Becoming a columnist - could I?

In a recent conversation with an old friend, we discussed one of our favorite always-interesting-fall-back topics: "If you didn't have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?".

We've been having this discussion on-and-off for 8 years now, and surprisingly, while his responses vary and change (travel around the world, start up a company, have 10 kids, volunteer, open a coffee-shop-library, etc) mine remain fairly static. I'd write. A book, poems, a novel, a column in the newspaper, business analysis papers, technology reviews. What I would write changes from time to time, but I'd always write.

Lately, I keep going back to the newspaper column idea. Not as a new career, but rather as a side-job. (Yes, that's right - *on top* of everything else!). "Wouldn't it be great", I think to myself, "If I were forced to write at least once a week?". "Wouldn't my writing be genial", I ponder, "If I was forced to keep my writing to a limit of 500 words per column? I'd be succinct. Accurate. Pungent."

"You couldn't take it", the little devil on my shoulder interrupts my thoughts. "Your life is too busy, you have a son, a family, a career, university. Where would you fit the time to write a column?".
That devil has a point. My life, sans column writing, is almost to hectic to keep under control as it is. So why take on another commitment? Because I can.

Nevertheless, being the pragmatic (uh mm) woman that I am, I've decided to put the "I can" theory to the test. Columnists for weekly magazines need to submit a 500-word column, every week, by Sunday morning. So, I will too. Every week, I'll post a 500-word column right here, in this blog. No more "now is not a good time" excuses (that's always true), No more "what for?" brakes (what for? It's a test!). Like clockwork, for the entire world to see (but mostly for myself).

What shall I write my column about? The easy answer would be "Me". After all, I know "me" best, and there's always something going on with "me" so I'd never run out of things to write about. However, "me" is a very egotistical topic. Not everyone is interested in "me".
I spend a half-hour thinking up topics for my "column", and eventually come up with the following generic-all-encompassing-yet-specific topic:
"Early mid-life challenges of women in western competitive culture".
In other words - Me!

I have a plan: where to write, what to write about, why I should do it. All that is left now, is to stick with it.
"Great work!", my little devil uncharacteristically encourages me. "So great, in fact, you don't actually have to write today. After all, you already took a step in the right direction by putting this plan in motion. You have an exam coming up on Monday. It's Saturday - a day for resting...".

He almost convinced me, my seductive little devil... but only almost. My first column just wrote itself.

(522 words. See you next week!)