What I wanted to be when I grew up...

When I was somewhere in the ages of 11 or 12, I wanted to be a writer... more specific, I wanted to be a journalist.  Growing up in Brazil, I knew that going to college was going to be a challenge, especially since the competition to land a single spot in a good university was known to be nothing less than... let's say...  fierce.  After graduating from high school, many of the students in Brazil take an exam in the area of their choosing (one needs to know EXACTLY what they want to study prior to applying for college), and if you're really really REALLY bright (did I say, REALLY enough?), your name would be posted as the few who are privileged to attend that specific university, to study that specific area of interest.

Okay... wow.  Putting that kind of a pressure on a pre-adult "kid" is quite something...  

Fast forward a few years.  My family moved to the US when I was 15, right after I had started my first year of high school.  My plans were to finish high school and study journalism... remember?  Well, God had totally different plans for me.  Go figure.  The one area I was really interested in pursuing required a very simple skill.  The ability to write.  Not only was I dealing with the ginormous distance break from my friends and relatives in Brazil, but this time I was also faced with the reality that being a WRITER in a different country would be impossible.  How could I communicate through writing in a different country?  A different culture?  A different world?  A journalist?  A joke, right?  Right?  My dream was taken away... and many moons ago today, I have to say, I'm finally okay with that!

Because now I CAN communicate through writing in this country... in this culture... in THIS language.  

No, I didn't pursue a career in journalism, and I'm not a "professional" writer, but writing is still one of my favorite things to do.  I wish I had more set-aside time to do it.  But nonetheless a hobby I'll continue to enjoy.  By the way... did I ever tell you I've been keeping a journal, a written journal, since I was 11 years old?  Well, I've been scarcely writing these last few years, especially since having children.  One would say that this is exactly the time to record all of these "precious" memories... but who has time to sit down in the midst of chaos to record memories?  I know... I would seriously LOVE to be able to come back to these early years of parenthood, and maybe, just maybe, I'll remember how present the Lord was (and is) with me.

So, to nurture my forgotten hobby, I've decided to declare February the month of Forgotten Hobbies.  I'll be writing (aka blogging) for the next 28 days starting tomorrow.  I found this list of topics on Pinterest... it'll be a rough map for my Writing Challenge...  Feel free to take up my challenge, copy this list somewhere, or simply... join me here!

What about you?  What is YOUR forgotten hobby?  Let me know in the comments below and maybe... just maybe... together, we can bring it back to life!  What do you think?

See you tomorrow!