I have decided to start a blog.

Why? For several reasons, some serious and some frivolous.

1. I want to write

From the moment I realized I was not going to be a ballerina (age six – I quit when I realized they were prepping us to do splits, and yes, I do regret that decision) I wanted to be an author-illustrator, which then morphed into being an author, which then developed into being a historian, and now I’m back to wanting to write stories. The best way to improve is to practice frequently, right? So here I am.

2. I am realizing more and more that I shouldn’t delay

Recently, one of my former professors passed away suddenly at a young age, and one of the girls from my high school graduating class died of a long-term disease. I was surprised and saddened by each, and neither has yet to fully sink in. As a young college kid, it’s often easiest to think I’m invincible or at least that I have eighty more years to go, but it’s impossible to know. When I was in eighth grade, one of my favorite teachers recommended Ernest Hemingway’s The First Forty-Nine Stories. I know I didn’t get through all forty-nine, but one that stuck in my head was about a climber injured on a mountainside waiting for help. As he lay there dying, he thought about all the stories he had wanted to write but wouldn’t be able to. I want to be sure I've tried.

3. I’m trying to be more positive

Maybe this will get easier if I write about positive experiences. For instance, a few weeks ago, a perfect stranger at the airport helped me change the tire on my friend’s car. He didn’t even hesitate to get out in the freezing cold and show me what to do. When reading the newspaper often makes me want to curl up in my bed and hide, he reminded me that a lot of good people still exist, and hopefully I will be lucky enough to meet many of them.

4. I have no idea what I’m doing after April

I am graduating college in two and a half months and am having trouble looking for a job because I can’t exactly define what I want to do. I think I need to narrow it down from “helping people” and “making enough money that I can travel internationally.” By writing a blog, maybe I will feel like I’m proactively doing something for my future that isn’t just sending out cover letters.

5. I have some good inspiration

People I know:

http://soleilquidanse.wordpress.com/

http://theemilyalmanac.blogspot.com

People I wish I knew:

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com

6. “I’m writing” sounds so much better than “I’m catching up on the last four seasons of 30 Rock”

Half the fun of procrastination is trying to pretend you’re doing something worthwhile.

So yes! Those are my reasons. I have yet to come up with a unifying theme for this, but I think that will be okay. I will try to be entertaining and (hopefully) thought provoking, and I will keep my language clean so my mother can read this. Wish me luck!