Thank you for spending a few moments with this ever-curious Placid-Adventurer as I share my thoughts and explorations…. remember follow The Placid Adventurer page on Facebook.

  • Social Media… A blessing and a curse!

    I remember when I first explored social media… It brought me incredible joy!

    You know how life takes you down some roads, you later wish you had not explored? Well, I had been there, and done that, and it caused me to lose touch with many people who meant a great deal to me. In the early 21st Century, I returned to the bosom of family(and what I always consider a divine intervention), which helped me sever some constricting ties, and get back on my feet. I had left behind pretty much everything, but mostly, I wanted to reach out to those old friends I had been unable to stay in touch with. It took some effort, but eventually we reconnected, and another part of my world was made whole. Now I’m not saying that I couldn’t have found them without social media, but, it certainly helped!

    Later, It was a way to locate like-minded individuals for political affiliations, explore the dating-pool, and learn more about events and attractions in the surrounding area. Fast forward another decade, and its the way we stayed entertained and connected with friends and loved ones during the pandemic. Essentially, there are pros and cons surrounding social media, but when I really get fed up over threats to our freedom of speech, or get mired down by the disparaging comments of people who have no tolerance for perspectives different from their own; I reflect on how many people I would lose touch with, and I realize that I am, in a sense, held hostage by my desire to keep these people in my life. It entertains me to realize that I have more friends from my high school class, now, than I did when I was in high school, and social media is responsible for bringing these adult-versions together.

    On a daily basis, social media reminds me of appointments, aids in my job search, and helps me find the best gas price in town. I can share pictures with family and friends, or the entire internet, in the blink of an eye, and even get feedback on products I may be shopping for. While I am convinced that it can be addictive (I have told my partner that he needs a twelve-step program for Reels); Social Media enriches our lives in many ways. When no one here at home wants to listen to my rant about federal spending, I can blow off steam on Facebook. When I want to encourage Baby-Boomers to live their best life away from a recliner, I can preach from my blog, The Placid-Adventurer (A work in Progress). Social Media certainly creates some controversy, but just the fact that we have the ongoing conversation about freedom of speech and expression, means that we are better off with it, than without it!

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you use social media?
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  • Every day is a New Adventure….

    …although not necessarily a “fun” adventure. I am still embroiled in the job search, and it is just a roller coaster of hopefulness and disappointment. Fortunately, at some point I was responsible enough to put something back for a rainy day, although I had intended it to be my retirement fund. I have always taken advantage of savings plan opportunities in the workplace (because its easier to save the money that never touches our hands). That said, I have found it necessary to raid those accounts numerous times over the years, just to stay afloat. All I can tell you, is that at each of those junctions, I thanked myself for having been at least minimally prudent. Naturally, my partner is on top of many of our household expenses, but I am able to pay my pesky student loans, and avoid defaulting on any of my personal debt. I am very grateful for him, but never want to be a burden on anyone. As such, my job search is akin to a job, and even when I have a whiff of inspiration, I really “need” to get away from this keyboard.

    So, earlier, I alluded to my student debt. I am not sorry that I incurred it, and I have never expected someone else to shoulder that burden. I had an opportunity to go to college as a youth, but I was stubborn and rebellious, and when my father poo-pooed my desire to go to an art college, I decided to “teach him a lesson,” and not go to college at all. The irony was, that while my father was dreadfully upset at my infuriating decision to shun the collegiate opportunity he was prepared to provide; I was too busy “cutting off my nose to spite my face,” to consider the real ramifications of my choice.

    I had always been an avid learner; interested in everything, and as passionate about knowledge, as I was about my art work. It had simply never, ever, entered my mind that my parents would expect me to pursue some kind of “business-related” schooling instead. I will never forget my father belittling my desire to study art, by asking “are you going to just put a shingle in front of your house proclaiming yourself a “starving artist?” My soul was deflated, and my rebelliousness spurred a self-inflicted downward spiral that would endure for years.

    Well oops…gotta go… evidently there is a little problem in the basement that I must attend to… Make it a great day!

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