Valentine's Day

Today is the day of heart's delight. Quite sensational.

Although I don't subscribe to hallmark being the end-all of holidays, it does have an enormous impact on our environment. So I contacted my single friends and told them how much I love them, just in case they were thinking about hearts and love and all that stuff...and you know what? They were happy to hear someone reach out and just say how appreciated they were . And I felt really good saying it. My sweetie and I made heart-shaped pumpkin pancakes with chocolate chips and giggled through the morning. Why not? And then I walked out to my car and discovered a $55 parking ticket valentine from the city of San Francisco. Shift happens...I'm reminded of a heart shaped pendulum swishing through the universe. All in one.

As the 11 tweets per day tweeter for a social media for nonprofits organization, I made sure to spread positive appreciation for the work of all nonprofits through the tweetosphere. Of all organizations, nonprofits have huge hearts and they deserve recognition, especially on a heart-laden day in our culture. It's not easy being a nonprofit. And this economy is no walk in the park. For instance, I've noticed more and more tents being erected in vacant spaces both inside and outside of the city. Times are tough - and getting tougher. If it weren't for the dedication and generosity of nonprofits for their causes, where would we be as a society? We're struggling, but heart-filled people carry the torch of hope, resilience and fortitude no matter what - just riding that pendulum. Gotta love 'em.

So, regardless of a heart-focused holiday, I wonder this...do you reach out to those that you love or appreciate or are grateful for? I hope so. It makes that inevitable pendulum swish just a little bit sweeter for all of us.

Why Sensational?

Because I want to make an effect on the public through the sharing of information. Engaging. Exciting. Provocative. Aggravated. Curious. Enraged. Shocked. Stunned. Inspired. Informed. Awed. Moved to Action.

Contrast this with the 'everyday' for so many people: tepid small talk in a white noise environment. Bland melts into a hum and we go from work to home, repeat...drones in a somnumbalist nation that allows Fox News to tell us what is sensational under the guise of real news.

Enough! I aspire to use social media to reframe the issues that we consider important and compelling and to share true facts that will, indeed, move us into a sensational state -- one that moves us to ask questions, collaborate and feel moved to action...sensational.

Here's the dictionary.com definition of 'sensational':
1.

producing or designed to produce a startling effect, strong reaction, intense interest, etc., especially by exaggerated, superficial, or lurid elements: a sensational novel.

2.

extraordinarily good; conspicuously excellent; phenomenal: a sensational quarterback.

3.

of or pertaining to the senses or sensation.

I appreciate that sensational can be exaggerated or superficial. But a headline/tweet/FB posting is just the shell to draw you in. In this day and age, where we are bombarded with so much information, it is the exaggerated that catches people's attention. This doesn't mean that the contents of an exaggerated message are untrue; rather, the gift inside the brightly wrapped package can be "extraordinarily good", "conspiculously excellent", intelligent, and verified information with which *you* become an informed and contributing member of the kind of society, i.e. "a sensational quarterback" for the issue that matters most to you and your supporters (see definition #2).

Remember: If you don't engage in the dialogue of society, others will form society for you. It's happening...right....now...

So, I ask you, what blogs or tweets or videos have you seen lately that were so sensational that they moved you to action?