MY SUNSHINE

I often wonder if what I do actually makes a difference, or even matters to anyone else but myself.  Most of the time my wondering screams back: invalid search.

The reason I bring this up, at this time, is because my illicit affair with social media, image building and internet presence is just a wee bit beyond the one-year stage. 

I say illicit because I was pretty much shamed into sticking my toes into places where I am, at best, merely a friendly intruder. 

Yes, I’m an example of a Hot-Top-Fringer, or #HTP for those Twitter hashtag addicts. 

You have a hot topic?  Well, here I am.  I’m your Hot-Top-Fringer.  My motto is: “I lurk, so you don’t shirk.”    

I tweet.  I tweet-up.  I write things on this website.  I even give Facebook a shot every so often.  I strive for modest success and respect.  I ride the whole scene of current trending, website reinforcement, and personal branding upon a cloud of spit and duct tape.  And I’m a fraud.

Why am I a fraud?  It’s very simple.  I am not trying to build a business.  I’m not trying to make money by writing frothy fiction or skewed reality.  I’m in it for the SUNSHINE.

Yes, you heard me right.  I’m in it for the SUNSHINE.    

I enjoy the happiness of being involved.  I enjoy witnessing enthusiasm.  I insist upon voicing my opinions.  I like foolishness for the sake of honest expression.  I like humor.  I like words.  I like words that are naughty and words that are nice.  (A monetary honorarium is not hateful.  It could be counted as a SUNSHINE thing.)  I like the SUNSHINE things.

So, now, where does the shame figure in this expose?  Cancer is the reason -- cancer, and the ‘poor, poor pitiful me’ who needed to be shamed into admitting that I still had the ability to think and to continue experiencing life.

“You’ve got to join Twitter,” insisted my son.  And, so, I did.  @pressmaam became a twittering fool in a short time.

Then he talked me into getting a website.  Pressmaam became a blabber.  Oops, I mean a blogger.

Since like tends to gravitate towards like, my son’s suggestion that I follow/join-in our local Social Media Club and BMPR (Business, Media, Public Relations) groups’ activities made sense.  Pressmaam moved to the in-person experience.  Methods and thinking undergo changes over the years, but some hard basics remain.  My work experience fit.

That’s it folks.  Needs and solutions met, and something that seemed impossible, very simply, made a huge impact on my life.  I’ll admit that I am not always ready or able to attend gatherings, but I really enjoy the ones I can attend.  The various Camp (instructional classes) efforts are always tempting, and I hope to do at least one. 

It’s also very nice and healing to be able to say the things that have been said here. 

I still struggle with the known and the unknown, and that struggle is the very reason I decided to write this, at this time. 

I’m still in it for the SUNSHINE.  And I hope you all find your SUNSHINE, too.