Today's Thoughts

Social Media.

It has truly changed the way we communicate nowadays and find our news. There have been several occasions where I have found out information through Facebook before I hear about it on the news for myself. I remember when I first heard of Osama Bin Laden's death, I was logging in to check the status updates of my fellow Facebook friends to see the string of updates announcing the historical news. I'm sure I was not alone - but it was interesting how quickly news spreads via Facebook and how much more I check into that social media versus the real news.

It's crazy to think how our world is changing and seeing the future now as to how we communicate. Social media opened the doors to endless ways technology can change our life - for the better or worse, that's debatable. Personal information security seems to be a victim to the growing social networks and mobile apps, but I feel these can be kept minimal as long as people are smart about their information.

So this topic of social media was sparked when I was browsing through the Mashable website of social media news to find the top tweets about President Obama supporting same-sex marriage. This news caused a stir of activity buzzing across the Internet within a matter of seconds after Obama made his announcement. 

I just find it so fascinating how people are now creating conversation online so quickly and to hear news from the real source rather than waiting for the local news to pick up the story. I think that's what makes social media so interesting and provocative. There is no fluff built up by the media portraying these stories. It's real time, it's raw, and it's authentic.

It is also rapidly evolving. 

Companies and businesses are constantly trying to stay up to speed on the "next big thing." Several months ago, no one would recognize "pinning" as a new social media verb, but today, the popular new social media, Pinterest, exploded with users. I guess that constant change and evolution is what is so appealing to so many. There has never been such a revolutionary marketing tool like this and the growing popularity and unknown future keeps us all on our toes for what is to come next.

What will be the next big thing? Guess we will find out soon enough. But I would put money on the chance of you hearing about it first on Facebook or Twitter.

Neverending Travels

Traveling. Exploring. Adventure.

Ever since I could remember, I have always had a hunger for adventure and traveling. I knew I wanted to see as much of the world as possible before I kicked the bucket. I am glad to say that craving for adventure hasn't left me as I have grown up. I still have managed to squeeze in little travels and trips each year, and for that, I am very thankful.

I know there are several people out there still who may have never left their home state. My parents rarely went on vacations or traveled beyond the border states or even out of the country. And they are perfectly fine with that. But for me, I like to escape out of my bubble from time to time.

This topic kind of sparked in my mind recently from my recent plannings for this summer. I just booked a trip over labor day to visit my good friend who lives in northern California and may also be in the works of planning a roadtrip to see a concert in WI in July. Both trips have got me pretty excited. :) I think that excitement, anticipation for adventure, and just a break from the ordinary routine make traveling such a thrill. Even if the trip isn't very elaborate, I just enjoy them.

To sum up this thought, I just want to say that I have appreciated all my travels I have done each year - even on my low college student income - I've managed to splurge on these trips and I really don't regret spending money on any of them. They were all great life experiences and as a part of this blog I hope to have a travel portion to document my adventures. Now onto my other adventure...work. Got to pay for these travels somehow :-p

*~There are no shortcuts to any place worth going ~*

First Posting

So here is my first blog posting. It's been a while since I've blogged on a regular basis before. It was back in the day of Xanga (yes, back in good ol' days before Facebook and even Myspace) where I use to post regularly on my daily insights. Since then, I have fallen off the blogging bandwagon.

But recent blog readings have inspired me to start up another alternative pastime rather than creeping away on Facebook :)

Some of the reasons I wanted to start up a blog again is to improve myself as a writer and photographer, serve as another outlet to share my findings with friends and act as another online journal of my life. I have always enjoyed documenting my personal history and with the advancement of technology and social media, blogging has become more interactive and creative which thrills me.

I have several goals I hope to achieve with this blog. I hope to look back at my postings and find memories of those days in my life - albeit extraordinary days of excitement or just a typical uneventful day - I love memories. Reading about past thoughts have always been entertaining for me to go back to that moment in your life just by reading a few of your own words back in the day. It's like a virtual time vault. Reminds me of the shoebox you keep under your bed of past love notes, ticket stubs, random photos. It's refreshing and nostalgic.

I also hope to unearth more of my creative side. I love photography and creative edits. I feel that I have lost a bit of that desire within recent years with events in my life becoming so busy being an adult now. I don't want to lose that part of myself so I hope to keep that part alive and kicking by posting photography projects or fun photos I find online. I have always found them insightful along with memorable quotes. I am definitely a quote junky so I will be posting those frequently as well.

Lastly, I hope to conquer short-term and long-term goals. I love making lists, but it's much more rewarding to cross those items off my list and having a virtual reminder of my goals are a bigger motivator to accomplish them. I find no matter where you are at in life or how satisfied you are, there is always room for growth and improvement. Having a list of goals helps you stay focus and that is something I hope to strengthen more with this blog.

I lied....I guess one last final goal I hope to achieve with this blog. I would like for this blog to create another social outlet for my friends and family to connect. If some strangers decide to follow, that is great as well. I hope to provide some inspiring thought, but I am no extraordinary person or public figure. I'm just an average girl seeking to discover more of myself as it is in development. It's a great feeling when you realize you can still surprise yourself. *~

So this is mostly a blog for myself, but if I can create a spark of thought in someone's mind today, that would be okay with me. :)

-Until my next snapshot in life,

Hi-D