Be Heard and Connect!

Growing up in the United States in the 60’s and 70’s, the years of black and white televisions and twice daily newspapers, I am still astonished by the immediate interactive environment of digital media and the products that have arisen from the Web 2.0 platform. Over the past two years, I have created two blog pages, two additional websites plus four professional Facebook pages. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly and just how far one little piece of information can travel. I am in several Facebook groups and have become friends with people around the world, some of whom I Skype with for energy healing sessions and various e-courses. Remarkably, the energy sessions, facilitated by a brilliant woman in Australia, have had an incredible influence on my ability to heal from a debilitating chronic health condition. Needless to say, I feel that the human connections offered via the Web 2.0 platform are overwhelmingly inspirational!

There is so much negativity surrounding the advent of digital media and the Web 2.0 products - sickening Facebook pages advocating violence against women, damaging blogs that denouncing women’s rights, repulsive tweets supporting rapists, and countless YouTube videos degrading women. Perhaps this should not surprise anyone because, as is the norm, the foolish, cruel and evil will use and abuse whatever technology is available and will be among the first to master that frontier. Digital media is, of course, a goldmine for them! Ultimately, however, the positive influences of digital media will far outshine the negative. The sheer quantity and quality of women who now have access to digital media and their desire to connect with the world is astonishing. Many of these women seek to shine a spotlight on the issues that affect them and their communities and, in doing so, they empower others in their communities to do the same. Each time a woman speaks, another listens; each time a woman listens, another is heard. It is only in this way - sharing their stories, sharing their cultures, sharing their empathy, sharing their support, living authentically – that women will be able to create an international community.

When I innocently leaped into digital media with my fist blog, I was blind to its power. I had realized that I was an intelligent woman with an ability to write. I had growing opinions that I was ready to share and knew that this was my path to healing which, at the time, was critical. I healed. And I found my authenticity. With that came the strength to inspire others. With that came the desire to empower others. With that, dammit, came the power to challenge the world! Two blogs and four Facebook pages later, digital media has become my passion. Listening to the voices of women while sharing the world they envision has become my life. No matter where we are, what we all need is to be heard and to connect!