Why do I love the internet?

Yesterday I was reminded just how awesome the internet has been to me. I was headed to an appointment when I saw a woman walking toward me in a super cute pair of red boots. When I was able to tear my eyes away from her footwear, I realized I knew her. I’d had phone conversations and emails with her. We just hadn’t met face to face. We stopped and had our “Oh My God!” moment and hugged each other fiercely. That meeting made my week…heck I think it made my November.

When I go on job interviews and try to explain to the hiring manager why I’ve chosen to move from media buying to web development, I don’t think I articulate just how amazing my online experiences have been and how much it means to me.

My internet journey began with a WebTV. I bought it because my brother told me we could use it to meet up and talk in the chat rooms and it’d be cool. (And it was way cheaper than buying a computer and a subscription to AOL.) But chatting with my brother ended up becoming secondary to chatting with all the amazing people I met online. We’d discuss how to build websites (on GeoCities) using our WebTVs, (not so easy when you have no way to upload images ) share our love of Science Fiction, and bond over hardships as well as celebrate joys in life. Almost 15 years later, I’m still friends with many of those people. I’ve even met some of them in person. They are all very dear friends.

Even now I’m still meeting fabulous people online either through social media or online communities. I’ve found soul sisters, mentors, coaches and an amazing support system through my online friends. The internet has helped me to build a community, a family, of people that I can turn to with all kinds of different questions and issues.  I want so much to be able to create and add to this resource I’ve found. I want to help other people see what I’ve seen and find the same kind of community that I’ve found. I want to help people see the power in the internet. I want everyone to know what I know. Social media isn’t just another way for businesses to sell you things you don’t need. It’s a way for you to reach out to others and connect. Give it a try!