I guess by now you’ve probably figured out that I’m a pretty transparent person. I often wear my heart on my sleeve and am prone to “share” on social media. If you see me on the major social media platforms you might even feel like you have a pretty good snapshot of my life, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
But do you?
Many of us are pretty darn careful about what we put out there with the full understanding that once it’s online, it’s there forever.
Good news, bad news, and pictures for the world to see.
Forever.
That’s a long time.
And so even though it might not seem like it, I’m very careful.
My girls are young now but pretty soon they’ll be swimming in the social media swimming pool and I never want to post something that when or if they see it, they’ll be mortified (over and beyond the usual mortification that stems from parents posting “anything” about their kids.)
I’ve read posts that are excruciating in the raw emotion that is put there for all to read, and while I believe that honesty is the best policy, I also believe that who you share the information with is also important.
Potential employers, friends and family, old college chums, romantic partners, and just about anyone that can find you with a few keystrokes will be privy to information that can cause them to see you in a different light.
People post things quickly and often without reflecting on the impact it can have on their life, short, as well as long-term.
And so, I’m very careful. I’m a business owner and a Mom, a daughter and an aunt, a friend to many, a partner, and an ex-wife. What I write can impact all of these people and I would never want that to be so.
My suggestion is to write your posts but reread them and think carefully before you press “enter” because once you do, the post is there forever.