When I was a student, both early on and throughout college, I dreamed of being a writer. I used to spend weekends writing short stories for my mom to read, and she always told me I was a great writer, to keep it up. Her praise was knocked down by mediocre reviews by college professors and rejection letters from magazines I approached with my short stories from my writing classes. Looking back, the thing I am certain was missing from my writing was purpose. I wrote just to write, but not to really tell a story or to inspire a feeling or make a change in even one person. When I think about my favorite authors, all of their stories make me feel something - a longing for an adventure, a need for romance or to travel, a desire to move or make a change in my life, a desperation I never knew I had. I want my written word to do the same, even if only for one person.
I need to create. I need to make something during my short time on this earth, not with my body, but with my mind and my hands. My proudest "creation" to date is my son. I believe that raising my son to be an honest, hard working, contributing member of society could result in the change I am hoping to make on the world in my time here, but I also want to change someone's life. And I mean in an inspirational, motivational, hopeful way. I believe I have caused some positive change in the lives of at least some people who I have met and mentored during my time in Junior League. But I do not want to stop there. And I should not have to. I will not. So, my first step in reaching my goal of touching at least ONE life with my written word is to think of topics or issues with a purpose. So that is what I am going to do. One day at a time.
