It was at the end of last year that I decided to open a Twitter account. 

No one was more surprised than myself by my decision but I told myself I could just try and see what it was like and if I did not think it was for me, I could easily close it.

My intention was to connect with other people in the Health and Beauty Industry and follow various organisations with which I held an interest.  What I was not prepared for was the depth of connection and resulting friendships that followed.

At its simplest, Twitter is a means to publicise and share information but what has struck me over the months, as I have opened up my Twitter feed, is the conversations and interactions between those that follow each other.

As I go through my feed I see people genuinely wanting to support, share advice, offer congratulations, show their appreciation and very often these conversations end in each side expressing the desire to meet in person.  

In a recent article in The Guardian entitled “Have we forgotten to be kind?” Daisy Buchanan refers to her experience as she reads through hers: ‘Everyday, I see unsung acts of kindness in my feed. People offer to help strangers find jobs and places to stay. You see friendships formed over pictures of puppies.’

This all shows me there is a profound need in us to reach out. We want to engage with our fellow human beings and share the things that mean a lot to us.  I see special weekly Twitter gatherings are organised under the hash tags of Greenchat, Organichour, Veganhour etc whereby the likeminded are invited to meet and talk about the designated topic and I feel that as much as the subject promotes interest for discussion, the real enjoyment is getting together with those with whom you feel a close affinity.

The life coach Anthony Robbins has iterated that the six fundamental needs of a person are: Significance, Certainty, Uncertainty, Love and Connection, Growth and Contribution.

I believe this need for connection is ever growing with more and more individuals living far from families and choosing to work from home.

Twitter provides a platform to connect with people you would not normally have had the opportunity to, be it from different parts of one’s city, one’s country and even from other parts of the world.  And not only different geographical locations but also different ages, backgrounds and cultures. In a world where differences often cause friction, here in Twitterville, harmony reigns.  Because at the end of the day what unites us outweighs what separates us.

Not only is there the joy in connecting with others, I love when the occasion arises where you can make introductions between followers “ @……. can I introduce you to @…….” it’s like a kind of virtual drinks party without the agony of standing for hours in high heels.

So I can honestly say that after nine months of tweeting I am very glad about my decision to join.  I have learned so much from all the information that’s been shared, made wonderful connections and formed great friendships.

Let’s continue to make every effort to ensure that Twitter is an uplifting and positive experience that we can all enjoy and benefit from. 

Sarah Jane Watson is a holistic massage therapist and aromatherapist.   Learn more about Sarah Jane by visiting her website here.