I have to admit I was quite interested in the topic of the influence of social media or just media influence in general.  I always knew media could impact greatly in a number of ways, some positively and others, well quite negatively.  Media influence is real. How it affects people really depends on their ability to differentiate credible information from opinions, reality from fantasy, and the good stuff from the noise of negativity that some media bring. 

Admittedly, I'm not sure my brain is not wired for today’s times. There’s just way too much noise. Everywhere I turn there’s noise. News outlets, social media, technology applications, work expectations, personal responsibilities. Everything just runs together like a beautiful painting, water leaking onto its canvas. I wonder how many others are experiencing the same challenges of moving and grooving through all this noise. Your colleagues perhaps? What about your family? Do we stop and think about how this noise is affecting our loved ones? Our parents?

A generation that didn’t have the latest, greatest innovative stuff are now completely immersed in stuff, all kinds of it. In some ways it’s maddening. I observe the elderly at stores that only offer self checkouts, and unfortunately many retail stores ONLY offer self checkouts. Where there once was a checker to bag the goods and transport them to one's car, now there's no one.  In my world where relationships matter most of all, I find this to be just nuts! And what about these new wave quick shops. No one approaching their vehicles to our parents and grandparents pump their gas. And they better know how to insert that credit card and operate the pump, because that's the only way to pay - unless they go into the shop to pay in advance. I still long for the world where we helped our elderly navigate this very complicated world in which we all live. 

And what about our children? Do we even think about how all this noise will influence their very being as future adults of our world? We discuss how we must change to keep up with the technological shifts occurring all around us; after all, staying globally competitive requires our workforce to continually shift to more innovative ways. Perhaps we should be asking ourselves whether these significant technological shifts in all areas of our lives are paths we want to follow.  

It's shocking when I think about the amount of information available to human beings today, comparatively to the that which was accessible during my formative years. 

1970
I was a quiet child who would work and play independently. My verbal skills weren’t developed until a bit later but I would learn about the world as I experienced it, taking in every piece of information I discovered. This would begin molding me in ways that established my whole being. 

1980
Conceptualizing terms and operations in procedural ways created substantial challenges for me as a high school student. I was a big picture thinker who depended heavily on the use of imagination and the arts to gain understanding of the world. Breaking ideas apart in pieces and examining how they could fit together differently intrigued me.  

1990
Through the lens of multiple experiences, I began seeing the world differently and thus dreaming of what could be became my new way of planning for the future. I was definitely a dreamer! Confidence was reared through relationship development, as working with others and taking note of their style and adding some of those various pieces to my own personal repertoire established the leader in me. 

2000
Driven in a selfish sort of way to contribute more greatly to the community became my motivation. The realization that I could do more for others and feel more satisfied with myself was a critical factor in my personal and professional growth. Establishing big goals with aspirations of achieving each one became my driving force. Building relationships and delving into my hobbies with others along the way was an essential step in finding success.  

2010
Placing those I served first was the professional path to which I strictly adhered. It also became my personal mission. If success is measured by promotions and titles, I found it. Maintaining an organized professional and personal life was a struggle. Balancing family and work was a goal never achieved- and I erred greatly along the way, both professionally and most definitely personally.

2020
Too much noise with limited interaction in a world where building and maintaining relationships are central to who I am as a professional, an educator, a leader, a wife, a mother, and a friend is deafening and defeating. Navigating this new normal creates sleepless nights. My thoughts are overtaken by those little neurons that fire off sounds in the mind at warp speed that resemble a mac truck backing up, creating undeniable brain static.

I can’t help thinking only too often: I wonder if anyone else feels this way. Actually, I know, without a doubt, others do. The question is this: how do they navigate today’s times in a way that calms their mind with no overthinking, overdoing, overstimulation, which causes their thoughts to be clouded- which in turn affects everything.

Fortunately, I found some answers, those that work for me. I put them into play to help my life make sense. Perhaps they are not fitting for everyone, but my hope is one can walk away after reading this with something that is helpful in navigating the craziness of life as a result of this extraneous noise.

First, Just say no! Say no to social media and media influence. Take a break from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn. Step away from the television. Perhaps read books or listen to the audio versions.  I mean think about  how many hours you spend on social media or watching television. You can be an influencer without being on these platforms 24/7. Instead, build relationships, help others, send cards, texts, emails as a way to check in with others. Reach out via telephone. Dial away. Let others know you are thinking of them. 

Take some time to read Dale Carnegie's "How to win friends and influence people." The art of communication is a fine art, indeed. Establishing competencies in communicating with finesse will lead to professional success and personal growth. Sometimes turning to classic works with traditional self-help cues is just what is needed to change the world or, at the very least, change yours for the better.  

Take time to view the following videos. They provide some deep insights to the influence of media: 

• Social Media Isn't Even Real, Even If It Looks Like It Is
• Why You Should Quit Social Media
• Live in the Moment: Quit Social Media
• Why Social Media is Ruining Your Life
• Don't Like Clickbait

Second, Exercise daily. It’s the potion, the prescription to better health, as it reduces stress and calms the mind. Beginning the morning with a walk outside will increase blood flow to the mind, calming it and improving one's thought process and memory.  

And finally,
Train your mind to adopt this simple idea. Love others. How do you do this? Start reading. In fact, listen to audio books while walking- unless you find a walking partner.  Books like The Secret, The Alchemist, The Greatest Salesman in the World, Tuesdays with Morrie, among so many others inspire greatly. 

Get out of the rabbit holes and start meeting new people, enjoying all experiences. I began challenging myself by meeting as many new people as possible. My mantra - One person a day, hey whatta ya say - motivated me completely. Whether on the shuttle to the airport, on a plane or train, or visiting schools or hotels, I would approach different folks, introducing myself and asking questions. Did I ever meet some interesting and fun people! Explore the landscape and visit new places, embrace a new hobby, or meditate. Whatever you decide to do, make your activity meaningful and worth every bit of your time, for time is your most precious gift.  

We all communicate in our own way. I depend on emojis. If you ask my family, my friends, and even my colleagues, they would ALL say, "Oh yeah, she’s a big time emoji user!" All you have to do is view my Twitter profile and you will know without a doubt...I USE EMOJIS! In fact, I overuse them. And on purpose. One who reads any sort of narrative I post on social media or email I send out will find these cute ideograms and bright yellow faces with expressions that reflect how I'm feeling at that very point in time. They are dropped here and there throughout the text.  If you see my Facebook posts, you might find a heart emoji embedded in the message when communicating my own thoughts about the GOOD STUFF. Gosh, I really LOVE posting about the good stuff. And when I do, you will see the heart emoji EVERYWHERE! I hit that heart button again and again and again when responding to posts, most definitely if it includes kids, puppies, accomplishments, amazing dishes from new recipes, feel good stories, and the like. I click on that 'ole heart to illustrate my LOVE of the message or my LOVE for the people featured in the post. Maybe even both. So why is it I'm addicted to using emojis? It's simple. Let me explain. 🤷‍♀️

We have become a society that uses verbal communication in written form by way of texting, messaging, posting on social media, or emailing. 🤦‍♀️ This is how we communicate with our friends, families, acquaintances, colleagues, clients, bosses, businesses, and so on. Rarely do we pick up the telephone and make a call. Only when we know someone, really know someone, will we understand through written message one's heart, motive, or disposition. And if we don't have a close relationship with the individuals with whom we are communicating then misinterpreting their written words is likely simply due to the fact that one's writing style is very different from one's person to person interaction. Not everyone is great at written communication, which has resulted in and continues to create relationship challenges both personally and professionally.  There is a fix, however, and it's an simple one. 👇

Yes, we do have a means for helping others understand our true feelings when using written communication. It's using emojis. And that's exactly my WHY for using them!  Perhaps you will try them out, too! It's a way to brighten up your messages and make written communication that much more fun! 💕😍😊

I remember a time when simple defined my life. I was young and carefree but longed to be busier, to have lots more to do. I recall not caring for this simple life, but do I ever long for it now. 💕

When I was growing up in rural Batchtown, Illinois, I finally scored that perfect job, one that would provide me with some money in my pocket so I could purchase my own snacks at the local church picnic or ballpark concession stand. It felt good, you know, to make my own money. I felt so accomplished. With the sweat that came with hard work and a tired body at the end of a work shift, I took delight in accomplishing my goals.  I was ten.  That's right, ten years old.   I'll never forget my first day. A very young and naïve girl arrived at the barn where this sturdy, confident gentleman greeted me and my brothers, ready to share what would be required of us. His name: Otto "Butch" Klaas. He was the owner of one of the local apple orchards. I really liked him. He was patient and kind, taking time to show us the expectation and answer questions. He would explain and model our work responsibilities multiple times until we clearly understood our assignment. I learned that my brothers and I would be charged with picking up apples from the ground, those that fell off the apple trees. Let me be clear. We were not picking apples from the trees. That was a job saved for the adults and older teens, as you had to be a bit taller to reach the limbs and sometimes you had to stand on a ladder. We were just kids, responsible for filling crates with those ripe apples that simply fell onto the ground when the fierce wind blew. With every filled crate, we would earn fifty cents. One crate of apples would get me five fire Jolly Rancher sticks or Pixie Sticks or two small candy bars. I was so motivated to fill those crates. I generally filled about twelve, which would earn me five dollars and some change considering taxes and all.  

I'll never forget that experience, my first job. Yep, picking up apples! Did I ever learn a lot during my childhood employment. I learned the importance of placing value on things that often get overlooked. Who would've thought all those apples that fell to the ground would be worthy of being picked up and saved and cleaned and packed to be sold.  What I learned was those fallen apples are synonymous to the pennies we drop, the people we disregard, and the jobs or tasks in which we fail to engage.  Thus, we could have more money if we placed value on all those pennies, for they add up. How many relationships we can make to improve our lives if we take time to get to know those who can do nothing for us from a materialistic point of view. The knowledge and skills we can learn if we humble ourselves to do the work that some believe isn't worthy of their time. 

Every opportunity is a blessing. I say...value your pennies, enjoy chance meetings, and grab that opportunity that appeals to you, even if it doesn't involve a possibility for career advancement. You get one life to build a repertoire of positive experiences. Make 'em all count! 💖

So I was invited to serve on a board for a college program. Well truth be known, a really good friend passed on the invitation to me. She thought I’d be the perfect person to serve. After reading through the description and with each new sentence I was growing more and more excited about this opportunity. Serving on this board would provide experiences to network with like-minded professionals who absolutely believe in the importance of the customer experience. The director of the program who sent the invitation to my friend followed up with an invitation to me, asking that I schedule an appointment on her calendar. I must admit I thought that was a bit odd. I thought she’d want to talk with me and learn a bit more about me before investing thirty minutes in a conversation. I went ahead and scheduled for later the next week and when the time came I jumped on the call.  I thought I was hopping on ZOOM, but actually it was a telephone call through Zoom. Again, I was a bit taken aback by this. This college director was looking for a professional to serve on this program board and you have access to Zoom, an application that allows an interviewer to see the interviewee. Isn’t this important, especially when selecting the viability of a board candidate?  When I jumped on the call, I was greeted by a young professional. I immediately responded by offering a friendly hello followed by the name of the director.

"Hello Lori. I’m not actually the director. She has tasked me with speaking to you." 

Really? I was deeply saddened by this director's behavior. She actually assigned OUR talk to one of her assistants. Immediately I knew I was no longer interested in this program, serving on the board, having this conversation, nothing. I was completely done. The assistant's greeting communicated her director's opinion: YOU are not important enough for my time so I'm passing you off to my assistant.

Of course, I was respectful and gracious to the young lady on the phone. It certainly wasn’t her fault. I answered her questions. She then explained the program, which is when I learned that I not only would be required to participate, but I would have to pay a fee to do so. Of course, the fee is significantly lower than what students would pay. 

"Say what?" was my immediate internal response. I declined and thanked the assistant for her time. 

I'm still shaking my head after participating in that conversation. If I could offer one piece of advice it would be THIS:  If it's important and involves people, make the call, have the conversation, take the time.  If the program is worth it, make sure you put the same amount of worth in the people you are attempting to recruit. 

My Hope, My Truth, I Stand with You was inspired by today's times.  So encouraged by what I see in others, I thought it was a time for me to use my voice and limited skills by writing a song that emphasizes the behavior I hope to see in others. I am committed to stand with any person who experiences being treated in a way that lacks compassion and concern for others, and, most importantly, LOVE. ❤

The only word that comes to mind when thinking of child abuse is WHY? Why would any adult harm an innocent child? I found myself reflecting on the WHY behind child abuse so often. It's my motivation for enlisting in the United States Marine Corps as a military police officer. This experience would provide me with the training I needed to practice law enforcement. Concluding my military stint, I could then transition to civilian life with the experience necessary to land a job with a police department. I soon discovered that serving as police officer would allow the opportunity to react to child abuse cases after they had already occurred, meaning I could help with an investigation and follow the cases, but ultimately I had limited to power to do anything at all. I desired to do more, to be more impactful by serving as a protector, an advocate who might recognize this behavior early and prevent abuse from happening - before it is too late.  This is when I decided, without a doubt, that education is for me, I worked as teacher, school leader, and district superintendent. I've been privy to information no one would want to hear or know. I've seen too much, which is the motivation behind this song.  What follows are words from an onlooker who recognizes the abuse is occurring,  speaking on behalf of the victim and revealing the actions of the perpetrator.  Ultimately, peace, love, and justice are found. 🙏