Defining ourselves and others (The Like button)

 

Relevance.

Noun.

The quality or state of being closely connected or appropriate.

 

How we see ourselves regarding relevance shapes a great deal of what we say, do, interact with, and create as well as how we see the contributions and well being of others. We may even love someone, yet do not fully see their relevance to things around us anymore “I love you Mom, but you just don’t understand”.

Maybe someone is viewed as too old to be relevant anymore. Or too young for that matter.

When I was young, I was angry when what I said got dismissed. That has continued until fairly recently. It even shaped what I found I had to learn in order to BE relevant. Or how I had to communicate when saying something. I found times where diplomacy worked. And times when screaming was the only method to engage with.

Now as I get closer to the twilight of my life, I find myself worrying about this with more of a focus on viability of what I say: Am I saying, doing, or creating something that is important? 

Relevant to someone.  Anyone?

Self-doubt can become a horrible reason to do (or not do) something. We COULD use it to become better at what we do, or say, or create, but often we just flail about in the dark void of disconnection.

Today using such a wide array of social media and immediate responses, we are becoming even more insecure. The LIKE button is given a great deal of meaning now. We seek individual identity and purpose on one hand yet also find ourselves craving the comfort of our connections to others, to the point of diminishing our own self-esteem when we don’t have it.

Of course there are the introverts and self-balanced isolated folks who do manage to go it without much thought to relevance or the support found in maintaining it with others. Some of them have even found a higher purpose to connect to, even being able to create and do without the praise of others. But then that isolation can become a prison of its own, sometimes creating a cage that can also develop deep fears within individuals.

I have no idea when my relevance will either not be important or simply diminish and dim until it no longer matters, even to me. In the mean time.....

If this is important to you, then by all means, hit the LIKE button.