Connections

Me and Sheila Jeffries at Glastonbury Abbey

Photographer - really friendly but name unknown...

September 2015.

One of the greatest things that has happened in my lifetime is the ability to connect with people around the world via social media.

On this trip to the UK, Sheila and I created the opportunity to connect. I have "known" Sheila through Twitter for approximately 3 years and one of my main goals on this trip was to be able to meet her in person. 

It would be natural to be somewhat nervous with one another when meeting in our physical embodiment for the first time but we were quite at ease. For my part, it is not hard to be at ease with Sheila as, aside from being a brilliant writer and visual artist, she is one of the kindest, most sincere, people I have ever met. 

Please take a few moments to enjoy her website for information on her books and the projects she has undertaken in her life to date - not the least of which is planting an entire forest with her husband, Ted, in Cornwall in the south of England. 

Also, I was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to visit two wonderful twitter / blog friends in West Cork: April Danann @DanannSpl4ces and Trich Deeney @TrichDee. Sadly, this adventure will need to wait for my next visit, but I am eternally grateful that they welcome me to their land and their lives. 

Before coming here, I planned the trip with my cousin through Facebook Messenger and after 32 years of physical distance (though our hearts and souls are never separated), we have developed a wonderfully comfortable way of being with one another in person. 

Without social media, it would be far more difficult to be in contact and maintain relationships with my friends overseas and my family.

I feel these are fine examples of our lives being what we make of them. There is no question that people do use social media to spew vitriolic, unkind hate speak because of anger and fear, but there are as many examples of acts of loving kindness through this form. Find these people, the ones sharing their love and kindness, and share with them. Let the warmth radiate through time and space. This will create a beautiful example and legacy. I am astounded by the potential of these powerful tools of technology when they are used for well-being.

Use your social media powers for good. Use them to put forth your thoughts with as much truth and kindness as you are able. Let your ripple effect embrace others with loving kindness. Even when you disagree, try to express your opinion from a place of love and kindness. 

I find it wonderful to use these tools to come together across the world. I have met many of the people I know back in Victoria, British Columbia through social media. I use it to maintain relationships I have built with those I cannot see often because of distance or heavy travel schedules. I love to use it when I am travelling - to share my experiences with my circles. 

I know it can be used frivolously and it can be a massive time suck, but I feel it is up to me to manage that possibility.

Anyway, nothing earth-shattering or brilliant here - just my gratitude for the potential and a reminder of the gifts many of us have at our fingertips and the possibility to do good through sharing through these tools - tools which many people do not have because of poverty and accessibility. 

I am aware of the privilege of having the devices used to share with people in this way and hope that we can get technology into the hands of those who do not have it for, perhaps, through connection we can balance the scales a bit, share what we have with others and open our hearts to the ways and means of distant friends.

I am grateful to each of you who read these posts and to each of you who choose to reach out through social media with a good heart, with love and kindness. I am grateful for the opportunity to have met some of you in person, on this journey and others, and I look forward to the many relationships ahead as each one teaches me and enriches me on my path. May I be fortunate enough to bring as much to you.

In gratitude,

-Gillian Cornwall, c. September 27, 2015

Big Ben - Reminder that there is time,

time to reach out to one another with a good heart

Gillian Cornwall, c. September 25, 2015