In the good old days, while on vacation, we older women would send postcards to friends and family and hope they arrived before we returned home. We made long-distance calls on Sundays to loved ones far away, when the rates were lower, instead of setting up a video call. We sought advice from the encyclopedia and co-workers and not social media. The other side of the world was a foreign place, and not a text away.
Technology and social media have made most parts of our world more accessible. And although there are negative aspects for youth glued to their screens, we can benefit greatly from logging on.
While online, we can connect with like-minded women, from travel groups to book clubs to mah-jongg circles. We can share photos of family outings. We can seek advice on YouTube for everything from how to fold a fitted sheet to the best way to rid a dog of a skunk scent. We can reconnect with besties from high school — or simply watch funny cat videos. There is something for everyone and many sites to choose from.
Sharing photos
Facebook and Instagram are terrific sites for this. They have user-friendly and family-oriented features. On both, you can create private accounts, so the entire world isn’t privy to your grandson’s first steps or photos of you prepping for a colonoscopy. For those of you with family members living in faraway time zones, this is a wonderful way to experience their major events ranging from first words to weddings and even funerals (which are now commonly set up for video calls).
Making friends with like-minded strangers
Everyone needs to find their tribe. As we get older, meeting people isn’t as easy as it used to be when we were carpooling our kids from soccer games to sleepovers. On Facebook and beyond, you can find groups for everything from “People Who Hate Mayonnaise” to “Spiritual Consciousness” to a “Singles Travel Group.” You name it, it’s there. And if not, you can start your own.
The Ethel Circle is a popular group for older women where members discuss their lives and receive validation from others. Within this circle of thousands, you can start your own Ethel local group. Many women in The Ethel Circle have made new friends for the first time in years. From various Facebook groups, I’ve received many wonderful suggestions on how to deal with an elderly parent. Engaging (safely) online makes you realize you are not alone.
The Ethel On-The-Go group is another closed Facebook group for older women who like to travel. You can find travel-related tips — AND find travel buddies.
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