A is for taking ACTION.

It took me longer than I had hoped to gather the strength and patience necessary to tackle this blog. I made the decision weeks ago about the blog's purpose, but I have just now begun it. 

In short, I intend for this blog to be about rediscovering and redefining my passions, my love, and my happiness. I am going to get out and try new things, revisit old hobbies, rekindle lost friendships, and squeeze all I can out of each day. I will post about my activities, how they made me feel, and my future goals regarding each. Also, I vow to include a bit of humor to spice up each post. :-)

A few other ideas I had for the blog were:

• Retrieving some of my old journal entries from the same date, but 10-20 years prior
• Writing what I remembered about the entry
• Writing how that memory affected my life
• Writing what I learned from that memory
• Possibly some mockery of my younger self mixed with a bit of bragging on my current wisdom
• Approaching and complimenting five different people each day
• Making note of the time of day and location
• Making note of the age, race, and gender of the person
• Making note of each person's response
• Writing about how my words affected each person and how their reaction affected me
• Possibly a few stalkerish pictures of the people with whom I spoke
• Going an entire month as a vegetarian
• Discussing weight loss and overall health
• Discussing withdrawals and cravings
• Presenting different ideas for vegetarian meals
• Possibly sharing a few of my doodles, which would have inevitably been of cows, chickens, pigs, and fish
• Mmmm...

Even though I finally made a decision regarding the blog's subject matter, actually embarking upon the journey was another story entirely. As far as a goal for my readers, I honestly hope to instill a bit of motivation and hope in each of them. If it is not of help now, then ideally he/she can store it in a jar to be used as a later date.

In regards to how I ultimately made the decision about the blog, I believe it mostly had to do with what I most needed in my life right now. I know many people experience "emotional roller coasters," but I sometimes seem to have chosen the bumpiest one.

After a decent number of curve balls and obstacles were tossed at me, I fell time and time again. Regardless of how low I got, I would somehow gather the strength (or stubbornness) to slowly work my way back up. However, despite my stubborn drive, I still lost that "spark" or excitement for each day. I found myself jaded and myopic, awaiting something or someone to be handed to me on a silver platter. I wanted someone to offer me my dream job, my dream house, my dream man, or my dream body. I was tired of drawing the short straw, and wished for a fix.

I have since come to terms with the fact that wishing accomplishes nothing; taking action does. 

This brings me to my point about the blog. I intend to give brief explanations about some of the major obstacles with which I was been presented, but I plan to more deeply concentrate on what steps I am taking (and plan on taking) to reignite my spark, my excitement, and my passion for life.

This will take more effort than merely wishing and hoping.

I am excited. I am nervous. I am ready.

"Life is a journey, not a destination."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you to Good Reads for the above quote.