Twitter Trends: Trash or Treasure?

 

You’re on Twitter? So you know that sidebar with all the trends. It’s loaded with absurdity like #RuinAMovieWithBacon, #DescribeYourPoopIn4Words, and #LiesWeTellOurPetGiraffes.

Then there are the ones with celebrity break-ups, fall-outs, nose jobs, nose rings, weight gain, weight loss, and what color their hair was yesterday. It’s fascinating. Really.

There’s also breaking “news” trends (a.k.a. target practice). They scream, “Feeling aggressive? Ready for a virtual fight? Let your anger out right here!” And people do.

Sometimes there are awesome trends, like #Hemingway, #Shakespeare, or #EmilyDickinson with fabulous quotes for nerds like me. Also, I have learned about some incredibly cool “holidays” like National Coffee Day and National Chocolate Day.

It’s a mix. A dizzying display of words, names, places, and opinions.

I tend to ignore them but with their bright bold font, it’s difficult not to at least notice them. Which is, of course, the point. And occasionally (before someone rats me out) I’ve been known to #RuinADateIn3Words or something equally silly.

When I looked up the definition of “trending”, it actually had Twitter in the definition. I am quite serious. To be fair, that was online so I’ll smooth my ruffled feathers or dunk in the birdbath or whatever.

 

trend

verb

gerund or present participle: trending

1. change or develop in a general direction.

          “unemployment has been trending upward”

          “interest rates are trending up

          “the Richelieu River trends northward to Lake Champlain”

2. (of a topic) be the subject of many posts on a social media website within a short period of time.

          “I’ve just taken a quick look at what’s trending on Twitter right now”

 

Do you notice trends? Steal a glance to see if there’s something you’re interested in? Pointedly ignore them? Or actively seek them out to tweet about?

 

 

My Sunday thoughts in 200 words or less.

 

Venus & the Crescent Moon

 

Mother Nature reminded me again last night to appreciate its beauty by simply looking up.

It was twilight when I looked out the window and caught a glimpse of the sliver of moon calling me.

As I stepped outside, I noticed Venus was shining, sparkling, bright directly above the waxing crescent moon. It was breathtaking. While the soft blue sky slowly turned cerulean then indigo, I just stood there, feeling at once very small and also as if my Self could not possibly be contained in my human body – I was connected to these celestial bodies.

The feeling of being part of something larger is a conundrum. It’s intimate – I want to keep this for myself yet share it with the world.

I am sharing this moment, as I have before, of looking up.

Whether there are glittering snow-covered branches, rich orange autumn leaves, pale rays of sunshine filtering through pine trees, or dragon-shaped clouds, nature is there. If you look, it will provide peace, calm, joy, wonder.

We are too often looking down or not looking at all – not paying attention to what is around us, never mind what is above us.

Look up, gentle readers.

 

 

My Sunday thoughts in 200 words or less.

 

Missing the Point (Business with Heart)

 

Both my kids attended a day camp last week. On Friday, parents were invited to come by and see what their kids had created then watch a slideshow of students having fun and learning stuff. Cute.

After all the iPhones were put away and children carted off by their parents, my 11-yr-old showed us a rocket he made from an upcycled paper towel tube. It was pretty cool.

My 8-yr-old showed us, with a huge smile, all the things he created. They were…interesting. I’m not an artist and have not passed any artistic gene on to him. What caught my eye was his “business” venture.

I asked him about it and he told me students were supposed to think about something going on in the world that inspired them to start a business. Key word here was “business” and, as my 11-yr-old pointed out, my 8-yr-old had done it wrong. Technically, he did. This wasn’t the assignment at all. He missed the point of entrepreneurship entirely. And it wasn’t the prettiest project.

But I’m not sure that his homeless shelter, upcycled on a granola bar box, wasn’t the most beautiful inspired business on display.

 

 

My Sunday thoughts in 200 words or less.