My First Post... please bear with me.

Yes. I am doing it. I have been threatening this for years and I am finally following through on said threat.

I have created... a Blog.

Before you all roll your eyes in the expectation of much soapbox-rambling and holier-than-thou-isms, I assure you that I have not created this blog as a platform for "The World as Bliss Sees It," but rather as a place for me to collect my own thoughts and observations not just on my life, but on the Life around me. I guess, in Borg terms, Our Life.

Let's face it, Our Life is pretty crazy at the moment. Over the last couple of years, we have gone from me-first credit card junkies whose only real concern was that "war in Iraq" thing to desperate, angry screamers who shun Big Banks and hate anyone who doesn't agree with their specific brand of screaming. I myself have gone from a debt-ridden yet carefree starving artist/grad student to a married 9-to-5er who drives a Mommy Mobile and has an investment consultant of her very own. My, how things change.

The question I've been asking myself recently is, "if my life is so much more secure, then what's up with all the Fear?"

I am more "secure" now than I have ever been in my life and yet I am more afraid now than I have ever been. I guess, as my good friend Em pointed out, we're more afraid now because we have more to lose. And I see that everywhere. We have spent the past decade (or, for some of us, decades) accumulating things that make us feel secure, but in reality they just give us more reasons to fear.

Fear what? Loss? Not having a security blanket? No retirement? No home? No car? All very important things. Seriously, these are all things I aspire to. But I've been thinking a lot about all the change (hey, Obama did promise change!) and I am reminded, as I often am, that we have to accept accountability for our own actions and move on. Yes, we are not able to control everything that happens to us. We can't always control getting laid-off or getting sick or getting in a car accident, etc., but we can control how we deal with those things. I, for one, am going to try to create my own happiness instead of living in fear of what's next. I am going to attempt to find solutions, positive, life-affirming solutions, instead of adding another voice to the screaming.

So I guess that's what this blog is about.

As this is my first post, I suppose I ought to lay some ground rules (come on, this is me we're talking about... what am I without my rules?). However, because I undoubtedly break every rule I make for myself as some point or other, I have opted to make some Un-Rules instead- or, a list of things that I will not create promises for on this blog.

Number One:

I make no promises that this blog may or may not morph into a platform for political arguments amongst readers of various leanings and beliefs, nor do I make any promises that I will try not to offend someone's religious beliefs or social PCisms. In fact, I can almost promise you that I will not be PC in this blog because I don't believe real change can occur without being totally honest about your beliefs or feelings, no matter how ignorant they may be. If I offend you with what you find to be ignorance, please attempt to educate me instead of insulting me. I truly want to be educated. Thanks.

Number Two:

I will not promise to write about something "important" in every post. I don't have that kind of time nor do I have an excess of brain power available right now to think deeply on all subjects at all moments of the day. This means there may be the occasional post on the adventures of, say, doing my laundry or a rant here or there about how much I hate Seattle drivers (in an attempt to find a positive side to driving in Seattle, of course). Be prepared.

Number Three:

Although part of my intention in creating this blog is to focus on positive things I/we can do to make Our Life better, I cannot promise that every post will come from a place of positivity. We all have bad days and I am certainly no exception (see above mention of driving in Seattle). However, I encourage you all to challenge me to find the light amongst the grey clouds that may be in my skies at the time- both literally and figuratively. Remember, I live in Seattle.

So, I think that about covers it. Just to recap: Trying to find positive solutions in a crazy time while making no promises that this blog will be peaceful, important or positive in nature. Yeah, I know, I could've just said that in the first place instead of rambling on the way I did. Get used to it.