Face To Facebook: Using Facebook To Overcome Fears

I don’t think a day goes by when I don’t read at least one story about how Facebook either builds or destroys relationships. At least yesterday there was some balance to the madness. First I read a story about a guy who “accidentally” had sex with an exotic dancer at his bachelor party. His brand new wife found out about it a few months later by reading his Facebook page where he was flirting with that same dancer. Now the newlyweds are getting divorced.

Right when I was wondering if Facebook is truly evil, or if it just simply brings out the best and worst in us… I went on to read this touching story about a woman who overcame her fears with Facebook. It’s a beautiful story which reminds us that we are never too old to stop learning and growing in life.

51-year-old ArLynn Press has agoraphobia, which is the fear of crowded places or enclosed public spaces. She’s barely left her house and hasn’t traveled outside her town in over 30 years. In December 2010, she decided to overcome her fears. What was her plan? She made a commitment in a blog post to meet all 335 of her Facebook friends in person.

She set out on a long journey, which eventually took her to 13 countries. By the end of 2011, she had met 292 of them. Before you start thinking that she didn’t meet her goal, keep in mind that 2 of the Facebook friends were profiles of pets, 5 had passed away (but were still on Facebook), 18 people ignored her when she tried to set up a time to meet, and a few people unfriended and blocked her when she even suggested it. So, overall, I’d say she did an amazing job!

ArLynn isn’t finished either. She just posted an article yesterday about how she is packing up and getting ready for her first Facebook meeting of 2012. You can read more about this story at Vancouver Sun and follow her travels by visiting her blog at arlynnpresser.

Via: [Oddity Central]