Orkut-Facebook-Blogger-Twitter

I am coming to mention my reading habit, umpteenth time now. But this post holds reference to what I have been reading off late. 

Almost all the management gurus, trainers, consultants have increasingly started to make reference to "How should one behave online? How should your social networking profile be? What should you say or not say? etc etc"

To be precise the following has been said about how to be while you are online:

- Do not use abusive words in your status updates/tweets/blogs

- Do not post offensive photographs 

- Do not say anything online that you would regret later (also holds good for emails).

I agree with all the above mentioned points. And if judged on these parameters my social life (online) would secure 99.99% marks (0.01% left to grace the benefit of doubt).

But then while you are reading the details on how a proper online social life should be, one tends to get doubtful. Especially people like me, who have been known for being online ALL THE TIME. :). Orkut-Facebook-Blogging-Twitter have been known to make everyone expressive. I can hardly think of anyone around me who doesn't get excited about sharing online, now be it, photographs, their achievements, thoughts or almost anything that matters. I do the same. I write. I write a lot. But will I be able to say that my online activities from the day I came online, have all been "proper". May be. May be not.  

Now should I go back and get on a "deleting frenzy"? Here comes the point I am trying to make in this post. I will not get on a deleting frenzy, not anymore, just so that a certain person does not judge me. When I read myself over and over, I have realized that I have grown mature over these years and my writes (be it my blogs, tweets, FB status updates) have all been proof of that. I would not want to miss my-self again. I would want to always remember how  I have evolved. No matter what I am tomorrow or where I am, achieving my dreams I would always come back to this and feel proud. 

I have realized that my emotions are my strength because I can express. All of this from Day 1 till date, has been me. I have learnt. I have grown but I would never forget my past and the teachings of it all. 

So here I am, 

promising to myself,

and to all the others,

who read me,

that,

I will continue,

to learn,

to share.

I promise to be,

proud of my beginning,

my destination,

and the road taken.

I promise to be,

Me!!

Lots of Sunshine,

Aparna Gautam

P.S. So you did notice? YES! My name. That's the whole point. :)

P.P.S. And please feel free to share what you think about your "Online Journey".