There seems to be a growing section of people – who consider the time spent on line as “wasted”. Pinterest, Facebook, Forums, Blogging.  All seen as “less than productive” time by those who don’t do it.

This past month, I have not had as much time as I desired to be on the laptop, I got to checking off and on all day with the iPods, but that means that my blogging, replying, posting, sharing links, pinning – all went down drastically.

And what I found – is that I missed the people.  Those virtual friends that hang out in the same spots and times as I.  I miss hearing Kristi’s crazy antics, being encouraged by Tricia, being inspired by Phyllis to bring in more hands on learning and dig deeper into learning, being held accountable and encouraged by Barb.  The wonderful conversations with my morning gang on Facebook. The camaraderie on The Crew Forum. The sharing of our lives in the blog reader.

Over the last two years, we are getting used to the random phone call – “I read your blog – and I’m traveling 101 up the coast and we’d like to meet your family”.  This weekend – a group of gals that hang out on line – met on line – came to the coast, rented a house, and had a great weekend of chat. I must say, that those first few minutes were a bit strange. Talking to a person, whom I only knew as a photograph, a gravitar. Giving sound, voice, personality, character to those typed words and photographs. They spent some time at the Mil Mar, we spent time on the beach, and we spent A LOT of time eating together.

I have to ask the question above, How much time are you wasting on Facebook. Not how much time are you spending online . . . but how are you using that time? I urge you – to spend some time today, commenting, liking, replying, pinning – being an encouragement to others as they walk through their days.  Who will be less lonely because of your click? Who will feel validated because of your comment? Who will have a bit of courage poured into them to continue on one more day?  You don’t know what is happening on the other side of their screens. But you can spread joy, with abandon, it costs nothing.  Don’t waste your time. Use it.