Happy Blogiversary

I feel more friendly when I am writing, nicer to people, much more generous, also wiser.
                                                                                                                --Toni Morrison

I am a writer. 

No, I haven't signed a book contract.  The blog hasn't gone viral.  That's OK.  One year ago I began writing about my "Year of Allison".  Anticipating how I would spend my days without a full-time job, I said, "I am still going to be a wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, teacher and friend.  I am still going to be a Girl Scout leader, Sunday School teacher and running coach." 

These labels are all true, and all good.  But what I realized is that each of them reflects my relationships with others.  Through writing, I am discovering who I am to myself. 
Writing is for ME. 

I am a writer.

In the beginning, the paper is a place for rambling, scattered thoughts.  They roll around on the page where I can see them.  Gradually an idea takes shape, growing and developing.  Soon I have lost track of time, giddy with excitement as my words come together like a puzzle.    

I am a writer. 
 
I choose my words carefully--pretty ones, sweet ones, feeling the words on my tongue before they touch the page. The dictionary and thesaurus are old friends.  Writing is more than communicating--it is my creative outlet.  For me, the fun is not just telling a story but considering how to tell the story. 

I am a writer.

Over the past year, I shared a small part of my life with you in 65 blog posts.  Maybe one of the posts made you think, or laugh out loud.  Maybe you learned something new or found we have something in common.  Maybe you read one post.  Maybe you've read all 65.  In some ways I haven't changed much at all.  Despite goals I set for myself, I still can't do a push up (Independence Day) and I still check my email way to much when I'm procrastinating (Email Diet).  I still get through my days with a grin, some grit and a bit of grace.   Along the way, I discovered that writing makes me happy. 

So then, I am a writer. 

Happy Blogiversary!