Like so many other social media semi-addicts, I find myself increasingly drawn to Twitter, and away from Facebook.

I don’t know what it is, but perhaps the mundaneness of my life is better suited to 140 character tweets than ‘status’ updates which (at least in my little mind) attach more gravity to one’s happenings. As a result I suspect the banality of my life is better served by tweets about my exciting and eventful existence (I exercised; I’m having a bath; I’m tired – and so forth) than insightful thoughts on world peace and stuff.

Because I can’t access social media on my work computer, I tend to go through Twitter binges, where I spend the entire 30 minute commute to or from work reading back over the highlights of the day to try to get some context to Twitter conversations I’ve entered midstream. And because time is limited I scan through the avatars (or pictures) to see who’s saying what. But lately I’ve noticed that many of the familiar faces or pictures are disappearing and being replaced by others.

I wonder if there has always been this rapid and regular movement in my Twitter family’s avatars, or whether it’s just something I’ve noticed of late…. in the same way that – when you want a certain type of new car, you see that car everywhere, or if you are / can’t get pregnant, you see pregnant people everywhere. Sort of.

And… expanding on yesterday’s first world ailment post (re my jealousy of those who willingly pose for photographs when out socialising; for which I’ve not yet received treatment), I’ve found myself suffering yet another 21^st century illness: avatar envy!

My real photo (though it is a couple of years old) adorns my personal Facebook page where I am ‘friends’ with those from my childhood and adulthood, relatives and recent workplaces (as opposed to current workplace because – although it may surprise you – I try to keep some boundaries in my life). This blog and its accompanying Twitter & FB accounts feature a childhood photograph of me. I say it’s because I overshare so much here and I don’t want those from other areas of my life being privy to my inner-most thoughts (not to mention knowing how much I weigh!).

But even my public blog features a childhood picture of me. And I wonder, is it because I’m still a tad nervous about people who know me reading my writing….? Perhaps.  But I suspect that it’s mostly because there’s some level if shame in ‘owning’ up to who I am and what I look like now.

I’m starting to think I’d like to include a nice photo myself on that blog (although I’m not certain about this one!), so people know that I do – in fact – exist. But… as per yesterday’s post, I’m still loath to be photographed, or captured for posterity while I look as I do.

So… following on from yesterday’s post: what I want (what I really really want), is to be camera-ready, pose for some happy snaps and proudly own up to who I am (now) and actually have a real photo next to my Twitter tweets and Facebook updates. And, I’d like to change it every so often after someone’s captured a great new photo of me – out and about, having fun and posing for pictures. As you do… if you’re not me, that is!

Watch this space!