Emotional Healing

It's an interesting thing how life works and how people handling things in different way. I call myself a writer, (but havent written much in about 2-3 months). When i was younger i would write all the time, mostly about my emotions-- family issues, friendship issues, relationship issues, personal issues, etc. Whenever i felt hurt or confused or out of touch with things going on in life i would write. In retrospect, when i go to read my old journals (all four of them), i can only read about the depressing times. I have no entries about the positive events that happened growing up. There is nothing in my journals about hanging with friends, going to parties, going on vacation, etc.--and i did have a lot of fun times, especially in High School. Neway, when i decided to major in journalism it was because i loved to write. I figured that if writing was my escape from life then why not make it a career. Yet, the only times words flow from my mind to paper with ease is if i am going through something in life. If everything is fine and i am happy i do not write. And i think this is the reason why i have not been successful in my ambitious plan to become a journalist. I have to live, eat, and breathe the industry. I can not only turn to writing when things are not going well for me. I have to write everyday because its apart of me. The most interesting thing about this reflection is that just recently i had my heart broken but when i sat down to write about my emotions nothing came out. It was like i had writer's block or an emotional blockage that wouldn't allow myself to write about how i was/am feeling. I wanted so badly to write a poem or blog entry expressing the hurt and confusion being felt. And when i couldn't, i began to think "Maybe i am not a writer." But about half way through this blog entry i am starting to think that i am in need of a "writer's makeover." Its time for me to take my emotional healing process (writing) and allow it to move others, allow it to tell the emotional journeys of others, and not just of myself. I think i am back on the grind! ; )

6 degrees of Separation...

Could this be true? Danielle has found a profound purpose to social-networking sites like Facebook! (Ok, so the third person reference is a bit much). Yet, since graduating a year ago, my feelings on the whole social networking thing has been capricious. Not to say i am/was against it, but having to see "social networking" listed as a required qualification for jobs became too much. However, the benefits of having Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter accounts have become quite apparent. I applied for an editorial assistant position at one of the most notable African-American women's lifestyle magazine. After sending my materials via email to HR, i decided to go on Facebook and message a couple of Editors at the publication. As i searched for each editor and reached out to them, i wondered how they would determine whether or not to reply and "be-friend" me or just delete my message as if it was spam. It then came to me-I have friends on Facebook that are editors and reporters for magazines, newspapers and news-sites. Taken into consideration the "six degrees of separation" concept, 9 times out of 10 we have common friends. Meaning, if the editors see my message, they can click on our common friends and see that i have good connections in Chicago...which ultimately may land me the J.O.B! So there you have it, i have found a reason to login in, "be-friend," "tweet," and electronically networking my little heart out!