I did not do well on the last blog challenge and I am already day behind on this one, but I feel determined to write lately! I may lack the motivation, but I am sincerely hoping the prompts will help me on my way. I have wanted to be a writer since I was a skinny little girl, and it's ridiculous that I just don't do it anymore because I have slacked off in discipline. It's my dream, so I need to do it already! Here's the blog that Blogtember comes from!
Tuesday, Sept. 3: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.
I'm a small town girl. Maybe not even that. I'm more of an out-in-the-sticks girl. I grew up in rural, corn and soybean field Ohio. My house was surrounded on three sides by corn fields and my road was of the chip and seal type without any lines. During the big snows of winter, we were pretty much left to fend for ourselves because there were so few houses on our little road that the snow plows did not usually bother to plow our road. I'm the youngest of three, but there are only 26 months between the three of us. My stepsister is a little older, but I'm really not sure how much. Is that bad?
I have always felt like I was my own person, uniquely me and happy to be so. I found it strangely funny when a one time friend told me amid my painful adolescent years full of acne, bad decision perms (thanks, Mom), and first rebellions that I "tried too hard to be different." I very nearly took it as a compliment as I considered her brand name tee shirt and bleached blond highlights and scornfully told her, "You try too hard to be the same."
Though I was and am me and only me, I have never been a very independent person; something I wish I could change, but it is so fundamental to my person that I don't know if it ever will. I do not like making decisions, especially when deciding between two things that I like. I always used to ask my mom which gown my Barbie doll should wear because I could not decide which I liked better. She always made me choose, but I continued to ask. I also lack independence in that I hate driving. I don't just hate it. I fear it. I am perfectly fine with just about anyone else driving, but driving myself somewhere new just terrifies me. I drive only to and from work or the grocery store or my mother-in-law's house. It is super lame, but when asked to drive somewhere out of my comfort zone, I sort of panic.
I think the fact that I am from such a small town has both aided and paralyzed my capacity for friendship. My best friend has been my best friend for 20 years. I am 27 years old. My other best friend is one I met in college and we do not get to talk nearly enough, but can always pick up right where we left off. Since college, however, I have struggled to make friends. I had known the same group of people my whole life, then started again in a small college community, which worked very well for me. I loved college and it loved me. I have never considered myself to be a popular type, but in college, I just knew and loved everyone. I consider it one of the greatest honors of my life to have been elected as Homecoming Queen (though I did not win, I was the runner-up) my senior year of college. The struggle to make friends after college springs from having moved to an entirely new place where I know no one but my in-laws and co-workers (of which there are four) and from my fear of driving. Don't get me wrong, I have tried. I joined two different bible studies, participated in events, and took a few workshops. Nothing. In my older age, I find myself too shy (which has never been a problem for me) to talk to anyone. It's painful. The small town mindset is not ideal for forming new friendships as I had grown accustomed to already knowing everyone. I find it hard to talk about myself and find small talk to be a complete bore. I may be becoming a hermit and I am torn about how I feel about it. At least I have a lovely husband, two splendid cats, an adorable pup, and a few fish to keep me company.
Tuesday, Sept. 3: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.
Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do? (bonus points for fun photos from Pinterest, but don’t forget to cite the source!)
Thursday, September 5: Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered.
Friday, September 6: A story about a time you were very afraid.
Monday, September 9: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account – click “click to view” under “You” and “self awareness and personal growth.” You can even google your type and find more info on it!)
Tuesday, September 10: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.
Wednesday, September 11: Share links to your favorite online shops, preferably with a few photos of your favorite items in each shop.
Thursday, September 12: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.
Friday, September 13: A self portrait
Monday, September 16: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn’t necessarily need to be romantic.)
Tuesday, September 17: A memory you would love to relive.
Wednesday, September 18: Only photos
Thursday, September 19: Creative writing day: write a (very short) fictional story that starts with this sentence: “To say I was dreading the dinner party would be the understatement of the century.”
The story does not necessarily need to have a conclusion – you can leave your readers wishing for more!
Friday, September 20: React to this term: comfort.
Monday, September 23: A “life lately” post. What you’re up to, how you’re feeling, how you’re doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!
Tuesday, September 24: Review a book, place, or product.
Wednesday, September 25: Write about a time you screwed up – a mistake you made.
Thursday, September 26: Go to a coffee shop. Order a favorite drink. Write about what makes you happy and what makes you sad. Or write about anything you’d like! Bonus points for including a photo from the coffee shop. *if you can’t make it to a coffee shop, at least leave your usual space and write someplace new.
Friday, September 27: An anonymous letter to your Facebook friends. Be as snarky as you’d like. (but don’t include people’s real names.)
Monday, September 30: Share a photo of something old. Maybe something that has personal history for you, that was passed down to you, and that has special meaning to you. Tell us about it and why it’s special.
No comments:
Post a Comment