Tossing my beret in the air

*looks left and right*... *looks up and down*... wow... so this is what it feels like. I've been meaning to start a blog. For the last year or more. Guess I've been busy!?! In all honesty, I've been trying to decide whether I wanted one or not. Friends, family and colleagues have encouraged it. I've read their blogs, poked around the blogs of complete strangers (Mom never warned me not to) and thought "yep! that's for me!" - and I still put it off. Typical. You see, I have this love/hate relationship with writing. I love to write. I hate that it might not be good enough. I hate that I even care what others think. I love feedback. I have broad shoulders and can accept criticism - although I prefer it be constructive or insightful rather than "YOU SUCK!" if it's all the same to you. But, hey, any kind of impact is probably better than none at all. I love that I've been able to touch people with my words. I've felt the sheer joy of making people laugh. I've felt the profound ache in my heart for making people cry. I've often heard people say writing is therapeutic. It is for me. I write when I'm happy, sad, confused, frustrated, uptight, proud, embarrassed or, more often than not, pissed-the-hell-off :) I write because it's easier than talking... not always the "right" outlet, mind you, but definitely the safest in my case! I'm not sure what this blog is destined to contain. I admire folks that are focused enough to stick to the topic at hand. Problem with me is that everything (and everyone!) is fodder for my writing. Ask my kids. Ask my husband. Actually, wait and see... they have a tendency to turn up in my pieces way more often than they'd like. Yet, they still love me. I know one thing for sure - I write from the heart. Whatever's rattling around in there inevitably finds its way out... taking thoughts2page. Now... let's see what I can do...