>>Because of the privacy invasions inherent with Facebook our family shuns it and always will. It also strikes me as immodest for individuals, to have so much of one’s life publicly available, though its essential for business these days. Why did you feel the need for it? I recall you writing that you do not blog for income. You already have an online presence for your parenting/homeschooling consulting, so I’m wondering how your cost/benefit analysis came down in favor of Facebook. <<

I’ve been blogging for 7.5 years. When I started, most people didn’t even know what a blog was.  At that time I was having my website designed (for my breastfeeding pillow manufacturing business) and asked the designer to add in a blog as a side point, something that could help the new moms making purchases at the site by offering some parenting tips I found helpful.   A blog was such a new idea that my designer was telling me how cutting edge it was to add in something like that!

Eventually I switched the blog to its own platform away from the business site, and for years actively resisted doing anything that would commercialize my blog.  I was approached by those wanting to buy ad space and readers emailed me to tell me they were buying things at my recommendation and wanted me to add affiliate links so I would get credit for the purchases.  Many people told me to monetize.  But I kept refusing.  I thought I was on high moral ground; I didn’t want to cheapen myself or my message with ads or self-promotion.  Now I see that I justified staying in my comfort zone.

I feel differently now.  You know what money is?  Money is time.  When you come right down to it, that’s what it buys you.   I have many responsibilities that require my time.  I wish I had time for all of those who need my help.    I used to embrace helping people while rejecting the financial aspect but as charitable an intention that was, it meant that I was able to help fewer people.

Living in the 21st century, social media is a potentially powerful tool.  Used well, it can make the world a better place.  If with a bit more effort and time – and some stretching of my comfort zone – I can reach significantly more people, then I have a responsibility to do that.  We were each put into this world to shine our unique light – we don’t serve anyone by playing small.

It’s taken a lot of talk from others and from myself for me to overcome my resistance to stepping out more visibly.   I’ve been so resistant.  So resistant.  I  kept insisting that I couldn’t, it wasn’t me, making excuses, so many excuses.  You know what really helps me overcome that negative inner voice?  That it’s not really about me.  I’m here in this world to play the part God put me here for.  And right now Facebook is part of that role.

Avivah