What's your potential?

Potential, we all have it, some of us have it more so then others. We have potential of what we could be or who we could become. A persons potential depends on them, some have the potential to be very smart people. They have the potential to be the next Albert Einstein. There are those with music potential, to be a singer, or instrumentalist. There are those who have potential to be a great writer, or speaker.
We look at potential in the people we have relationships with. We want to see what they can become and what they will become. We see what they will become, and how that will fit into our lives. The question is when we do we give up on the potential? I have heard it said "I saw his potential and knew that someday things would be great," "he has a good heart," "it's a phase, it will pass." Are these lies that we tell ourselves? How much do we really want to wait for a person's great potential, what are we living with in the meantime? Does his good heart change his actions?
As a single mother I over analyze the people I spend my time with. I worry about the influences that come into my children's lives. I want them to have people in their lives who will enrich it. I can't wait for a person to grow into their potential. I can't spend my time with someone who has a good heart but actions say otherwise. I don't have the luxury of spending time with someone who has potential but doesn't put it to use. At the same time I must ask myself about my potential. I have potential to do many things, but am I doing them? Will I do them or will I sit on the cusp of potential never quite reaching it.
I can see in myself the potential to be a great writer. The thing is I keep on writing, and I am a good writer. The problem is if I don't keep writing I won't accomplish anything. I have my books that I have written and published, but it's been 10 years since I have written anything completely new. Word by agonizing word I keep writing.
I hope to live up to my potential, I hope for my children to live up to their potential. There are seminars and books about living up to your potential. If we live a perfect life, which does not exist then each of us may live up to our potential. There are things that we can do that help us fulfill our potential. One of them for me is to spend less time on social media and more time with a pen and paper. Another is reading more instead of watching TV. These things I do for myself I encourage for my children, I see potential in them, not quite sure what it is but they are a blank slate and I want them to fill it. 

Farewell Facebook

We all have those things in life that seem to take up more time than we would like. In June I took a break from Facebook because I wanted to live outside of the stream. That break was the best 30 days of my life. I was so focused and was able to complete so many things. Getting back on Facebook was very revealing, because even though I tried to just browse here and there to keep up with everyone it didn't take long for it to consume my time.
I might be the only one that this happens to and others have an easier time of just browsing now and then but for me it was what I considered to be my only social life. My social life on Facebook made it harder to have one outside of it. It let me be a part of what was going on in everyone's lives. For now I have made the decision to no longer delve into Facebook. There are so many things I want to accomplish without it.
So while I will miss getting updates from all of you and seeing your pictures I'm doing what is best for me. I still have my blog, pinterest, and twitter. I know not everyone can understand why I'm doing this and some days I barely understand it myself. I just know that I want more than what can be found on a computer screen.
I am constantly telling my kids they have to find something to do, to use their imagination. I want to grow their brains to be creative and think outside the box. Using your imagination doesn't stop when you become an adult, just think of the potential. True, I don't sit in a cardboard box and pretend I'm in a plane anymore. That is really just the beginning, think of all the crafts and such you see on pinterest, they were created by someone. The people who thought them up did not sit around on pinterest and pin them, they went out and did them. While I do not hold the creativity to create such things as that, I can write. After my first bout off Facebook I started an amazing new novel, now just after 4 days off Facebook I already have another one stewing in my head. It's amazing what you can do with some time and focus.
I'm not doing this to grab attention or try and make everyone look at me. The only reason I'm writing this is because there are people that I truly care about that I want to know. It would be difficult to go to each one of you and tell you my reasons. The truth is if you know me you know I don't like to do things half-heartedly. While this will be posted on my facebook I can tell you it's only a share option. If you comment on my facebook I will not see it. I have not deleted my facebook because I wanted to let all of you know in a way I could express how grateful I am for each friendship.

Cherish your human connections: your relationships with friends and family.
Joseph Brodsky ~Nobel Prize Literature 1987