delight in getting my ego stroked too as I jumped into the mutual masturbation circle.

I started to thank people privately through direct messages (DM's) on twitter and will probably continue to do so. But I had to take a step away from twitter - in disgust and shame.

How easy it was to start to love the feeling that welled within me when I saw my name mentioned, when I basked in the glow of recognition, and when I let that feeling steer me away from what I want to do with the tool twitter provides.

- ESA

Help from God (Story)

A recent debate on Twitter brought this story to my husband's mind. I wanted to share it with my readers:
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One day there was a bad storm causing tremendous flooding.

The whole area had been ordered to evacuate, but one man stood his ground and said, "No, I have Faith that God will save me."

All his neighbors left.

A jeep pulled up to his house and the driver called out, "Hey, guy, it's time to leave."

The National Guards pounded on his door, trying to convince him to leave.

He adamantly refused to leave, claiming, "No, I have Faith that God will save me."

The storm got worse, the water rose, lashing at the first floor windows.

A boat came by and the woman called out above the wind and rain, "HEY! You inside, you should have left earlier, but I can still get you to safety. It's time to go."

The man stayed inside, stubbornly refusing the assistance.

"No," he shouted back through a window, "I have Faith that God will save me."

The woman and boat moved on, searching for other survivors.

The waters continued to rise, eventually forcing the man up onto his roof where he clung to a chimney and prayed, "I still have faith in You, God. I know that You will save me."

A helicopter came.

The people within lowered a rope asking him to climb up.

He refused.

One of the rescuers lowered himself on another rope and tried to tie the rope around him.

He adamantly wrapped his arms around the chimney, hindering the efforts.

"No," he cried between clenched teeth, "I have Faith that God will save me."

With the storm's winds and rapidly rising water churning around his legs, the rescuer, at last, had to abandon the man to his fate and leave with the helicopter.

Soon after, the storm and the waters claimed the man on the roof -- drowning him.

The man found himself before the pearly gates of Heaven and stood puzzled before God.

"Why?" he asked. "Why? I had Faith that You would save me. Why did I drown when I had such Faith in You?"

God looked down at the man and shook His head sadly. "I sent you a jeep, a boat and a helicopter. What more did you want?"
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There are times when we expect God will send help in ways WE want. We seem to tell God how to save us, how to help us, how to behave.

When we do that, often we fail to see God working through others.

God does things His way, not ours.
Limit not His help to our concept.
His ways are not our ways.

-ESA

Trust of a Child

I spent the night at my sister's place visiting, but I woke up exceptionally early (before 4:30 AM) and logged online to find something to occupy my time.

I went to IM chat box first, but the only two friends "online" I knew were likely asleep, so I refrained from sending a post that may wake them, leaving them to dream in what Peace they may find.

I then wandered my way back to Twitter and skimmed through the tweets. My drive to go to Twitter every day had suddenly fallen off last weekend.

For the past week it felt as though I was tossed unanchored from wave to wave seeking more secure footing. I still had my guiding star in sight, but without secure footing, sometimes one gets a few mouthfuls of water to spit out before toes can dig into the sand and find the rock ledge beneath.

What my wandering heart and mind sought this early hour was not there. So I continued...

Instead of a gaming website (which I tended to visit when I could not find anyone I wanted to converse with online), I went to my blog and skimmed through the sites I follow.

There I found a few allegedly inspirational posts, but they seemed to fall dead at my feet this morning as I sat in the silent darkness before the first birdsong hearing only the rain pitter-patter on the walkway outside.

I also read a few humorous blogs; some made me smile, but not had me laugh nor lifted the darkness that seemed to grow more oppresive with each passing minute.

Then I came across my young niece's blog. She wrote of her 14-year-young problems with her mom, step-dad, friends and boyfriend. But she also wrote a lot about God and Jesus. Even when she did not name them, her faith shone through her words - clearly stating that no matter what she faced, God was there. She just had to put her trust in Him to see her through whatever life placed in her path.

I believe that was what my heart sought. So many times, I get so wrapped up focusing on stuff in my head, with work, with family, with discussions of what things written long ago may mean, I forget to take a still moment -- even one in the middle of the night -- and just listen to God's song in my heart, trusting Him and letting Him guide me where I need to be and with what I'm called to do. I know He is reaching out to me and to each and every one of us...

When that finally dawned on me, the first birdsong rang clear and true outside the window where I still sit. I clicked on the [New Post] button and decided to share this moment with you. It's very early morning; the sun barely kissed the sky with light and a lone bird greets the still morning outside. The song in my heart joins in it's song lifted to God.

Relive the faith of a child.
Believe He's reaching.
Trust in Him

- ESA

Smiles - Seen and Unseen

I often tweet or retweet these little messages on Twitter about sharing a smile. Many still do not realize the power that can be found in a smile.

• It can pick you up.
• It can say "I care."
• It can say "I'm here for you."
• It can say "I'm listening."
• It can make you smile in return - even laugh.

A smile costs the giver nothing but a thought and a touch from the heart.

We've all seen those smiles that are just upturns of the corners of the mouth but never touches the eyes. A genuine sincere smile sets the eyes sparkling with the warmth of love and friendship.

And then there are the unseen smiles..... These are the times when someone reaches out to us and touches our hearts in a way that causes us to smile from the warmth and love in that touch. We do not see the smile. Sometimes it's an email or a phone call. Or just words on the screen over the internet. But we respond to that with a smile of our own and somehow know they smile too.

I had such a moment this morning. I was a bit down from a restless night of bad dreams and the rain that rolled through the area this morning. I was going to dive into my workload today - disheartened - and then I thought to check my @ messages on Twitter one last time....

That's when I saw this: "how u doing today my good friend" and a beautiful smile lit up my face.

The day is actually getting brighter outside too as the rain moves off. But more, my dark mood is dispersing with the clouds beause these little words touched my heart and told me that I'm not alone, that someone out there is not only a friend, but is thinking of me at that moment. That friend cared enough to send me a quick note.

He didn't even realize that I was in a bad mood. But just thought to take the time and say "hi." What a world of difference it made. When was the last time I took a moment and say "hi" to someone like that? One never knows just how much that little "smile" may effect somebody's day today.

Share that special touch of love and friendship.
Share that smile.
Today.

-ESA

Ant and Grasshopper (Story)

Anita Ant and Gabrielle Grasshopper were cousins from the same town. Like many in small towns, they attended the same schools when they were younger, worked at the same place and lived near each other. But the one major difference between these two cousins is what they did with their spare time.

Anita would often walk around the neighborhood, stopping whenever she spied a neighbor out on their front porch or yard, and would wave to them as they went past in their cars. She always had a friendly smile and an open ear for anyone she came across, friend or stranger.

Gabrielle – Gabbie to her friends – spent all her spare time in the electronic world. If she was out for a walk, she had her cell phone to her ear and chatted with someone a great distance away. She also spent a great deal of time chatting with people online from around the world. She had many good friends online, almost more than the entire population in the small town they lived in.

One Monday, Anita saw Gabbie walking past her cubicle on the way to the restroom, she smiled and waved. Gabbie just walked right by obviously caught up in the conversation on her cell phone and she never saw the wave. Anita thought about this a moment and realized it had been weeks now since she actually traded more than two words with her cousin. She knew her cousin wasn’t mad at her or intentionally ignoring her, but was just caught up in her friends outside the town.

At lunch, Anita grabbed her plastic container from the pile of similar containers in the lunchroom fridge. She noted that Gabbie had yet to get her lunch. So she grabbed her cousin’s container and walked it back to her cousin’s cubicle. Gabbie was there, chatting online with three people via IM and holding a fourth conversation with someone on her cell phone. Anita placed the container to one side of the keyboard and patiently waited for her cousin to take a break and say “hi.”

The half hour passed quickly, and Gabbie didn’t even look up. She did nab the container, pulled a plastic fork from her drawer and started to eat, however. At the end of the lunch break, Anita, sighed and hoped that this wasn’t going to be the way her cousin behaved all the time.

As the days of the week passed, Anita realized that Gabbie treated all her co-workers the same way. Anita would take the time to get to know them and exchange news or stories with them during the breaks, but Gabbie was so wrapped up in people elsewhere, she had even stopped smiling and nodding greetings to her coworkers that saw her everyday.

Week by week, Anita realized this was also the case with people in the neighborhood and even when they both attended family gatherings. Gabbie was there physically but mentally she was in cyberspace or deep in conversation with someone miles away. Anita finally decided to bring this to Gabbie’s attention.

One Saturday morning – VERY early in the morning, Anita went over to Gabbie’s apartment and pounded on the door. She could hear a half-asleep Gabbie fumble around inside the apartment. The door swung wide and a disheveled head stuck out. She opened her mouth but only got out a startled “What the – ” before Anita jammed the door open with her foot and shoved a hot cup of coffee into her cousin’s hand.

“We really need to talk, Gabbie.”

Gabbie’s eyes widened in panic. “Someone died?”

Anita smiled. “Not quite, but close. You haven’t talked to anyone around here in almost two months now.”

“Whaddaya mean? I see you at work everyday?”

“See, yes. But we haven’t spoken in ages. You’re always on your cell phone and computer. Heck, girl, I even hear you in the bathroom stall! You really should take a moment and talk to the people around here too.”

“You’ve GOT to be kidding me, Anita! People around here are boring! Heck, we’ve all gone to the same school, had the same teachers, live the same lives. You and I even have the same jobs, for crying out loud! I want to connect with people from different backgrounds, different countries, different lives! The world is too wide to just keep yourself in one small town your whole life.”

“I agree with you there, I do go out online from time to time too. But I don’t sacrifice my life here, my contacts with those in this town. Gabbie, you didn’t even talk to anyone at Jimmy’s birthday party last weekend.”

“I was there, wasn’t I?”

“Yes, but you talked on that cell phone the whole time. You even had the laptop out a good part of the day. Couldn’t you have at least stopped talking on that cell phone long enough to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ with the rest of us?”

“So you’re upset that I didn’t sing???”

“You’re not getting it at all, are you?!?” Anita’s temper flared. “I give up! I tried but I don’t think there’s a way I could get it through your thick skull!” Anita stormed out of her cousin’s apartment.

Gabbie, shrugged, sipped her coffee and opened the laptop to check her email and see who was online. Even at this hour, someone in the world was awake.

Weeks turned to months. Gabbie and Anita’s uncle passed away and willed the duplex he owned to the two girls. Both were thrilled as their rents were rising faster than their paychecks.

When the day came to move, most of the company where they worked and a good part of the neighborhood showed up at Anitia’s apartment early to help her move. With the number of hands and vehicles they had, they were able to haul all her belongings over in one collective convoy and had her settled within three short hours.

As they passed the pizza boxes, beer and soda, they noticed Gabbie pulling up before the duplex. Anita looked around, no one had offered to help her cousin move. She tried to encourage a few of her closer co-workers and neighbors to go out and help, but many offered excuses such as being tired or that they had other plans for the afternoon. Some offered no excuse at all but simply refused to help.

After thanking everyone for their help and encouraging them to eat up the pizza, Anita went out alone to help her cousin with the first of many carloads.

While the two girls were wrestling a mattress onto the car’s roof for the third trip, Anita huffed, “What happened to all the friends you have? Couldn’t any of them help?”

Gabbie laughed and nearly slipped off the curb from where she wrestled with a rope, “Are you kidding? They’re thousands of miles away! They’re not going to come out here just to help me move!”

Anitia looked sadly at her cousin, “Who else is there to help you then?”

Gabbie froze as if the thought had taken hold a moment. Then she shrugged and replied, “Well, I have you, so I guess I can always depend on my family. Right?”

Thus Gabbie didn’t change her ways. The months became years. One day on the way home from work Gabbie was talking on her cell phone and didn’t hear the nearby car out of control. The driver’s side door of Gabbie’s car was completely crushed. Her cell phone flew from her hand, completely destroyed upon impact.

Gabbie woke up in the hospital. No cell phone. No laptop. No visitors.

Doctors and nurses came and went. The administrator said that both her place of work and family had been notified.

Hour by hour the time dragged. The little TV on the wall near the foot of her bed was definitely not as stimulating as being connected to the world had been. She was lonely – very lonely.

Hours turned around the clock once, night was over and day started again. Gabbie jumped a little when the phone rang beside her bed. Anxious to connect to someone – anyone – Gabbie answered the phone, “Hello?”

“Hi, Gabbie, it’s Anitia. I’m so sorry to hear about the accident. I just got the message this morning when I got into work. I’ll swing by after hours today, OK?”

“Is anyone else coming?”

“From here, no. Has anyone else from the family called?”

“No. Nobody since I woke up here yesterday. You’re the first.”

“Oh….. Well, you should see all the virtual cards that are pouring into your inbox. IT had to ramp up the server.”

“Swell…” Gabbie replied sarcastically as she sadly looked around at the empty white walls around her bed. She could see past the curtain all the cards and balloons and flowers her roommate had.

“Well, I need to get back to work, I’ll see you later. Bye….”

“… Bye.” Tears welled up in Gabbie’s eyes. All the friends she had. Where were they? Why hadn’t anyone come yesterday? Why is Anita the only one coming today? Where are her family members? Her co-workers? Her friends from the neighborhood and school? The people she saw everyday?”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she tugged the curtain between the beds a little to one side and smiled warmly to the stranger on the bed beside her. “Hi, there, my name is Gabbie Grasshopper. What’s yours?”

-ESA

Chain of Love

Since I posted Friday's blog in the wee hours of Saturday morning, I guess it's only fitting that I post Saturday's blog in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

I just saw something beautiful unfurl on Twitter that I've seen a few times recently. But everytime I see it, I'm still awed by the wonder of it.

One of my newest followers is in a great deal of pain. I caught sight of his posts just as I was logging off to head to bed after a long day. They not only caught my eye but my heart, so full of pain, anquish and feelings of utter loss and aloneness. :(

I said a quick prayer to God and followed my heart. All it took was one quick message, and before my eyes a cascade of messages filled with Love and support flowed into his inbox.

No, he is not alone. None of us are. We're all interconnected in this world. And God is with each and everyone of us as well, and often touches our lives in ways we may never expect.

Sometimes all we need to do is hold out our hand and have the faith that another will grasp it with one and reach out with the other, forming a chain of Love and compassion.

We can all make a difference.

Reach out.
Grasp.
Love!

- ESA

Twitterpated!

A friend of mine invited me to join Twitter. Like countless others, great and small, I did. In fact, I just posted a "tweet" (if that's the correct word) that I'm writing today's blog.

I also took my YouTube account (http://www.youtube.com/user/2008HLS) out of hiatus yesterday and started responding to all the PM's (personal messages) that arrived over the past week.

So now with FaceBook, YouTube, two blogs, and Twitter, I'm definately distracted from doing the work I should be doing. It makes me wonder if this is good or bad. I certainly cannot help thinking about a story I wrote last fall, The Ant and the Grasshopper.

In Disney's Bambi there was a term, "Twitterpated," which was essentially to mean "distracted to the point where the person doesn't see or hear what else is right there in front of them." It can be the result of a spring day or being newly in love. Of late, most of the world seems "Twitterpated" by all the different ways we now connect online, including "Twitter."

I really need to unplug from the internet and allocate some time back to what is really important in life - family, neighbors, friends - instead of perpetually being online and seeking more and more contacts worldwide. While this in itself isn't bad, it is bad when it's the only thing at the sacrifice of other relationships.

- ESA