Support Networks

We all know what support networks are and how much we all need them. Support networks can be used for just about everything and everything. Whether something extremely bad or traumatic has happened, or even when something great happens.

When we think of a support network, it usually means something bad has happened. We make that phone call, text, email, whatever it is, we tell someone when something bad happens. How about when something great happens? Say you win a bunch of money gambling, you want to tell someone, right? By the way, I've never had that happen to me. Still waiting for that to happen.

These days we probably post it to social media or call someone. Support networks are more than just family or friends, colleagues, acquaintances, people we know. They can be followers on social media. Support networks can be made up of complete strangers, people or organizations we would have never thought of reaching out to, or even heard of.

I know it is extremely difficult to think of people having a support network to simply brag about winning a lot of money. It's partly for bragging, but also for rubbing people's noses in our sudden good fortune. That's probably one reason social media is so popular. People putting vacation videos from around the world, bragging about their kid's accomplishments, new relationships, food, music, just about anything. But that group they belong to is a support network. All of those followers are a support network.

There are posts about sad things, a loved one passing away, traumatic experiences, losing a job, the price of gas going up, inflation, just about anything. We post those stories for support. I'm sure that just about anyone who has posted something has had a complete stranger comment or like something we post. That's probably because that person can relate to whatever it was that you posted about, and they are offering their support. Has anyone ever looked at who that stranger might be and read their story? Or have you just skipped over it, not caring who it was that posted it and only see how many people responded, and who responded? Maybe that person was looking for some support from someone that has had a similar experience? Do people take time out of their day to simply acknowledge the response? Complete strangers are more likely to comment or like a post if it is a shared experience.

Think about it this way. There are people out there who don't have the same level of support that you, me, or someone else does. People can be looking for that one individual or organization that can help them, give them hope, or point them in a direction they hadn't thought of. A simple word can truly change someone's outlook. Some people need someone who is in a position of authority to help, others might just need to find that one person who can make sense of it all for them.

Every one of us is knowledgeable in something. Every one of us is good at something. It's not just knowing WHO to ask for help, it's knowing WHAT to ask in the first place. A direction that we can follow. We are all part of a community.