Struggling to write

Since graduation I admit that I have struggled to write. It's not like I have no ideas, or the words escape me. It seems like I have just gotten lazy. How can someone be too lazy to sit and write? Well, I think a part of it is that I get a little depressed thinking about how old I am (31) and how little I have actually accomplished in my life. I sit down to write, and I think, "Why bother, it's not like anyone will actually want to read this." Or, "I should try to publish some of these poems, but I'm just going to get a lot of rejection letters." 

I realize this is not a healthy way to be, especially when writing used to be my passion. I know that I need to change the attitude and find my motivation again. One thing I really need to do is read more. When I was in school I had a mandatory reading list that I had to follow, so I didn't do a lot of reading for myself. Yes, there were a few books that I shoved into my schedule because I couldn't NOT read them (Harry Potter, Harry Dresden, Percy Jackson), but I haven't really sat down and started a new book or series since I started working on my final years of education. I need to sit down, turn off the television, and read a good (or even mediocre) book. I have a few books downloaded and ready in my Kindle, and I just bought three new poetry books. Hopefully, this will be the push I need to start the upward climb toward writing my own new fiction and poetry.

Now, a question for anyone that might happen by this post: What do you do to get motivated to write? What would you say is your writing strategy? Any advice for writing you have I would be grateful to have. 

Just a little rant

A friend of mine was bullied pretty cruelly on Facebook, and my brain was split in half between two thoughts. My first thought was to rip this rude girl apart on all levels in an attempt to make her feel just as small as she probably made my friend feel. The other thought was to ignore the rude girl because she was probably an internet troll, just commenting on her picture as a way to get reactions out of people.

Having someone call my friend "a whale" was bad enough. But then she had the gall to tell her that she was so fat she should just kill herself. As if there aren't enough depressed young people out there these days and enough young people killing themselves, it seems like this girl's goal was to get my friend to kill herself.

Luckily, my friend responded with confidence and sass, so I took my cue from her. I did respond in support of my friend, but I kept it civil and called the troll out on her immaturity and bad behavior. On her Facebook page, the troll claimed to be a fan of Harry Potter. I told her that J. K. Rowling would not approve of her behavior, because our favorite author loves and accepts people of all shapes and sizes.

I can understand wanting to get reaction out of others on the internet. People love attention, and maybe she isn't getting enough at home. I just can't understand getting this attention through cruelty. Her reasoning was that she hates humanity, but that's a terrible way to go through life. Maybe we should actually be pitying her instead of being angry, because obviously she is missing out on some emotional need at home. I choose to be polite, even to internet trolls. Being angry or aggressive toward them only feeds their hatred and makes them worse.