I logged onto Facebook tonight, as I do most nights, just to read the funny sayings, and look at the posted pictures of strangers I do not even know. They stare into their cameras asking me to be their friend.
They found me because they may know someone, who may know someone, who may know someone that I might know, and I got caught up in the faces looking back at me. Who are these strangers reaching out into the great beyond looking to form a bond with another?
Who are these unknowns I ask myself? What do they want? How did they find me? And what do they want to me to know about them?
The faces that have posted on my home page come in a variety of shapes, colors, nationalities, age, and gender. They show pictures of their children, family, lovers, and pets. They garden, cook, paint, dance, and find joy in a large variety of venues, and yet they are so lonely that they reach out to strangers for a connection.
I have had friend requests from people whose countries I can’t even spell. Their names come up in a language I can not decipher. Why would they want to friend me?
I must admit that this frightens me. Why do these strangers send their personal histories to so many people who do not have a clue?
I know more about some people than I ever wanted to know just because it comes up on my page. I do not ask for this information. They just gladly send it out. Why?
I know that in this age of broken families, and lost childhoods many people are needing to belong somewhere, to someone, but is the world wide web the best place to establish that link with another?
I say instead of reaching out to strangers, reach out to those lost connections with your families and friends. How about your neighbors? Older folks in the community who may not have the internet would love a chance to sit down and talk with someone, in person of course. They need friends as well. And they are close to home.
We don’t need to reach out to the great unknown to find love, it is right here at home waiting for us to show up at the door.
I think we reach out to strangers because they do not know us. We feel safe in the anonymity of who we are in the face of strangers. We can become who we want to present to the world. From a distance we can be anyone, from anywhere. But only those who truly know us, can really love us for just who we are. And I think that is what we are really are looking for when we reach out on Facebook or other websites. Someone to love us just the way we are….
So, for today love yourself, then reach out to love someone else, preferably somebody you already know. And as I always say, have a great day today. You and I deserve it.