Why I do what I do...

There are days when I wonder why I even bother to submit or create new layouts to share. There are days when I just want to give up the ghost, throw in the towel on all of it and just not scrap anymore. Don't get me wrong- I love scrapbooking and creating layouts and things to share with my family is why I keep doing it. Plus, it helps me to destress when I've had a particularly hard day at work and all I want to do is come home and get my hands dirty and fall into telling the story and forgetting all the bad stuff that is work. Don't get me wrong- I really do like my job. It's just that every day there is a bad day for someone. No one calls the police just to say 'hi.' They don't call because they want to talk to you, they call because they have to talk to you. Big difference.

And there are days when you get emails from a "friend" that tells you they've seen your name on the ScrapSmack blog and for some reason or another It seems someone just has it in for me. Making me feel bad about myself apparently makes them feel better about their own sad selves. Whatever. For once and for all, and for the record... I am not the scrapper that wants to be big and famous and a "known" name. I want to just be me: Someone who enjoys creating for the sake of creating. I share it with others because it's my hobby and that's what people do. People who take up bowling for a hobby join a league. People who sew join circles. It's all about camaraderie and sharing what you love.

So what if I've also started making jewelry? I don't want to earn a living at it, it's just something easy and portable that I can take to work with me while I am there to help pass the time. It keeps my mind occupied. Oh! And I've never once tried to be someone I am not. Whoever you are that seems to have this dislike for me to keep bringing my name up- I bet you don't even know me in real life. If you did, you'd know that I don't scrapbook/create stuff to "get famous." I do it because I enjoy it. You should really try it some time.


All of these bad days come and go...

But then there are days when life just surprises you. I got an unexpected package in the mail the other day: I got a rather heavy and big box from Memory Makers. It was my copy of the 601 book and all my layouts! I was so very lucky to have them pick up five of my pages for the book: Rejoice, M-style, Happiness, Full of Life and Wishes. I showed the girls the book and they were just beyond excited to see themselves "in a magazine." This is why I submit things to be published... to see the look of pure delight on their faces when the see themselves in something. To hear their excited chatter as I tell them there's not just one page, but four that has their photos. If you could see them light up like I do, you'd understand. This is what life is all about. This is why I continue to get bashed for no reason at all... this is why I do what I do. And I'm going to continue to do it... "big cow" and all!