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Typewriter

                Photo by Gonzalo Barrientos 

15 years ago my father handed me the book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.  It may seem cliche to say it changed my life but I’m going to say it anyway - It changed my life!  Before that book I was a walking mass of anti-social behavior that didn’t look other people in the eye and cared only for my selfish interests.  In other words - I was a teenager.

I read it in a day and it was like a switch was turned on.  All of a sudden I became interested in people.  I wanted to get to know them and I wanted them to get to know me.  I smiled a lot more, talked more, laughed more.  I was a totally different person.  And I owe it to that book.  I thought it was pretty neat that a guy who’se been dead for many years was able to influence a bratty teenager through something he wrote.  So I told myself that I’d be a writer and help people someday.  That was ingrained in me since 1993.  That was my dream.

But sometimes things get in the way, life for instance.  Moving to another country, adjusting to the culture shock, having to work, taking care of family.  You know - the little things.  Even so, the dream is still there.  Which is why I think blogging is the greatest thing since sliced bread.  So here are my reasons for blogging:

  • To be a better writer: Practice makes perfect no?  I’m no Shakespeare that’s for sure.  Blogging regularly enables me to flex the old writing muscle to develop it.  It is a self improvement blog after all.  What better way to practice what I preach, right?
  • So I can tell people that I’m a published author:  Apparently doodling on the desk did not a published author make, Mrs. Cruz would often tell me in detention.  Now when people ask me who is publishing my work I smile and tell them “Wordpress” ^_^
  • Feign eloquence: English is my second language and as such am not the most eloquent speaker.  For the printed word however, the backspace key is my friend.  Don’t you wish you had the ability to edit what you’ve said in a conversation. (”Oh your pregnant?  For a moment there I thought you were just letting yourself go.”  SLAP!  “Er, what I mean is…”  SLAP!)
  • Give something back: Since I’ve been a taker for so long, I want to be able to return the favor by helping others realize their potential in life, love, and happiness.
  • To learn:  I’m the first to say that I don’t now everything, that doesn’t mean I won’t do my best to remedy the situation :p
  • To meet interesting people: Since I’ve started blogging a month ago I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a lot of extraordinary people from different backgrounds and experiences.  Each one is a unique individual whom I’ve learned something from.  To each and everyone of you - my sincerest thanks.
  • Influence people long after I’m gone:  And isn’t that what every writer aspires to?  To be the Dale Carnegie to someones bratty teenager?

Thanks for reading.