The year 2025 is going to be one I am hoping will launch some opportunities for me.
At age 55, I have found something I love to do, yet is it something that will need to devote more time on to make in it more profitable. It will involve setting up a domain name, possibly acquiring a vendor’s license and marketing, marketing, marketing. This all sounds fun and exciting. Yet, it also means giving up something else to which I have been devoting time.
That something is GeekMom, a site I was welcomed onto more than 10 years ago, and have been part of consistently ever since. Ten years with a site of wonderful people from all over the world has taught me a few things, and I will leave here with 10 things I have learned:
1. You don’t have to meet people face-to-face to create real friendships. I only met one of my fellow GeekMom writers in person, and it was a wonderful experience. However, thanks to social media, I got to know so many of them and their own life’s journey. I genuinely feel like they are my friends, and I hope leaving the site does not break those bonds in any way.
2. To paraphrase whoever first said this: “Comparison is the killer of joy.” I have heard versions of this phrase attributed to different historical figures, but it is true no matter the origins. We all bring our own talents and skills to whatever we do. Although we should never stop learning and growing, we should never feel inferior to others who do things different. Celebrate their talents and hone your own.
3. I would rather spend money on experiences than things. This is not to say collecting things isn’t super fun. I have some “prized possessions” at home. However, there is something about seeing a new place, or being part of special event is so incredibly valuable for me. A picture of my family together at somewhere special (even a picnic in a park), is worth more than an expensive souvenir.
4. Never use the phrase “hater” if someone isn’t as crazy about something as you are. Not only do we all have different talents, but different interests. You should never have to explain why you don’t or do love something…be is a movie or a pizza topping. I wish I could get everyone into the same things I am, but that just isn’t going to happen. Let them have their own fun.
5. On the contrary, don’t “yuck someone’s yum.” You might not like a type of music, book series or character, but that doesn’t mean there is something wrong with a person who does. There are a couple of very popular singers, for example, I don’t get the appeal of, but I am happy for those who get enjoyment out of them. That’s what keeps the world turning in it’s weird and amazing way.
6. Get off social media once in awhile. Some of it is terrific, but too much of it is poison. When we spend too much time looking a little rectangle phone, we are missing the world around us. Sometimes we see only the bad in the world on it concentrated. Other times we see people who spend a ton of effort and expensive filters to look like they live better lives than anyone else. That can and will effect your head. It can also make us all chronically lonely. Look up, see the stars and clouds and appreciate some non-tech once in a while.
7. You are not infantile if you appreciate pop culture. I see people say “aren’t you a little too old for…” No. No I am not. Adults’ creativity designed LEGO and a very educated scholar wrote the Lord of the Rings books, for example. I am not too old to appreciate anything. When you have kids, it makes it even more fun, because now you have more than one generation getting into the geekiness.
8. This one’s for my fellow Gen Xers. Dress how you want most of the time. I do think there it is nice to dress for the occasion, and be respectful when you go to certain events. However, there is no particular fashion you should shun once you hit 50 or older. Dress how you feel happiest when you’re walking down the street or meeting with friends and family. Again, I am paraphrasing something I heard awhile back, but the only thing you should NEVER wear over 50 is the weight of others’ opinions.
9. Celebrities come and go. The creative product of their talents is what remains. I have talked about not being a fan of a person but rather their talents and projects. People are flawed (all of us), but sometimes what they can do or create is amazing. Appreciate what they do, but do not feel you have like every single thing they do or say.
10. Finally — and this is very cliché, so forgive me — we are not so different after all. No matter what your beliefs are, I think you’ll appreciate this message I got from a theologian I read. Everyone belongs to only TWO groups. One is the big family of humankind (we are all brothers in sisters in this world). Two, we are a minority of one. No one is just like us, regardless of whether they share our ethnicity, gender or even our political belief. We are unique as individuals and the rest is just frosting. I love frosting, and it is a great thing to be proud of our culture, customs and ancestry. Yet remember we are alone in who we are…but together in this huge family.
I don’t yet know if I will be returning to GeekMom in the future (I would love to), but every day brings a new challenge, struggle, and opportunity.
I know, however, I can face whatever the future brings, because that is one extra thing GeekMom has taught me: self-confidence.
Thank you everyone from GeekDad and GeekMom for the opportunities, love, support and trust. If I am able to return to the fold in the future, I hope I will be able to return this love a thousand times more.
