I spent two entire weeks thinking about what to write in this week’s column. As soon as the schedule came out and I learned what the “column” was, I felt pressure. I’m the new girl. And this is my first column. Because of that, there are expectations. This will give readers their first glimpse into my life and thoughts. I’m making my first impression.

I thought about pulling something from my blog (removingthescarf.blogspot.com) but decided that would be too easy, and nothing there seemed introductory. Then I thought about sharing a story, like the time I was almost thrown into jail in Athens, Greece but bribed my way out of it. Granted it’s a good story, but it wouldn’t have been introductory either. (Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything too illegal. Who knew metro tickets needed validating?)

A friend suggested I introduce myself, but really, who can write more than a few sentences about herself and not feel self-centered and boring? And more importantly, who would want to read more than a few sentences about someone else’s life? That’s why individuals purchase biographies not newspapers.

In my state of internal conflict about what was worthy and appropriate to be in my first column, I did what I always do for inspiration of any kind; I turned on my iPod. Music speaks to my soul.

As my most recent musical obsession Matt Nathanson played through my earbuds, the lyric in his song “All We Are” proved to me a powerful combination of words. “Every day is the start of something beautiful,” he said.

I thought about the last 12 months of my life. It was around this time last year when I was living in a house with three of my best friends finishing my last year at the University of Evansville that I vowed to celebrate each day for what it was, to not look back with sadness or ahead with apprehension but enjoy each moment. From then on, the four of us celebrated everything from job rejections to engagements. An encouraging conversation with a possible future employer would call for a bottle of champagne or a few cigars.

The day we received our graduation cap and gowns was difficult. Though we stood together wearing our ridiculous graduation caps and toasting our (hopefully) bright futures, the reality sank in that we’d soon be separated and nothing would ever be “normal” again. Our laughter and jokes were in place to keep our converstation from turning to our future reality.

But I found that the earth did continue to rotate after graduation. One roommate married and became a teacher. One moved to Kenya to write for an online magazine about the global Church (check out worldnextdoor.org). One landed a management job with the company she loved. And I returned home, with no set plans for my future.

Temporarily, I forgot my vow to celebrate each day. I was grateful for a summer job at Camp Illiana, a camp with a purpose dear to my heart. But I knew summer would end. It was in my last weeks at camp when a friend told me about the position at this paper. After some resume polishing, sample writing gathering and interviews, I was offered the position (which clearly I accepted).

It was at the end of my first week at the Washington Times-Herald that I sat for the first time in Cherry Ghost Coffee House on Main Street and remembered my vow. I had a job I enjoyed and had just discovered my favorite place in Daviess County. There was nothing to do but celebrate.

Now, I celebrate every day with a cup of coffee (with Irish Cream flavoring and a splash of creamer) from Cherry Ghost and some time in the Book that gives me purpose.

We live in a world that only moves forward, and “every day is the start of something beautiful.” So keep some champagne on hand.

nEmilee Shake is a 2005 graduate of North Daviess High School and a Plainville native. She enjoys meeting new people and used to tell her mom “every stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.” She can be found sipping coffee at Cherry Ghost, reading good books or road tripping between various cities. And she recently launched a campaign to convince her co-workers “Gilmore Girls” is the best show on TV.