The Internet is the Greatest Bridge Ever Built

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Added: Wed. Mar 04, 2009 12:48pm
Posted in: Technology

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In the weekly #AgeOp chat on Twitter, GrowingBolder.com CEO Marc Middleton suggested we all blog about the following statement: The Internet is the greatest bridge ever built.

Boy, is that an understatement! From banking to keeping in touch to finding directions, is there an area of your life that you don't use the Internet for these days? But the problem is that many people only use the Internet for those rudimentary tasks.  They have not fully grasped the power of the people on the Internet.

Here's how I really started to empower myself with the Internet.  Four years ago, when my now-husband and I got engaged, there was only one place we ever really wanted to get married -- Key West.  It was special to us and our relationship, and since the majority of our friends and family would be traveling to Florida for the wedding anyway, we thought we'd kick the party up a notch and head to the Southernmost city in the U.S.

The problem was that we lived in Orlando -- five hours from the Conch Republic -- and we couldn't afford one of those fancy wedding planners who handle all the details, like finding a photographer, florist, caterer, etc.  In stepped Yahoo Groups' Key West Weddings group, and voila -- wedding planners by the dozens, for free! The amazing men and women who had traveled our same path were there to share all their tips (and a few horror stories, which helped us steer clear of certain vendors).  

We never could have pulled off our wedding in such a spectacular fashion as we did without those kind people who took the time to share their research.  

Since then, I have once again called on the power of the Internet people to help me deal with my mother-in-law's cancer, my pregnancy and these days, parenting tips!  And it never ceases to amaze me how wonderfully honest people can be when they know you're in the same boat.  Warts and all, I've learned a lot about what it means to be a parent and how it's completely normal to want to lock your sweet-faced angel in her room every once in awhile (not that I've done this, but a mom can fantasize sometimes!).

I can't imagine going through these major life changes over the past several years. I know one thing, I would have been a lot lonelier.  My mother and I frequently talk about how isolated she felt when she too was a new mother and hours around from her mother (like I am now).  She says she envies my new online friends who have mentored, guided and empathized with me. 

And she's right  -- we're living in extraordinary times.  Real-life relationships will always be important, but thanks to the Internet, we now have a bridge that can lead us to limitless new friends around the world.

Click here to find out how you can be a part of the discussion in the weekly Age of Opportunity (#AgeOp) chat on Twitter!