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| My favorite pair of earrings. I don't see them as morbid, to me they speak of celebrating life and letting go of the old to make way for the new. |
September. This is my own personal December 31st, my New Year and the time for taking stock of the life I’ve lived over the last 365 days, the person I’ve been, and how it has all measured up to that which I wished for it to be.
I’m one of September’s children, arriving late for the party on the 26th. For one reason or other, I’ve always viewed this time of year as the turning point for all things. For the young, freedom is giving way to another year of school. All around me the seasons are readying themselves for Autumn’s Grand Finale and a slow slide into Winter’s rest. And me? I’m preparing to add a new digit to the counter that marks my time here and what I’ve chosen to do with it.
Over the past year my life has slid in and out of focus, landing me on my wobbly feet like a three-legged cat. I’ve learned to fight to be heard in the realm of my health. I’ve realized life is too short to be angry or bitter about things I cannot change. I’ve even remembered that laughter is the best possible way to take the fear out of the hands of the monsters hiding under the metaphorical bed.
I like to think I’ve become a better person, a better friend and a bit improved at my craft. No longer is my snap response to the question, “Why do you write?” the tongue-in-cheek, “Because it’s cheaper than therapy.” Somewhere along the path the answer became, “I write for the same reason I do everything in my life, for the joy of it!”
No, I’m not altruistic. I’m not a selfless giver. I am a wife, Mother, daughter, sister, friend, and patient. I am a human who understands how easy it is to get lost in the darker shadows when you’re so intent on just surviving that you forget to live.
“A life without laughter is a life unlived.” I love that quote. (And not just because it’s mine. *grin*) I love it because it’s true and has become the driving force behind why I sit down at the computer every morning.
As part of this yearly ritual I decided to take a small step out of my comfort zone by joining the BlogHer "NoPoBloMo September 2012" challenge. The goal is to improve your writing by committing to post every day. The theme for this month is exploring the seen and unseen. It seemed…fitting.
There may be a day here and there where I end up writing two different posts. I’ll let you know when that happens with a link to the alternate post. (Ya now, just in case you’re bored. *grin*)
So to another September 1st I say, “Greetings! Welcome, my old friend and let’s get this party started!”
