What A Girl Blogs

  Why blog? I often ask this of myself and others every time I scroll through my standard blog series. I check certain blogs as consistently as I check the weather or hulu for the latest episode of The Office. I even check my best friend's blog from vacation on my Blackberry. Why? Often, I worry that it's out of boredom, which may be true, however, lately I am discovering that I find something cathartic in the consistency of normal people's "everyday lives." I genuinely find peace in knowing that even in times of change, some things will never change. 

  This point was driven home for me this past week as my mom and I made a surprise appearance at the childhood home of my best friend from elementary school/junior high (we were invited, but weren't announced). I hadn't seen this friend in 5 years! Since a few weeks after I watched her firstborn be delivered (a tremendous honor). I worried that there would be nothing to say, that we'd have nothing in common anymore. She is, after all, married with 3 kiddos now! I am not, much to the dismay of some. Sometimes, when long periods of time pass between friends catching up, there are moments of awkwardness. Desperately looking for the level of intimacy you had when last you spoke, but having missed out of the mundane experiences (i like to call it the meat) of one an other's lives.

 The blessing in this week's experience is that, while we had missed out on so much...SO MUCH was the same. In five years, both my friend and her mother were exactly the same. Don't mistake this for an insult. They were both the same warm, kind, inviting, vibrant, charismatic women that I remember spending countless hours with through my youth. So much has changed in their lives, and in mine, but the things that REALLY count...they were exactly the same. It made me consider my own growth. I feel I have changed so much, even in the last week, let alone 5 years! BUT I hope that in some areas, I will always remain consistent. I hope that the same qualities of good that I possess today, will be the same in 10, 20, 50 years.

  So, why do I read blogs? Because I find comfort in knowing that simplylivingsarah will always be considering the love of her dad, that sarahlookingin will continue to challenge herself with new creative ideas and that ilovethekitchen will find a new spice to add to an old favorite. I even relish in the idea that no matter how much we try to perfect the world, there will always be cakewrecks. I find comfort in knowing that no matter where we are, we strive to be better, different people, while consistently embracing who we are right now.