Here is my story as to why I started my facebook page called On the Brighter Side. I have to say that I started my blog for the same reasons and also to help improve my writing. I find it easy to write quotes or little blips but it is more of a challenge for me to write my thoughts or longer stories.
The creation of Facebook has brought so much love, joy and connection into my life. I am so thankful for its invention. Without it I wouldn’t have this wonderful story to tell you.
I created my page “On the Brighter Side” out of a deep need to help others, to be creative and as an outlet for me to just be me. I love being a wife and mother but with my daughter growing up and becoming less dependent on me, I could feel a change in what I needed for myself. I had a booming career at one time, but it took a backseat due to the commitment I felt to be the best Mom I could be, but again as things change so did my own needs. I was and am still employed at very large dental office but I have always felt that my presence is undervalued. I have never felt part of the team or that I was making any kind of impact to help others or propel the practice forward like I had with my past employers. Having the need to make a difference and help somewhere I turned to Facebook. I am an avid reader and received a Kindle for Christmas from my husband. I began reading multiple books from independent authors. I saw that they had Facebook pages and I began to interact and express my appreciation for their writing. I soon became friendly with one author in particular. I enjoyed encouraging and helping him with his work. One of his books was not selling well and he seemed almost like he was about to give up so I began encouraging him and attempting to help him realized how very gifted and talented he really was. After several months I was truly shocked to see that in one of his books he wrote kind words about me in his dedication. I was amazed that due to my kindness and wanting to be encouraging I had actually helped someone. Someone actually took what I said and it helped to empower them to achieve something. I was truly amazed. I began offering more support and making several more author friends. I truly felt I was making a difference but I wanted to do more. I saw all the interaction on their fan pages and decided to create my own.
“On the Brighter Side” was born August 2011. At the time I decided this would be a place where I would keep inspiring quotes, pictures etc and share them with my fans. Little did I know that I was on a journey of self enlightenment. I made my page a place where everyone is important and I show that by responding to every comment. I respond with a “like” or a kind word. I made it my mission that I would share things that warmed my heart or made me feel good. I also felt very strongly that my page would be about others, not a place for me to vent or talk about my private life. I began buying all kinds of quote and self help books, and I began exploring other inspirational Facebook pages. All this research and posting slowly began to change me in more ways than one.
I have always been the type of person who if I really wanted something bad enough I found a way to get it. I have always tried to look at the brighter side of life and learn from my mistakes, embarrassment and heartache. I will admit my fear is really what has held me back from many opportunities in my life. Believe it or not my page is what has been the pumice to my soul. It has encouraged me to let my light shine.
Spending about 2-3 hours a day reading and writing about positivity, I must say it began to rub off and everyday I felt better, I felt happier, I felt like it is okay to just be me no matter what. As I began to feel this on a day by day basis, I believe I became more accepting of myself and I felt happier. I began to care less and less what people thought and more about what I thought. I was friendlier, more out going and more willing to help out others. I was becoming liberated. I just needed to shine my soul with a little bit of self confidence. All of this can sound very selfish but I believe it is not. When I am happier and feel free I am willing to give so much more of my time and energy to those around me. I am always making a conscious effort to be helpful and kind to someone else. I must also acknowledge another awesome thing that my page has brought into my life and that is the sense of connection. My fans may not realize this but I have found encouragement, friendship and support from other page owners. The other page owners have also encouraged me to be a better page owner. I am more aware of page etiquette, sharing and what is respectable in the Facebook community. By trying to encourage others and help others I really in turn helped myself without realizing it until later. The quote by James M. Barrie really is true “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves”. I really have done this. I want to express that my fans have really made a tremendous impact on me as well. I have been encouraged since day one with all the likes and comments. It was so motivating to see that people liked what I had to say and liked my ideas. I let myself shine and the world accepted and encouraged me.
The positive reinforcement I have felt from fans, friends and other page owners has motivated me to compliment my page by writing a book. I am in the process of writing my first inspirational book. My hope is to inspire others to find the light within them. Everyone here is important, everyone matters. I believe that if everyone just accepted themselves and loved who they are then the world could be a better place. People would feel better, they could achieve what they want to achieve, whether it is small or large it doesn’t matter. Once you realize you have this power within your reach you can make great things happen. The biggest obstacle I think is to just believe in you. Hopefully my page and my new book will continue to help and motivate others along with myself. I want to express that I have been completely out of my comfort zone with this process. It is always scary to be in the public’s eye and much easier to stay hidden. But in order to grow and learn new things I must push myself to attempt new challenges. My goal is to have my book available December 2012.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to share it in this venue. I hope it encourages you to find your own inner light and to realize how truly amazing and wonderful you are. Once you believe in yourself, have passion and work hard anything is possible.
~Sara
On the Brighter Side 