Picture your life before you began using Twitter, and compare it to now. How has it changed?

Perhaps it’s allowed you to connect more easily with your friends? Or maybe you’ve made new connections solely through Twitter? Has it taught you how to do your job better? Or even how to live your life better?

When I first started using Twitter, I think my first impression was the same as most others, “What’s the point?” But in the past 6+ months I’ve been heavily involved in Twitter, my life HAS begun to change. After attending a Social Media Club mixer this week, I realized something – I would not know 90% of these people without the use of Twitter. In fact, I would barely have any professional connections in Knoxville without Twitter. Beyond that, I have connections all over the country because of it.

I’ve also learned so much more about my career through the use of Twitter. Every day, the thought-leaders I follow post article links, blog entries, etc…and each of these teach me more about public relations and social media in general. I would even go as far as to say that I’ve learned more in 6 months through my connections to these professionals than I learned in 4 1/2 years of college.

I also find it enriching to know that I have the ability to share my own article finds and blog posts to my group of followers. At the mixer a few nights ago, someone said to me, “You introduced me to Streamy.” While it may seem trivial, I introduced something to someone through my use of Twitter. And they may not have known about it otherwise. And my personal impact isn’t even large comparatively. Look at Trent Reznor of NIN – he helped raise over $800,000 for a fan in need of a heart transplant – all through the use of Twitter.

So what if we spend a few hours a day tweeting? It’s not a waste of time if we’re furthering our careers and ultimately – our lives. So what do you think? How has Twitter changed your life?