I Needed That

This weekend I did something I needed to do.

I traveled to the Poconos for four days to go camping for the 24th year with my “camping buddies.”  It was so great to spend time with good friends.  We ate.  We fished.  We relaxed.

I did something this weekend that I needed to do.

I left my phone in the car.  I didn’t check email.  I didn’t check Facebook.  I didn’t check Snapchat or any other social media platform.  This is what I needed to do.

I needed to unplug.  I needed to disconnect from the rest of the world.  I needed to let go of the tendency to check my phone every time I had a quiet moment.

Instead, I used the time to read.  I read most of Essentialism by Greg McKeown.  I used the time to reflect.  I used the time to pray.  And I used the time to rest.

I survived.  Four days away from my phone (except to call home once a day) didn’t kill me.  In fact, I came home charged up.  I came home refreshed.  And I came home with a renewed resolve not to let the pressures of trying to keep up with everyone get to me.

I needed that!

Do you have a problem with your phone?  Is your phone (or computer) controlling your life?  What are you going to do about it?

Ice Breaker – Status Update

Most weeks on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question on Fridays. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  What’s the last status update you posted on Facebook, Twitter, or another social media platform?

My Answer:  (From SnapChat to Instagram to Facebook)

And So It Goes…

7 Reasons I’m On Snapchat

I recently joined Snapchat.

My daughter and her friends have been using Snapchat for a while.  Honestly, I didn’t get it at first when I watched her using this social media application.  To me, it appeared that she was simply exchanging silly selfies with her friends.  Even after I signed up, I didn’t get it.  She talked about Snapchat “stories” and Snapchat filters.  It didn’t make sense to me.

Then I listened to one of Cliff Ravencraft’s podcasts about Snapchat, and I started following him.  Suddenly, I started to get it.  I began to feel a better connection to Cliff and to Snapchat.  And I began to become a more active Snapchat user.

7 Reasons I’m On Snapchat

1. Snapchat provides a connection with the younger generation.  I’m a volunteer youth leader for my church’s high school youth group.  As one of the older leaders, I sometimes feel STRETCHED to connect with the students.  Most of them are on Snapchat.  Since I started using Snapchat, I’ve found another way to connect with the students.
2. Snapchat gives me the opportunity to try something new.  If you are part of the 7 Week Stretch Challenge, you may know that the challenge for week 5 is to try something new.  Trying new things is a healthy discipline to keep us growing and challenged.  Snapchat is one of the new things I’m trying.
3. Snapchat provides a creative place to learn new things.  A couple of weeks ago, I used Snapchat to share the repair process of my toilet.  Afterwards, I had several people thank me for sharing this as it helped them learn something new.  This applies to me as well.  I’ve learned several new things thanks to the world of Snapchat.
4. Snapchat provides a behind the scenes look into my life and into the lives of those I follow.  My friend, Ellory Wells, said it was like recording the person who is recording the movie.  I enjoy seeing how people do things.  This isn’t always shown in a blog post, a podcast, or a status update.  Snapchat shows viewers a glimpse behind the curtain.
5. Snapchat provides a place to experiment.  I’ve played with the orientation of my camera/phone as I’ve recorded Snaps.  I’ve played with different filters and with different types of recordings.  I love trying out different approaches to see what works well and what doesn’t work so well.
6. Snapchat provides an opportunity to drive my kids crazy.  Actually, this isn’t one of my goals.  And my son watches most of my Snapchat stories.  But I know it’s weird for them.  Isaac makes fun of the way I often ask questions as part of my stories.  And Hannah won’t even connect with me on Snapchat.
7. Snapchat provides a fantastic way to connect with others.  The video and photo exchange that happens through this platform is really cool.  Here are some of the people I’m following (check them out):
   • Cliff Ravenscraft (cliffeotc)
   • Ellory Wells
   • Rusty Pang
   • Leslie Samuel
   • Matthew Lovell
   • Father Roderick
   • Tony Brown
   • itsamyrobles
   • John Lee Dumas
   • PatFlynn
   • Adam Flora

If you want to learn more about Snapchat and how to use it, I’d encourage you to check out Cliff Ravenscraft’s excellent Snapchat tutorial by clicking here.

Finally, I’d love to connect with you on Snapchat.  Follow me at Jon Stolpe (jonstolpe), and send me a Snap to say hello.

Are you on Snapchat?  Why?  What do you like about Snapchat?

Ice Breaker – Social Media and Human Interaction

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  Do you think that Facebook, Twitter, and other social media genuinely enhance friendship and human interaction?  Why or why not?

My Answer:  I say yes and no to this question.

First the yes.  Facebook, Twitter, the blogging community, and other social media has given me the opportunity to connect and establish friendships with many people across the country and around the world.  As a result of my on-line presence, I’m friends with people like:  Larry “The Deuce” Carter from Tennessee, Dan Erickson from Washington, Ellory Wells from Texas, Matthew Lovell from Georgia, Amy Robles from Washington, Steve Young from Pennsylvania, Michael Shaw from Pennsylvania, and Chad Jones from Arizona.  (And these are just a few of the people I’ve connected with on-line.)  I’ve met a few of these people in person (Dan, Steve, Michael, and Chad), but these friendships have generally been developed on-line.

Facebook in particular gives me the opportunity to stay in touch with many people who might normally fall off my radar.  I appreciate the chance to stay in touch with friends from high school, college, and other places from my past.  Social media has even given me the opportunity to re-establish communication with some long lost friends and acquaintances.

From these connections, I can definitely tell you that social media can enhance friendship and human interaction.

But there is another side to this question – the no side.

I believe we were made for relationship.  And I also believe that the best relationships are cultivated face-to-face.  Social media cannot fully translate all the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that can be expressed when humans interact directly face-to-face.  This is why I go to church every week.  This is why I work in an office next to my co-workers.  This is why my family tries to eat together at dinner time.  This is why I meet with thirteen other guys every Friday at 6AM.

I love the opportunities and connections the social media and blogging world have created for me, but I also know I need the kind of community and accountability that can only happen when I’m looking someone eye-to-eye and face-to-face.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

My Last Five Podcasts

Podcasting has become the latest addition to the social media world.  More and more podcasts are popping up every day.  People I consider to be friends are jumping into the game with their own podcasts.  And I find myself listening to podcasts on my morning walk, during my commute to and from work, and while I’m working out at the gym.  There is a vast amount of knowledge and wisdom floating around in the podcasting world, and it sometimes seems like I cannot get enough.

If you are like me, you are always looking for new podcasts.  Today’s post is an opportunity to share the last five podcasts I listened to on my iPhone.  And I hope it’s an opportunity for others to share the podcasts getting their attention these days.

Which five podcasts did you listen to most recently?

Here’s my list.

My Last Five Podcasts

(1)  ProBlogger Podcast: Blog Tips to Help You Make Money Blogging with Darren Rowse

(2)  The Dave Ramsey Show

(3)  Organize 365 Podcast

(4)  1 Year Daily Audio Bible with Brian Hardin

(5)  How Did You Get Into That?  with Grant Baldwin

Answer today’s question in the comments (and please feel free to leave links).

The Power Of A Post

We live in a world of quick posts and status updates.

Social media is filled with short blurbs documenting our experiences, our thoughts, our observations, and our reactions to life.  For the most part, I love it.  There is something incredible about connecting with people from your community, your country, and your world.  I truly believe social media can be used for good.

However…

Social media also provides a “danger zone” for all of us who fail to think before we hit post.

In 140 characters or less, you and I have the power to build up or destroy.

In 140 characters or less, you and I have the power to build up or destroy.

Tweet This

If James were speaking to us today, I think he would say this:

Be quick to think, be slow to tweet (or hit post), and be slow to react.

This is a lesson we all need to remember.

Have you ever posted something on social media or on a blog that you regret?