I recently downloaded my Twitter archive. Considering that I have tweeted over 41 000 times, it was a good window into my brain. I started tweeting in 2007 and can now, justifiably, blame-thank 80% of my life, work and friendships on this little medium.
It was interesting though, to read everything I’d pithily updated with since 2007. It gave me insight into who I was then, who I became, and how my life has changed in the last 6 years. The short version is – A LOT.
When I’d finished reading them, I realised I’d laugh-cried over many of them, and that so much of what is important to me, events that have shaped me, are chronicled there, in under 140 characters, every time.
Reading it reminded me of parts of myself I’ve neglected over the years. There are elements to my personality that I miss – I’ve stopped sharing them because they didn’t quite fit with who I needed to be at that time. I think I need to revisit that policy, because I miss that part of me a little bit.
There are parts of my life that I am very glad are over too. I finished reading those silly updates with a smile, because I can so accurately pinpoint my sadness, and so beautifully encapsulate my joys. When I weighed them up against each other, I noted that the sadness was transitory and the joys overwhelming.
Reading my Twitter archive made me grateful for every step in my journey and my friends.
Sidenote – I also watched a lot of Dawson’s Creek this weekend. Let’s consider that another, excessively verbose, therapeutic medium, to be discussed at another time.
