Unconditional inspiration.

A little over a week ago I promised you a weekly post...and wouldn't ya know it, I let more than a week pass and no post.  I promise to do better from here on out.  I could make excuses, but they would just be that, excuses.  One thing I pride myself on is taking responsibilty for my actions.  So instead of an excuse, here is an apology for my lapse.  I'm sure you were just dying without me ;).

So.  What inspires me?  I have been giving that a lot of thought over the last week and I agree with my favorite uncle that inspiration is the best place to start rekindling my love of writing. 

One of my earliest memories of writing something that I was really proud of involves a paper entitled My American Hero (or it could've just been My Hero...) that I wrote in the sixth grade.  I wrote about my Dad, John Rowe.  I talked about what a good person he was and how he served our country in the Korean Conflict and how he had recently lost his battle with cancer.  I was so proud of that paper, in part because my Mom (or Marmie as I previously referred to her) was so proud that she made copies and sent them out to the entire family.  I know of several other things I wrote about, including World War II and the Holocaust and about the unfair treatment of animals.  Interestingly enough (or oddly enough) most of the things that inspired me in adolescence, still inspire me today. 

So over the course of this blog I will probably mention these things from time to time.  Beware ;)

For now though, I will tell you quite honestly that I am most inspired by the dynamics of a family.  To me a family can be defined as any group of people that loves each other unconditionally.  To take it a step further, this group of people will be the people you lean on in times of tragedy, joy, and uncertainty.  If you know me, then you know I have a very large family comprised of a plethora of different people that I have been lucky enough to pick up along the way. 

One of these days I hope to add to my family...but as I have mentioned to you before I have learned to stop making plans.  This year I will be thirty but I am letting go and trusting that no matter what, there is always family.  They are my unconditional inspiration.

A part of the art.

So...I haven't written in a while.  I guess you knew that though.  Blog envy has taken hold.  The problem with said envy is that it has caused a lack of iniative in the writing department.  A good friend of mine has a supremely cool/trendy blog that makes mine look juvenile at best. So rather than trying to improve my blog I simply stopped writing.  And the fact of the matter is that I didn't start writing this blog as anything more than an outlet to write.  I simply love the way words can be used in a way that allows the reader to completely disconnect from whatever their current reality is.  So I'm done drooling over current popular blogs.  I will still frequent these sites as I love the content but it will be simply to enjoy instead of peering at my computer screen with anxiety and what ifs and the ever present "why can't that be me...?".  *

So back to the beginning.  When I started this blog as I mentioned above it was to be an outlet for writing.  Books have been my greatest love for as long as I can remember and as I approached adulthood I wanted to be a part of the art.  (Yep, that rhymes :)).  Unfortunately, I have been in the real word for so long that I have misplaced the happiness that comes from sitting down and writing for pleasure.  And it shows.  So I'm hoping to reaquainte myself with writing for the fun of it.  And in that process I hope to make my thoughts and ideas fun for other people to read.  So don't expect any fancy graphic designs from this old blog.  I'm just gonna write.  And write some more.  And hope that ya'll take at least a little pleasure in the reading. 

There are a few things that I do need to change to make this worthwhile and to actually cultivate some sembalance of personal growth from the whole experience. 

1. Consistency.  I am going to (try) to commit to one post per week.  We shall go from there. 

2. Readers.  So if you know anyone that might have a vacant ten minute time slot once a week to stop by and read, please do pass me along.  And tell them to give me some (gentle) constructive criticism while they are here. 

So. Wish me luck.  Send some positive thoughts my way as I revisit an old flame (still talking about writing folks).  Have a splendid week. 

*Please note: I do not, by any means, discredit the talent and creativity of real bloggers.  I am simply freeing myself (from myself) of a need to compete.  So blog away friends! 

My few of my favorites: 
Approaching Joy
Young House Love
Breakfast at Toast