Friday, March 30, 2012

Tweet Responsibly

Years ago, I created my Twitter account. At first I was curious why most of my friends were into it, then eventually I got myself hooked into "tweeting" after signing up.

The upsides. No remorse, the micro-blogging site is very interesting. It had been an outlet to express my thoughts and feelings, share my ideas and concepts, connect my assumptions and beliefs, showcase my values and practices, etc. I also find it challenging because in order to tweet, it has to fit in to a 140 (or less) alpha-numeric characters. Though I must admit, sometimes, it's not enough for me to share what is going on around me. Well, that is the challenge. My vocabulary has improved, I began to creatively write again, and I started to be an optimistic person -- these are the changes that Twitter has influenced me. It goes to show that when you follow the right person, you will benefit to having a better, fun, positive disposition in life.

The downsides. Unfortunately, we all have our own points of view. My "like this" and "love that" could be "hate it" to others. The fun for me is an embarrassment for my readers. Then here comes the birth of the haters and the bashers. The followers are using the social media to criticize and judge other people. Sometimes, their tweets are below the belt. I also read some "innuendoes" or indirect tweets indicating criticism or disapproval, hence, Twitter war is common nowadays.

The bottomline. First, learn to understand the other people's tweet. As a follower, you do not know all the things going on and so are the reasons behind every tweet. Respect is the key. Second, if you disagree or want to express your disapprroval, tweet in a nice way. No need to fight.

To all of us on Twitter, let us tweet responsibly. Make use of this site to build bridges, not burn. We are here to connect, and not to disconnect. Keep in mind that once you share private jokes, comments, and opinions online, you are making it available for public consumption.

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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Sunday Slowdown

After a long, busy week, everyone is always looking forward to spending a stress-free weekend, especially Sunday. To be honest, I know no one hates this day -- a day when one is entitled to just sit back, lounge around, and allow not to do a single thing, except hearing a mass.

While other families opt to go on an out-of-town trip, or choose to just spend quality time at home watching their favorite shows, or decide to gad around the malls, visiting a spa or a massage parlor is one thing a family may include to be part of their Sunday activity. In an hour or so, one may temporarily bring all concerns away and leave most worries behind. It will be fleeting yet surely a great way to relax and bond among the members of the family.

Regardless if you are a student, an employee, a mother, or whoever you are in the world we live in, you need a day-off. Drop your pen. Remove your apron. Play your favorite music. Sing your heart out. Dance the day away. Forget about your diet and your figure. Don't mind the chores. Pamper yourself. Enjoy the day. Do at least one of these for once. Nothing is wrong in taking a break. People, from different walks of life, deserve a Sunday slowdown.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Keep the Passion Burnin'

Remember your childhood years, when you unconsciously keep on repeating things that you love doing? For some it may be drawing, others like cooking or baking, then there’s a bookworm who spends much time reading. These are just concrete examples of hidden passion. At such a young age, there is this strong desire of which one enjoys doing.

Unfortunately, not all children were given equal chances to pursue what they are passionate about. Due to unavoidable circumstances, one cannot be able to enhance his/her innate ability. But mind you, somewhere, somewhen, someday, that natural skill will come out unexpectedly.

It will never be too late to start doing your passion again. In my case, I am a frustrated writer. Creative writing was my secret pastime when I was younger. It was my way of expressing my thoughts and delivering my feelings. This may also be the reason why I signed up on a micro-blogging site, Twitter. I just cannot believe that though many years have passed, I still love composing essays.

I would like to thank a good friend, Eric Capacia, who encouraged me to write again. Now that I’m starting to blog, expect more entries from me. Like his advice to me, I would like to end my very first entry with the exact words he has told me, “do whatever makes you happy and keep the passion burnin’.”

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