I was turning 50 a few months ago and I was a little apprehensive about it. It’s a milestone birthday that felt a little more palpable — like it hit me harder than other birthdays.

Following suit with some of my classmates, I decided to post a picture of me on Facebook denoting my half century on this earth.

I’ll have to admit I was a little down that day for some reason. But what came next turned my mood on a dime.

I received many positive comments on social media. It really gave a boost to my self-esteem.

As I had that feeling, it dawned on me that I should be more supportive of others on social media as well. I wanted others to have that good feeling I had on my birthday when those messages came in.

Yes, social media can be a long, dark tunnel of negativity. Well, it wasn’t that day I turned 50 and I vow to do my part to add some positivity and light.

So that is my goal for this year and beyond. And you are welcome to join me.

Let’s not overlook that chance to give someone a kind remark either in person or online. I have a goal to make more connections, whether at my work at the Y or in my time about town.

We can be happy for others without having to compare them to our own lives. We are all in this world at the same time in history together. That should mean something.

Maybe it is a pie-in-the-sky dream that we can make a difference.

Even though we might not change the world, we can make people feel better in that moment.

And that’s not nothing.

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Andrew Potter is the Marketing and Communications Director for the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA.