Birthday Girl

Today is my baby girl's birthday. 

Well actually, my baby is no longer a baby and my students think she is my sister. 

As I drove her to brunch, listening to her and her friends chat about their lives, I commented that they should write down these moments. 

Why? 

Because the stories they were telling were not only entertaining, they shed light as to who each of them were at their core.  I was blessed today to hear their stories as they celebrated my baby girl's birthday.

Slice of Life Challenge

Quests, challenges, streaks. 

Manageable changes for periods of time-

Some short,

I can do anything for 29 days, 

to longer stretches, 

months, 

years, 

becoming lifelong threads 

of the fabric of me. 

Juggling two challenges, 

a quest, 

and two streaks. 

Challenge 1- Taking 29 minutes each day, 

For 29 days,

To completely give myself over to my house

And tackle a spot. 

Right now my closet has been the spot for the past three nights. 

Challenge 2- slice of life challenge for the month of March. 

In January I successfully wrote a post every day about a significant moment.  

Maybe the month of March entries will focus on moments well spent. 

Continuing into year 2 of my quest of 

No Clothes Shopping!  

Streaks I never want to end...

Writing in my spiritual journal every morning, 

Starting the day with and intention walk, 

And ending the day with my nightly gratitude walk. 

Quests, challenges, and streaks, 

slices of my life. 

I'll Always say Yes to...

Yes.  

Things with an answer of yes.

A cup of Rooibos tea

Coconut donuts, peanut butter cookies

Walk,

yoga

Crabs, beer 

Beach

Library 

Watching Survivor

Holding a baby

Book recommendations

Hush puppies with honey

The list is inspired by the work of Kelly Corrigan.

Echoing

Pop's words of wisdom

still manage 

to echo softly.

Life lessons- 

It's not about you. 

Treat others as family. 

Live lovingly, 

which also extends 

 to work lovingly. 

Grateful for his words 

echoing. 

Gift

Forever grateful for 

Having had the gift of my mom.

Thirty one years since.

I have lived longer without my mom, 

than with. 

But oh, how she formed me, 

And continues to influence me.

I see her in my hands, 

my interactions with others,

in the mirror, 

in my children, 

she continues to live on. 

Tell Me More

"Tell me more."

Spilling why they were upset,

with tears and 

strings of emotion laden words.  

"Tell me more."

Continuing the story, 

tears stopping 

breath slowing 

hands relaxing. 

"Tell me more."

And then, 

an additional detail.

"Tell me more." 

Pause. 

Big breath in, 

"That's all." 

"Are you ready to head back and try again?"

Nodding head. 

I am currently reading Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I Am Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan.  I had the opportunity to practice "Tell me more" with a student who was upset, and it worked.  Initially the telling involved words between tears. Each time there was a pause, I responded with "Tell me more."  The tears dried up; calmness blanketed the student, which supported his transition back into the class. 

Trust

"Trust is the on-ramp to learning" 

thinking on my past and present learning experiences, 

When the foundation of trust, 

the building block of relationships,

the safety net, 

the guardrail, 

has been present, 

merging onto the highway 

of learning is easier.

I know that wherever I am going, 

I have a guide, 

who will keep me safely on the highway 

of becoming the best version of myself.

I was listening to a video on Culturally Responsive Teaching by Zaretta Hammond.  "Trust is the on-ramp to learning" continues to ring in my ears.