We're Okay, Twitter. I think.

I joined Twitter exactly one year ago on February 20th, 2021. I meant only to dip my toe in social media; I want to find an online community of like-minded creatives and see if it helped me feel less isolated. I quickly realized I wasn't a good fit for the writers on Twitter (and that was definitely because of me and my day job, not them.) Textile art, my next biggest interest, seemed the direction to go. So I started posting pics of my quilting and embroidery and looking at other creatives doing the same.

It's been an interesting twelve months. I've met a small circle of quilters and artists who do amazing work, and a few other people who don't sew but are bright souls. Sometimes it can be very random, but so is life. I think the most private thing I've posted was how I felt losing my mom last April, and then offering consolation to someone who tweeted about losing her dad to Covid. But mostly it's been about creativity and what we make, do and see. I've been endlessly inspired by these folks, too, and I definitely feel less lonely.

If you're quiet, shy and in any way out of step with the rest of the world you probably know what I mean when I say some people on this platform freak me out (just a little.) Twitter can also be a bit of a minefield if I click on trending topics, which I've learned now to avoid. There is a lot of hate out there, and people may sound clever as they attack and counter-attack but that sort of thing is very toxic to me. I've also learned to be cautious about what I post. When I'm upset or sad or angry I don't go on Twitter. There's enough of that on there without me contributing to it.

Anyway, I told myself after twelve months I'd decide if I want to stick with this experiment, and I believe I do. As long as it remains something that inspires me more than it makes me want to hide under the bed, I will. As with any interaction with the online world, I just need to be careful and be accountable for what I contribute, too.