Tonight, I’m mostly reading other blogs instead of adding to this one, but I made a promise to myself to post something original at least once a day. I’m sticking with that promise. I can always think of something to write about.

Okay, so tonight it’s Twitter. I mainly use Twitter to talk to my son, who can almost always be found there. Besides checking in on my kid, Twitter is also useful for quick announcements and promoting something you posted elsewhere. In general though, I think Twitter is rather silly and shallow (and doesn’t allow for creative writing), but it has its merits: being forced to edit your thoughts down to 140 characters or less does oblige you to get down to the essence of what you want to say. That can be a great exercise for writers like me who tend to be too verbose. Just get to the bones of it. Sometimes what you want to say can be more effective stated without all the fat.

I usually think #hashtag games are dumb, but someone started a new one this morning, #TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo. Besides being fun (and addictive) I’m surprised to find how it’s helping me gain clarity about my current situation and the choices I made. Rather than regretting those choices, I can extrapolate from that 10 years into the future and gain insight on what I need to do now, which means I may be much more careful about choices I haven’t yet made.

Mine:

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo That book you just read? Don’t donate it to Goodwill.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo put a parental lock on MySpace

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo Be very careful what you start posting on the Internet in around 2008-9.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo Don’t start that Facebook account in 2008. You will come to regret it.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo That walkie talkie you and ____ think is so cool? A cell phone would be better

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo your son will come out as furry in 4 years. Take more interest in his interest in cartoons

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo your boss is actually a horses ass who will fire you in 2009.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo those suspicions you have about your son being gay? They’re correct.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo just because you couldn’t get your book published and your mother hated it doesn’t mean your writing sucks

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo you have not lost your intelligence or talents. You have PTSD. Get help for that.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo Katrina is happening in a year. Actually send that money to the relief fund.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo start watching American Idol this year, but stop watching it after 4 years. It does not get better.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo your not too old to make something of yourself. In 10 years you might be.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo stop worrying about your son. He will turn out better adjusted than anyone else in the family

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo In 2005 you will say something stupid to your father. Don’t.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo Use some of that tax return you get in 2005 to learn web design and start a blog now. WordPress is not hard.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo start meditating now.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo you’ll still be poor but at least you’ll age well and still look pretty much the same

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo stop worrying about something happening to the kids. They’re still alive in 2014

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo A violent act is NOT necessary to obtain a restraining order. Do it now.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo you need to write something every day. No excuses.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo You need to get FULL custody of BOTH kids. Your dad paid for a lawyer–use it.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo don’t let your daughter convince you to let her live with her dad. She needs to live with you. So what if she hates you now.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo Don’t listen to his sweettalk and promises. They’re lies. You need to cut him off now.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo Start a blog now. Stop wasting time on forums.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo all that postgrunge playing on the radio right now is rock music’s death rattle.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo by 2010-11, Top 40 radio will be unrecognizable.

#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo stop complaining about the price of gas. It will be 3 times higher by this time next year.

Not mine, but I love this one:
#TweetAtYourself10YearsAgo On 9/23/14, send a tweet to yourself 10 years ago using this hashtag to close the causality loop I just created.

I’m inviting readers to join in. This game really makes you think.