I have not written in a while. At least not on this site. Life takes you in funny directions. My life has done that over the past several months. And thru it all, I have not been chronicling the journey here. But that ends now.  I started another blog, "The Vegan Diaries" and that was taking much of my attention. Guess I am not the multi-tasker I think I am. But my passion for writing has not waivered, just detoured a bit.

I have been thinking a lot about the changes we go through and what brings about this change. My personal changes have taken me in so many other directions, but I wondered, is it just me?  I have been talking to my friends lately about change, and the one thing they believe brings about change is the world. Our world has undergone so many changes lately that one can't help but "go with the flow".  So that is what I am doing, going with the flow.

Why is it we don't make changes unless the world is undergoing its own form of adjustment. We have witnessed uprisings in other countries, earthquakes, and tsunamis.  The Earth has even shifted off of its axis. Yes, the world is experiencing a transformation, like it or not.  As a result, its inhabitants begin to evolve.
I have met so many people on a spiritual quest.  People I had never expected to be seeking, are seeking. Myself included.  Now I know many think when times get strange, people need something to believe in.  I know this because I was one of those people.  But what is wrong with believing? 

You can't turn on the TV these days without seeing the undoing of the world creating the hope of positive changes. More and more people want to do their part.  It used to be activism was relegated to the extremists of a cause. Today, it seems more people are finding their causes and becoming "passionate".  I had a conversation yesterday about exterminators. Yes, you read that right.  I questioned the chemicals used by the company and hoped it was non toxic.  The friend on the other end of the phone said, "open the windows and air it out, it won't be that toxic".  Perhaps my form of extremism is for the purpose of educating.  I did say I was changing things in my life, but let's leave it at that.

I think in these uncertain times, extremism has given way to passion. Maybe it is extreme, the tactics used by some.  As a vegan, and wanting to live the vegan lifestyle, I intend to give up all leather.  But that doesn't mean I am going to become a zealot for the cause. It doesn't mean I won't either.  Activism can be such a loaded word. But I will say, I am grateful for the "passion" of these activists, they have paved the way for many great changes.

It is interesting how quickly things can change.  Where the change stems from. I really can't say where my change from being vegetarian to vegan came from. I don't have any vegan friends.  I don't know anyone that celebrated Earth Hour, I don't have any friends in PETA.  This evolution happened on its own, before I even realized it was happening really.  I guess all I can do is let it unfold and go with the flow....

I am going through the process of de-cluttering.  I keep a clean, organized apartment; however, I also have a knack for holding on to things that no longer serve me.  Be it clothing, shoes, even old bill statements.  I am a big fan of not holding on to things that you feel inhibit your growth.  Which brings me to my latest at home project, clearing out the clutter.  Working in the retail industry for the last, well never mind.  Suffice to say working around designer everything,  makes you think $500 for shoes is normal.  That was the way of life for me for far too long.

Now I am not a hoarder by any means.  My tiny studio apartment doesn't lend itself to being a hoarder.  My sense of clutter is in the form of old shoes, handbags, scarves, basically the things that I haven't looked at in a very long time, much less worn.  I may work around luxury goods, but I certainly don't need them in my home.  Of course there is the mind clutter that I think can go hand in hand with the physical clutter.  And let me state right here, I am a very "a place for everything, and everything in its place" kind of girl. So this means identifying what I want to get rid of and then going to that place in the closet and pulling it off the shelf.

I have gone through so many changes over the last year and a half and going through some of these items has made me realize the attachment is more to a period in my life, a life I no longer live.  I don't care about the designer duds like I once did.  I don't need the latest handbag, or the designer cold weather scarf to make me happy. They are not me.  I have many friends who love these things and I have no problem with that, it just isn't what I am about anymore.  Maybe it is also just my attempt at a more zen life.  Or maybe it is just I don't have the room anymore.

It is amazing to me the amount of attachment a physical item can hold for you.  I can look at a pair of shoes, or a handbag and remember where I bought it, what I wore it with, and even possibly what was going on in my life at the time.  But in letting go of the past I need to not only let go of the item, but the memory related to it.  I will keep the memories but let go of the physical object.  These items no longer fit my lifestyle.  There is nothing wrong with that.  But would it be bad or ridiculous to say I wish I had all that money back? Hindsight really is 20/20.  And the funny thing is, most of the items haven't been worn enough to justify the initial purchase.  At least not when I really want a food processor, or a high speed blender.  Yes, it is safe to say my needs have changed.

My needs are much more simple now.  I don't need the things that used to make me happy, I find my happiness in so many other ways.  And let's face it, the more I enjoy this vegan diet, it is bound to become a vegan lifestyle.  Yes, I have looked at vegan shoes and handbags and some are even cute.  I have no problem wearing canvas shoes, carry a pleather bag.  I recently saw a designer handbag that is vegan.  But the fact is I have changed and so have my taste.  It is just a natural progression.

The change happened almost organically (pun intended).  One change led to others.  Life changes and we have to roll with it. Some will do it in designer clothes and some will do it with a high speed blender in vegan shoes.  So I will continue to "clean out" the items that no longer have a place in my life.  I will make way for newness. I would like to think I have learned from my past mistakes.  For instance, why would I buy high heels just to stand on a marble floor all day? I value my feet too much for that.  But I won't deny they do look great on.  Kudos to the millions of women that do that, I am not one of them.   

So I will get busy on this de-clutter project.  I will reminisce about  each and every shoe, each and every handbag.  I will find nostalgia for a life once lived.  I will remember the good times.  And I will remember that every item had value once.  Of course, I will also remember the eventual toll it took on my bank account and  with a little luck I will not have to "clean out" in another few years from the clutter I will accumulate......again.

I am a big proponent of free speech.  As many of you know I am also the type of woman that believes everyone has the right to their own opinion.  But yesterday I received a link to a blog on one of the sites that I am a member of and I grew annoyed as I continued to read the blog. The blog is called "Serve Families First" and it is on the BlogHer website.

In the post, parentwin as the author is called talks about not wanting to sound privileged or whiny believes families should be served first.  Whether it be in a restaurant, the post office, wherever, it is her contention that for the sake of families and singles that they receive service first.  Her argument is that by taking care of those with children first and bending the rules a bit  it will make everyone happier.  I guess I am wondering who is happier in this situation?  Her explanation is that as non family types and restaurant owners, we will all be happier when they are taken care of ahead of the rest of us.  Her reasoning is the attention span of a child is much more limited, of course, I know some adults with the same problem.  She goes on to say that some parents "suck" at controlling their children.  If this is the case, why take them out at all if they can't behave?

She then proceeded to say that she would like the check to come quickly at the end of the meal so as to usher said unruly children out.  What confuses me is her saying she would like everything to be expedited quickly to get out of there. Why go out in the first place?  Sounds more of a headache than need be.  She even managed to offer up a big tip for the server if these actions were met. I have many friends in the food service business and here is what I know, there are not bigger tips for the mess and inconvenience you have shown your server.  Not to mention the amount of time it takes for the bus boy to clean up the table and underneath the table for the children.  So I needed a little perspective on the situation. 

I read and re-read the post thinking perhaps I had missed something.  I have friends with children and gone to dinner with them.  Never once had my friends asked for special favors and not once did the children become obnoxious or out of control.  I decided I should re-read the comments on the blog page to see what other parents thought of the offering she was making.  Everyone that commented agreed that she was out of line to ask for special favor simply because she had children.  The author answered them all by saying that she just assumed it would be easier on other patrons if families were simply out of the way.  Having this posted on a social media site garnered even more negative response to the author's rant. I sympathize with parentwin on that issue.  We as bloggers have all received negative comments to something we have written, generally something that is our own opinion, so it isn't easy for me to negate her in any way.  I am, however, still annoyed. 

I was raised with manners, there wasn't anywhere my parents could not take me or my sisters.  They never hoped for special attention, if anything, they would wait their turn knowing that children can take longer and be more taxing on a stranger's patience.  It is about mutual respect for one another.  I know just as many couples with children that feel a sense of entitlement when it comes to going out in public; wanting special favor and expecting it.  As a single woman with no children I can only speak to what I know.  I am certain it isn't easy raising children, but I do know what is right. 

Single or family there is no need for special favor, no need to be served first.  Wait your turn, teach your children that.  Let them know that life is about taking turns, your turn up to bat, at the post office, and yes, your turn to place your order. If there is any doubt, go to a more family friendly restaurant.  I do believe parents should be able to take their children anywhere they want.  In the meantime, maybe I will go for lunch and hope there are well behaved children in the restaurant......waiting their own turn.

Life is full of changes.  I believe it is part of who we are as human beings to go through many transformations in our lives. I went through one of these very transformations about a year and a half ago.  I became a vegetarian.  It wasn't the easiest transition.  I grew up a meat eater, steak and potatoes was a mainstay in our house.  Not to mention, I love food.  So I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but it was something I felt, none the less compelled to do.  What started out as a desire to eat better soon turned into a social decision.  I just didn't know it at the time.

Making a decision to become vegetarian comes with so many questions.  What kind of vegetarian was I going to be?  There are several different types out there.  Some eat dairy, but no animal flesh.  Others eat fish but no other animals.  There were endless choices.  I had even read of "bacotaraians", vegetarians that still ate bacon.  Yes, you read that correctly.  But for me, I was going to eat some cheese, and fish only when out.  I felt as if that was the answer.  No flesh per se, but the occasional animal by product was okay.  I also felt the need to be able to eat fish when I went out with friends,  I didn't want to make them uncomfortable.  Yeah that was it!

With change I knew there would need to be research.  I had heard it all before, "What can you eat? Where will you get your protein? Why are you doing this?"  Good questions but  I wasn't sure of all the answers.  Thanks goodness for the internet,  I found more information than I wanted to know.  So study I did.  After reading countless articles on the farming industry,  factory farming of animals and their treatment, and FDA guidelines;  I was ready to give up the cow for good.  I still hadn't given up the cheese.  But I knew it was a matter of time.  As of this writing, I am finally ready to give up dairy all together.

Being vegetarian changes so many things.  It has to happen, there is no way around it.  Meal time is completely different and you find that sometimes your carnivorous friends don't understand.  That's okay. Again, many changes ensue in our lives.  You just roll with it. But that wasn't really the only change.  I decided to change doctors and get a complete physical, and seek the guidance of a nutritionist.  What the physical revealed was that I was actually healthier than I expected.  There is an issue that may be a linked to my weight, but that is another story for another time.  All in all, I am healthy. 

So finding out I am healthy made me realize there are other things I can do to ensure I stay healthy.  I have started researching things about toxins and our environment. And yes I am afraid to say, I am becoming greener by the day.  So aware of everything in products we use in our homes, on our bodies, and even the way food is grown.  It was bound to happen.   Being vegetarian became the catalyst for big changes in my life. I am happier, and have a feeling that I am doing something good.  Not just for me, but for the planet. 

I know some people think I am crazier than ever, and I say let them think that.  We all have our own lives to live.  I choose to live mine this way.  But now I am ready to be vegan,  I have read numerous articles that being vegetarian can be the gateway to becoming vegan.  I am ready to give up everything animal. Can you believe that includes jelly beans, yes it sure does!   So I am diving in to the plant-based diet for a better life and a better planet.  I don't know how this happened or where this idea come lifestyle came from but it feels right to me.  I am not sure what all a vegan lifestyle involves, I am still learning.  It has been interesting that is for sure. 

So begins the next chapter of this life, the vegan chapter.  It is a process that I learn as I go.  I will be writing about it from time to time.  I will be testing new recipes I find and posting them,  just in case anyone would ever want to try them.  So I will keep you posted how this metamorphosis is going. Still writing about other things, but this should be some interesting material.  Oh yeah, and I just might need a new pair of Tom's to celebrate......

I follow many blogs and read many books.  All with a specific focus or interest.  It is that subject that grabs me as a reader and holds my attention and keeps me coming back for more.  So I started thinking about my own "grab and hold your attention" subject, and here is what I have discovered, I am a writer without a niche.

I recently asked several readers, "what is my niche, what keeps you coming back for more"?  And the list was varied to say the least.  I know what keeps me going back for more with the writers I read. Content.  I read a variety on the subjects that are about where I am in my own life.  Isn't that what blogging is?  We "follow" the daily lives of those whose personal lifestyles speak to us. But who am I speaking too?

I discovered the answer to this on a recent visit to see my family.  I was on my way to the airport heading back to San Francisco when I struck up a conversation in the car.  Leave it to me and my avoidance style to wait to the last minute to have one of those conversations.  But it was interesting,  when I told them that I hadn't been seeking out any freelance work lately, this turned out to be their invitation to tell me what they really thought.  You gotta love family they tell you like it is.  And they do not hold back. 

The gist of the conversation was, "It is your own fault if you don't succeed as a writer, you have to put yourself out there to make things happen".  Wait, what?  Have they been reading the same blogs and books I had?  Were they taking the message from all of these mediums and regurgitating them back to me?  How did this happen.  I felt like they were channeling the very authors that sat on my coffee table.  But of course I was not about to take this lying down.  I immediately retaliated with, "but I don't have a niche,  I don't have any one subject that appeals to any one audience".   The follow up was, "you do, you just don't see it".  The silence was deafening. Who were these people and when did they become so enlightened?

It was a great conversation, and what I took away from it is that you have to believe in yourself if you want anyone to believe in you.  There are over 2 million blogs out there, and countless books on the shelves.  Not all subjects appeal to all readers.  Variety really is the spice of life.  I don't read every blog and book out there. They don't all intrigue me.  And with that it all became very clear.

What I discovered on the ride to the airport is that my subject is my life.  It may not be the most interesting life to some.  I am not published and off on book tour yet. I don't have a specialty that speaks to the masses.  I am not writing solely on a healthy lifestyle, or teaching yoga, or empowering women.  I write about some of these things, as part of my daily life.  As one reader told me, "I really like your conversational style of writing", and that is when I realized what I was writing about.  I write like I am talking to my girlfriends.  It is girlfriend chatter.  And that is my niche....I am the girlfriend.

It is Valentine's Day.  And just like everyone else out in the blogsphere, I thought I should weigh in on the subject of Valentine's Day, or as I like to call it Singles Awareness Day.  I am writing this post in honor of my dear friend Stacey.  In her words, which she coined from the Tina Fey character, Liz Lemon, on 3o Rock; "Happy Valentine's Day No One!"  This has become a sort of mantra around the workplace for the single people.  It really never was about us being single.  The phrase did however, take on a life of its own over the past several weeks.

It isn't that we hate Valentine's Day, in fact, we don't.  We aren't anti love. We celebrate love, with each other, with our friends and family. But when I logged on to the computer this morning I saw the phrase, "Single Awareness Day", and yes it has been.  Actually it was the commercials leading up to today that reminded me and my single girlfriends that this day would soon be upon us.  A time of love, and it was everywhere.  In the sweet note put in our friend's lunch by his partner.  In the delivery of flowers that ensued.  And in the endless amounts of heart shaped boxes filled with candy that were at every turn.  Love and calories were everywhere today. 

Valentine's Day has deep roots.  Originally a Roman festival to ward off evil spirits and increase fertility. When Pope Gelasius condemned the pagan festival and its rituals, he decided to make it an official church holiday in A.D. 496 and named it St. Valentine Day.  This was a way to "honor" the patron saint of engaged or married couples.  And that is the history lesson on how Valentine's Day was born.

Since that time it has become a bastion of consumerism and let's face it, for some, desperation.  What was originally a way to honor those who shared love with a partner has turned into a "Hallmark" holiday.  Haven't we all heard that said before?  You know you have.  But who said it, and why? Sometimes I wonder if it wasn't that cheap person out there that didn't want to fork over for the overpriced flowers he could get any other time of year for much less. But I digress.

I talked with some friends over the last couple of days and it was a mixed bag of emotions.  Several felt they didn't want flowers on this day, because their partner should not have to have a day to be told to buy flowers.  But isn't that what this day has turned into?  Isn't this the day in which we are told we must say "I love you", we must give candy, flowers, stuffed animals?  I have other friends that are part of a couple that pick out extravagant gifts and purchase them for themselves and tell their partner to pay them for it.  Is this another excuse for getting a gift? 

I love the idea of being in love and being able to tell that person every single day that I love them. Not on a day when sales goals are highest.  I want to receive flowers just because it is a Tuesday.  Now that would be a loving gesture.  Another loving gesture and one that is probably the more beautiful ones I have heard of this year is The Girl Effect, a non profit organization that helps educate women in third world countries.  There is a challenge out there to donate the one billion dollars spent on chocolate this year to be better invested in a young girl and give her an education.  Now that is love.

I am not saying that all of the heart shaped, candy filled boxes; the dozens of roses, and even the cute teddy bear aren't great.  I don't dislike Valentine's Day, I actually think anything that promotes more love is a beautiful thing.  I just don't like a dollar sign attached to that love, unless it is charitable. So I think about Stacey tonight as I write this, staring at the chocolates that she got me.  We joke a lot about Liz Lemon aka Tina Fey.  So much so that a coworker brought her a rose to let her know she wasn't alone today.  She told her that everyone should have a valentine.  She's right, we all should.  I know I do.  So here's to you Stacy, "Happy Valentine's Day No One!!!!"  You are my Valentine......

I "fan" easily.  I see an author or speaker that I like and just like that I become the super fan.  This all became clear about two weeks ago with the upcoming book signing by an author of a bestselling diet book.  Now if you are a faithful follower, don't let the idea of another "diet" book put your mind into overdrive.  This time it's different, I swear!  But let me tell you how I became the super fan, or at least the one who convinced several girlfriends to join me on this particular night.

I had read about this author and her journey from cancer patient to healthy living advocate on the internet from many different websites.  This was a woman that had an untreatable, inoperable, no hope of a future type of cancer and turned it into a slow moving cancer just by changing her life.  I work around women who are always looking for ways to be healthier, and better, we wanted to change our lives too. It is probably one of the main topics of conversation during any given lunch break.

So when I found out that said author was coming I had to round up the ladies and prepare for the book signing.  Afterall, this book was number six on the NYT bestsellers list, Amazon and most every book store was sold out.  This was something that we had to see for ourselves. Can you see me already obsessing and becoming the super fan?

I called the bookstore she was appearing at and made sure there would be plenty of copies of the book.  I just knew we were all going to do the cleanse portion together and change our habits together. For the record, my habits have been changing, so this was not going to be too far from what I was already doing. 

So the big day arrives, and after much confusion on my part, three of the girls backed out because I had the wrong day originally.  So much for the super fan,  I couldn't even get the day right. But the other four of us ventured out to the book signing and got our books, the last copies they had, listened to the author speak and then waited in line to have our book signed and meet our latest guru on health.  

It was great to meet her and she was just as down to earth as could be for a woman who is famous in the literary world and the vegan diet world.  She took pictures with my girlfriends, I opted out of getting a picture taken.  Super fan or not, I didn't feel the need to capture our images together on my cell phone.  Besides she had the radiant glow of a woman that had just downed uber amounts of green juice and I looked like a shop girl who had been on her feet all day.

After the book signing, we took our new lifestyle, health books and proceeded to the nearby wine bar.  As we took our seats we were met with curious eyes.  There we were sitting at the table with our books freshly signed and about to drink the juice of the Gods.  Well, they were, I stuck with sparkling water.  Over wine and sparkling water we talked about how healthy we were all going to get and they were going to be giving up wine after that last bottle was corked. It was sisterhood at its finest.

It was a great time, I even saw two other authors there, out giving her support on her big night.  I knew one of the authors, so it was nice to say hello.  It should be said that I super fanned her too, and I have her book too.  The other I had never met and still haven't.  But I will one day, and just like many authors I have met in the past, I will super fan her too.  Maybe it is the writer in me, these women are my mentors.  And thank God for my girlfriends who go with me to see these countless writers they have never heard of.  They do it out of friendship, and of course they do it for the wine.......

The author and book I write about is Kris Carr and her bestselling book is "Crazy, Sexy, Diet".

Yesterday I had a strange encounter with someone I thought had gone away, my ego.  I was checking my email when I got a message that an author I really liked was following me on a social media website.  I was elated.  In my egotistical mind and a matter of a few short minutes I decided that she read my blog, read my updates and that I was just the person that she was looking for to be a part of her "network".  After all, I had gone to her book signing a year ago and listened to her speak.  Well, if she wanted me in her "network" then I would of course welcome her into mine.  Virtual arms open and that was that.

Except that was not that. By the time I had returned home and checked in to the website, she had decided I was not going to be in her network.  What???  How did I fall out of favor?  Did she read a post and decide I wasn't her cup of tea?  My feelings of what I did wrong then turned to hostility.  If she didn't see fit to follow me then I wasn't going to follow her, and for that matter, I was going to stop following those that didn't follow me back either.  Did I not meet with her seal of approval after all? Whoa!!  My ego was screaming here.

After the dust settled on what can only be described as a childish and quite frankly ridiculous rant, I discovered the truth.  It was during a conversation with a friend that I realized, this all had nothing to do with me.  The reality is that this woman probably has a social media coordinator and it wasn't the author's fault. It could have been a glitch.  The point is, it could have been just about anything, but really it wasn't about me.

After my conversation with my friend I realized that in all of my ranting about authenticity, I needed, at her suggestion, to define what authenticity means to me.  Authenticity by definition means being genuine, okay, I agree with that.  To me, it is about being real, about being yourself, your true self. So why was I so bent out of shape at this silly situation?  I had accused the author of not being authentic.  But maybe it was me. 

Having just listened to a coworker rant about something I really didn't care about had already put me in a mood of annoyance.  I wasn't being authentic, I was not allowing her to rant and be who she is.  If I am going to preach authenticity don't I have to be in that place. If it is about allowing people to be who they are and take them at their word, then who am I to judge the motives of others?   Furthermore, if the ego is something fear based, why was I so upset that this author stopped following me?  Did I think we would become life long friends and go on to have fantastic author lives? (What is an author life anyway?) 

In the end it really doesn't matter whether or not this one author out of millions is my "friend".  It doesn't define who I am or what I am about.  Our paths crossed at a point in time, that does not make a friendship.  I am sure that in that moment of meeting, she had a genuine liking towards me.  She didn't know me but she did give me her time.  She spoke to me for a few minutes, and at the time, that was enough for me.  Maybe she came back in my life yesterday for a brief moment to remind me of my own life.  To remind me of what is important, not my ego, but my own authenticity.  To realize the only stamp of approval I need is my own, and to remember what really matters to me.

Or it could be that it served as a reminder that I have that book, and still haven't read it.  Yes, I have yet to crack open the book I bought a year ago, had to have, and had autographed by this author that until yesterday hadn't crossed my mind. All of that ranting did serve as a sign to be more aware of my own authenticity.  And of course, I really should find that book, now where did I put it.......

It's the birthday of The Perceptive Woman.  This website was born a year ago.  So many changes have occurred that I have to go through the archives myself just to see what has transformed.  There has been a lot of trial and error when has come to this site, and to my writing.  Writing has had its challenging moments. Some good and some bad, but all in all it has been a true adventure. 

If I had to think of one word to sum up this past year, it would have to be authenticity.  The words that have come from my heart have been mine.  Sometimes they were good and sometimes very amateur.  The key factor is in knowing they were mine. 

What started out as a hobby has morphed into a passion.  A day does not pass that I don't think about writing.  What is surprising is the fact that it goes beyond the writing, the words on the screen.  It is about the process behind the words.  The evolution of a thought. 

I have been through some unbelievable changes over the last year, some of which was chronicled in these pages.  Change is always good, but not always comfortable.  With change can come loss.  Loss of ideas, loss of hopes, and most sad, the loss of friendships.  If all of life is about evolution and change then would these losses be considered collateral damage?  It is in fact true to its meaning; damage incidental to an activity.  My activity has been this journey towards a better, more meaningful life and purpose.  The fallout could be seen as unavoidable.  As life transforms so do its players.   Not an easy idea to digest this thought of losing a friend.  There is no replacement for that void, it is merely a matter of moving forward and pressing on.

So the losses over the past year have been only one aspect of an otherwise incredible adventure.  I feel like a pilot with just me, my backpack, and a map that has no end point.  I have encountered other gifts along the way, new friends.  Like minded travelers forging their own exploration.  This is really an over exaggeration of sorts.  These are just a great group of women, my tribe, who accept each other no questions asked. 

The year has also brought about, albeit late to the game, a love of yoga and meditation.  How wonderful to have picked up this little gem of peace along the way.  When I first started writing, I wasn't sure where it was headed, truth be told I still don't.  But thankfully, yoga and meditation have infused into the core of my brain and I find that I don't have to know where I am headed just so long as I keep going.

I think what I am really saying is I have found this past year has given me an opportunity to be myself, be authentic.  I write what I want, when I want.  I have wonderful, faithful readers that find inspiration from little ole me.  Who would have thought that just by putting my thoughts to paper, or screen, would create such loyalty?  People actually waiting to see what is next.

This year is off to a great start, with so many accomplishments under my belt, I can't wait to see what is next.  What excitement lies just around the corner.  If this was the year of living with authenticity, I look forward to finding my word this year.  If my vision board is any indication, then my word for 2011 is LEAP!  So stay tuned, wonder what I will be leaping into.......

I was sitting with friends the other day and the subject came up about my writing.  I did not broach the subject, it came up because someone had recently read my blog.  I try not to bring it up for fear of shameless self promotion. But none the less, it came up.  The conversation that transpired really made me think. My friend had just seen Julie and Julia, the movie.  She said that it was "cute" that I too was blogging. Then came up the ultimate blogger's nightmare, Carrie Bradshaw. I am not Julie Powell and I am not Carrie Bradshaw.  I am me, a real writer. And I have something to say.

There are over seventy million blogs on the web and the number doubles every six months. That number is staggering.  With that many blogs out there and that many people writing, I wonder if everyone is compared to Julie Powell or the fictitious Carrie Bradshaw?  I doubt it.  So why me, and by the way, some of my blogging friends have encountered the same comments.  I don't want to say I find it offensive when people make the comparison but it does get old.  I write because I love writing. But it does make me wonder what goes through the minds of people that don't seem to get that side of me.

I have friends that know I write this blog and read it.  They all have an opinion.  A day doesn't go by that I am not given a suggestion on what to write or how to write it.  Of course there are also the days when the feedback is about what has been written and what I "should have" said.  Those are my favorites.  I have friends that want to write now too.  I wish them well.  I hope they find the same passion for it that I do.  Every blog is different, mainly for the fact that we all have different experiences.  Sometimes you resonate with someone and sometimes you don't.  My blog is based on my perceptions as I see them.

I hope to turn my blog into a book in the near future.  I told someone that and again I got the comparison to those characters, real and imaginative.  It is my guess that many bloggers would like to have a book published.  This form of writing lends itself to the next step, a book.  For some, they are happy to stay in the blogsphere, for others, like myself, I want to be published.  A writer has many dreams that take them in many directions.

But here is what I do know.  I am not writing for a magazine and then having my blog made into a book like I see on TV.  I do not have Knopf, Random House, Penguin, or the like burning up my telephone wires.  What I do have is hope.  I know that my dream will come to fruition.  If art imitates life, then these characters we see in television and film are the manifestation of  someone's real life.  An author that had a vision.  But for now I must venture forward, you never know when the phone will ring..........