Hello, world!

Here is a photo that makes me happy:

Why? There are at least 9 cozy things in the photo, not counting anything on the bookshelf. When I look at it, I can feel how comfortable I’ll be the next time I use one of the squashy pillows, or wrap myself up in a soft blanket. And the colors all go together in a very soothing “bedroom of a panda” way, which is nice and comforting. It’s like a big layer cake of coziness waiting to be enjoyed by said panda: me.

Things I am good at:

1. Pretending to be a panda
2. Stacking pillows (see Exhibit A)
3. Following recipe directions
4. Making lists
5. Enjoying the little things in life

Things I am bad at:

1. Among many other things;
2. Writing first blog entries

I think that last one is because when you do something like Start A Blog, you have no idea what’s going to happen with it. Will you stick with it? Will you become one of the shining stars of the blogosphere? Will your life story be picked up for a book + movie deal? Will all your dreams come true?

Or, as is more likely, will your entries and motivation just go down the path of LiveJournal oblivion?

It’s probably somewhere between the first and last option, but the nice thing about this day and age is that even though the internet never forgets our past failures, we do. And we all keep trying anyway. We write about things because we have something to say and we hope that it’s mostly original enough that someone else who isn’t personally invested in our sanity will want to read it.

In my case it will probably just be rambles about figure skating and cooking and organization and being very determined to not only Do The Thing, but enjoy it, too. Have you ever known someone who’s excited to write about folding laundry? You do now. More about that later, which is both a promise and a threat (dryer sheet-talking, if you will…you try working at a mattress startup without punning all the time).

Other things I’m going to be punning penning about:

1. Traveling solo to Oberstdorf, Vienna, and Budapest in a week – eep!
2. Sleepwear and coziness and home-related things
3. My friends who are all much cooler than me in awesome ways
4. Getting married and planning a wedding + celebrations
5. Skating skating skating

Plus all the other things that come into my brain. I was a literature major, so I basically got a degree in thinking about things, which I think is why sometimes it’s hard to write about them. Because there’s so much to say you don’t know where to start and how to get it all in and what if you forget something? I’ve learned, though, that the important thing is just beginning, even if it’s not at the beginning.

Here’s a fancy blockquote to explain it:

And George knew that he had to keep going, despite the feeling that at any moment he might slip or the ground under his feet might suddenly be taken away—he had to stay up, he had to keep moving, and in time he would learn how to do it.

—Simon Van Booy, “The City of Windy Trees”**

If I ever become a skating coach, I’m going to print this quote out and hand it to all the kids. Keep moving, get up when you fall, and you’ll learn how to do it. It’s one of the first things I learned when I started skating and the whole reason I moved to NYC, built up the courage to make some big life decisions, and am talking to you right now. You could conclude that skating has had a big impact on my life, and you would be correct. I can’t wait to tell you all about it soon.

Ta for now,
Stephanie

*Yes, I watched Julie & Julia recently, and if anyone wants to fangirl over Meryl & Julia, I am completely here for you.

**This quote is also going to appear in one of the last chapters of my epic West Side Story fanfiction, which is currently at just under 175,000 words and counting. Yes, West Side Story fanfiction is a thing (mostly written by me). Remember how I said the internet never forgets? In this case, I’m glad it’s around to remind me to cross the finish line on this one.