Blogging Everyday Keeps Bad Habits Away

So I have been blogging for over a month. A blog a day! I started this blog as a challenge to one of my Young Life girls. She is a cutter and has an addiction to the blade. Many middle school girls begin cutting themselves as a way to handle stress. So sad! She was looking for something to replace the blade. It sounds so weird that she actually craves cutting herself. But she does crave it and was looking for a distraction to keep her from cutting. I don't cut but am trying to replace my eating. So we decided to challenge each other to writing everyday for a year.

I started this blog with my high school friend. Now it is something I look forward to everyday. I have a notebook with so many ideas to write about. I have reconnected with friends and family who are all giving me ideas. The amazing thing is these are all memories that I am sharing with others. So this simple blog has opened up conversations with the truly important people in my life. My Mom even called Susi to warn her about giving me ideas about her. Remember the blog about Mom and the hot food for 12 people? Susi reminded me of that!

Blogging is definitely an addiction that has a positive outcome. Unlike food that ends up on my hips or cutting that leaves my friend feeling ashamed, blogging creates a history of stories that will be here for my friends and family a very long time. This has changed my life. I have not been so excited about something I am doing for myself since I became a Young Life leader.

If you are trying to replace one addiction with another. Wait, let me rephrase that. If you are looking to do something productive to replace a bad habit, I strongly recommend blogging. If you want to remain anonymous just don't tell anyone you know about it. Or you can be like me and bug everyone with your enthusiasm. Okay, I admit I do text some friends to say simply, "Blogs done." I read it to Ron every night. When he tells me I remembered wrong, I just remind him of literary license!

We all have stuff in our lives that we are trying to overcome. Sometimes writing it out helps. My friend is not writing everyday but I am proud that she is doing her best to rid herself of the heartbreak of cutting. If you don't want to write, read what I write. 8-)

In Him,
Joyful
2-15-2010