Everyone struggles.  No matter who you are or where in life you are headed.  Whatever paths you choose (or don’t choose) to take through life, struggle will always be encountered somewhere along the way.  This is life.  Everyday you wake up and you make choices.  Some are simple:  cereal or oatmeal?  Some less so:  Do I or do I not rail that line of cocaine to impress my friends?  Life is just one battle after another; it is how we handle these battles that get us through every day of it. 

            This past year I myself have faced many battles of my own.  Most of them, I admit, have been handled less than appropriately.  I am, in truth, an extremely introverted person, particularly when it comes to my personal problems.  In all honesty, all my life it has been a sort-of goal of mine to appear problem-free.  I don’t like to talk about, flaunt, or share my personal information or feelings.  Most of my friends and all of my acquaintances know me as a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of girl. “You are always smiling,” they say. “You are never upset.”  When they say this I smile, a passive, pretty smile, and offer the word “yeah” in a joking sort of way (a noncommittal gesture which, I find, generally allows people to assume what they want about my response).  I don’t mind that they think this.  I actually prefer it.  As I have said I don’t particularly enjoy delving into my personal thoughts or feelings--I guess it makes me feel a little bit uneasy, perhaps even vulnerable.  Then why write in a blog that is accessible to half of the world?  Mostly because I don’t really expect anyone to actually sit down and take the time to read it.  I have experienced a couple (by that I mean a dozen) of rough spots so far this year and have had a little (by that I mean quite a bit of) trouble coping.   My friend writes in a blog almost everyday, for a weight loss thing.  She suggested I do the same.  She says it is a good “outlet,” a good way to let out her highs and lows indirectly without actually talking to anyone.  So I guess I will try it.  I’m not sure if I am ready to pour all of my secrets and feelings into this blog, but I guess it is a start. After all, every winning battle must begin somewhere.