Facebook Tracks Our Lives, From Cradle to Grave

Over the last 12 months, I have been news-fed on Facebook a friend dying from cancer, a friend committing suicide and a friend dying of old age. I have also read about oodles of babies being born, plenty of weddings and many great moments.

You probably have, too.

I find all of this pretty amazing — that the stories of our lives can be forever kept safe within the walls of social media.

Starting with the end of life, the people I read had died were not real-life friends, per se, meaning I knew them or spent time with them, but they weren’t close to me. But because of Facebook, I was able to grieve and celebrate their lives and acknowledge their human endings. And, I find that very peaceful. I find it comforting that so many people leave memories on their walls and continue to celebrate their birthdays. I find it refreshing that people connected through the digital world still cared. This means that they were loved (of course at different levels) than anyone could ever imagine.

One of the people who died was a teacher in my hometown. What I found amazing was that people who were not close friends with her were sharing her obituary and commenting on what a wonderful lady she was. Those people commenting were sharing memories from their elementary school days. Facebook has found a way to keep those souls alive. And I find that to be pretty cool.

Mid-life celebrations are also marked. People celebrate kid milestones, a big Little League hit, a new car, a new tattoo. And in exchange for sharing that moment, people like it — or comment and share.

Babies, marriages, birthdays, victories in some candy game — all celebrated on Facebook. I can even click like on celebrations I wasn’t invited to, but smiled when I saw. People can take comfort in the fact that a moment may have put a smile on a stranger’s face. That’s pretty awesome.

And, whenever you want (as I often do), you can go back and relive those smiles by clicking on old videos or photos or seeing the friendship history.

Facebook truly creates happiness.

Who knows what the future of social media holds, but as long as that wall and life story are preserved, it’s a cool gravestone and membrane of the life once lived. I think it’s pretty comforting knowing the amount of unknown love that exists out there. Facebook is a little piece of peace.