I noticed you didn’t go running today.

I noticed you didn’t go running today.  Why is that?  You tweeted how many cups of coffee you had this morning, updated your facebook status to let everyone know you were having lunch with friends, and then, blogged about the new movie you saw after dinner.  But, nothing about running.  I thought you were in training.

Believe me, I know this works in reverse, too.  You know exactly what I have and have not been doing, and several of you have called me out when I’m not living up to my goals or ideals.  I appreciate it, really.  Growing up, I knew I had my close friends, neighbors, and church community to keep me on track.  Now, in addition to those, I’ve got friends around the world and people I’ve never met who know all my actions.

Social media and our online communities have become the ultimate in accountability partners.  The knowledge that others are following my every move helps keep me honest with myself.  I take extra note of my behavior and endeavor to be a better person.  I want my friends and my community to be proud of me.  We provide daily support and motivation to each other in countless ways, and if we continue watching out for each other and striving to be our best, our communities and our relationships will grow stronger.

So, keep tweeting, updating your facebook status, and blogging about your latest activity.  I’ll be watching, and I hope you’ll be watching me in return.

In the in-between time, I’d love to hear your stories of how your social network has kept you accountable and provided motivation to keep you on the road to your goals.