My Social Media Birthday Celebration

This past Friday was my birthday, and I celebrated in true Social Media fashion.

Previously, my birthday would consist of a few cards from family members and a few presents. This year, I had those, but I also had several hundred birthday greetings on Facebook and Twitter. Some from close friends, some from folks I may have never met in person. But most from people who have become friends via Social Media. I was truly humbled and moved by the outpouring of birthday greetings that began Thursday night and ran throughout the weekend.

What made the birthday even more special is that Facebook reminded me that I share my birthday with 8 other people…only one of whom I knew from my pre-social media days. And on Friday I even discovered via Twitter that another of my friends also shares my birthday. Pretty amazing.

Additionally, I got my cake from my friend Shanelle of Bliss Baked Goods. Shanelle is another friend I met via Social Media, and she and her husband have become good friends. And her bakery, Bliss, has existed primarily as an online, Social Media driven business (with a brick and mortar presence coming eventually.

Friday night, we ate a new Colombian restaurant in town, El Maizal, which I discovered via Facebook, and it was an incredible meal. If you are here in Lancaster or Central PA, make sure you check it out. Great food, great people, great prices.

Saturday included a trip to Lancaster Central Market with more friends we originally met through Facebook and Twitter. Then at night I made a last minute decision to attend a St. Patrick’s party at the house of some friends. And yes, they were all friends who I’ve met in the past two years via Social Media, and the invites went out via both Facebook and Twitter. While there I also met some new friends for the first time.

Finally, Sunday included getting delivery of an exercise bike. Several weeks ago I mentioned on Twitter that I was in the market for a used one, and I got several responses. And today I purchased one of them from someone I only knew a little bit from Twitter.

Social Media is becoming an increasingly important part of our lives. It is an extension of our social lives, an integral part of the way we communicate, so much so that the U.S. government, via, the F.C.C. is set to move toward making high speed Internet our dominant communications network.

How has your participation in Social Media changed your concept of friends and community? How has it impacted how you live your life and conduct your business on a daily basis?

Tagged as: facebook, Social Media, Twitter