Gratitude Practice 2020 Day 44: The Ministry of Social Media

I have very fond memories of my fourth grade teacher reading inspirational quotes off the back of the Celestial Seasons Herbal Tea box. Sometime during each week, when he needed a break from our rigorous academic endeavors, Mr. Spencer would grab the box of lemon zinger tea from his desk, cozy up on his comfortable swivel stool, lean back and read us the inspiring quote from the back of the box. Then, like any good orator, he would wax philosophical for as long as our fleeding elementary school attention spans would allow. Many of my classmates would groan and scoff and moan during this weekly occurrence but my ever growing sentimentality always welcomed these inspirational thought provoking moments.

Not much has changed since the fourth grade except the mode and method of my "Ra Ra You Can Do Anything" message delivery system. I'm still a sucker for a juicy quote or an inspiring passage but since I think most tea taste like a dirty shoe my access to the life sustaining wisdom of the Celestial Seasoning tea box has dramatically decreased over time. I am however a firm believer in the power and efficacy of the social media meme ministry AND the best part is you don't have to drink yucky hot water with floating leaf bits to get to the good stuff.

Oh Instagram...you love-able platform for so many fun fonts, fancy graphic and dreamy images communicating all types of "Praise Jesus" and "You Go Girl" and "Oprah for President!" and "Climb Every Mountain" Can I Get An Amen" kind of truth bombs that just fall ever so effortlessly into my feed like modern day Mana from heaven. Not a day goes by that I don't see something race across my screen that I don't stop and think..."oh, that's a good one...Mr. Spencer would have loved it"...those were good days in the fourth grade...

Since I'm still pretty fuzzy on how most social media platforms actually work, I just use my trusty screen shot feature to capture the really good quotes so I can savor them later. And now, after months of this reading, savoring and savings practice, I've gathered enough feel good images for a very productive daily meditative practice. Just swipe, read, think, sigh, contemplate, breath in, breath out, swipe, read, think ..and on and on and on.

I recently heard a kindred spirits mentioned that she feels she is receiving all sorts of meaningful (and free) therapy from her Instagram feed and I could not agree more. Just like the fourth grade me, I'm a real sucker for cheeseball sap filled inspiration and I'm ZERO percent ashamed. So for those who are still reading.... tonight, I am grateful for the ministry of social media and all of the tiny daily reminders to "Go Team" and "Be better and not bitter" I'm collecting along the way.