One Word at a Time

I've been in a letter writing mood lately. I've written letters to Sundays and Mondays. I'm planning letters to Daylight Savings Time, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter.  But this week and next, my school is taking part in "Look for the Good", where we practice expressing and sharing gratitude for the things and people we have in our lives. One of the ways that we do that is through writing "You Matter" letters to important people in our lives and telling them why they matter to us, and even reading them out loud to the person if possible. In my silent car ride this morning (it's a new thing I'm trying and I absolutely LOVE it!), I was thinking about the You Matter letter and who I was going to write one to. It isn't included that teachers or staff write them, but I thought, why not? Here's mine: Dear Bob,  Remember me? I was your student teacher way back in 2005 - thirteen years ago (holy cow!). My school is currently participat...

Currently… Listening to …  my husband's iPad play "Star Trek Voyager" on Netflix which he binges every night as he falls asleep; the gentle purr of the cat who is laying on my legs Thinking about … heading back into work tomorrow morning after two days off; the results of the test I had done this morning; some fun weekend plans full of music and friends; the student meeting I'm going to miss in the morning because of a full day of PD that I am worrying over Wearing …  a few extra layers on top of what is already on the bed, plus the cat on my legs who will probably be joined by another cat Eating … healthy; a couple of friends of mine are doing weight watchers (I'm using a different plan) and we have a group text going to hold each other accountable for our food choices - mine have been slacking over these two snow days Feeling … relaxed after my "Release the Week" hour long yoga class tonight; it feels great to show up on my mat every Thursday ni...

I've had this test done before. Eighteen times before, though a few of those don't count since I was too young to remember. I find it curious that I can't remember what it is like. Not a darn thing. You'd think that if you had done something more than ten times in your life, I'd remember. But no. All I recall is being at the hospital in the children's wing. I remember what the waiting area looked like. But not too much about the test. But I was a child, and it was only an hour out of one day every year. I'm sure that I felt as if it was just another thing I had to do. As an adult, though, it feels bigger. Plus I've put it off for a long time, so there's the nerves related to that. I'll find out this morning, I guess. After sixteen years, I'm back to needing the test done every few years to make sure this condition doesn't develop. And I keep reminding myself that, if it does, there is medication that is proven to keep it under con...

The difference between yesterday  and today  . . . Yesterday , I had steak, zucchini, string beans, and a baked potato for dinner. Today , I had Kraft mac and cheese. Yesterday , I drove from home to school and back home again. Today , I drove from home to school to visit a friend to the        grocery store to home back to the store to home to my aunt's to my parents and back home again. Yesterday , I packed my lunch at night, did some laundry, and laid out my clothes. Today , I ate dinner in front of the TV and forgot to put my lunch materials in the sink for the morning. Yesterday , I did some quick yoga when I woke up and right before I fell asleep. Today , I ran down the hallway (twice) because I was late for a meeting (twice). Yesterday , I felt like I was getting into a routine and I felt in control. Today , I flew by the seat of my pants. Tomorrow is a new day (and hopefully a snow day)!

{a love letter to Monday} Oh, Monday. Most people would say that we're not good together. That you want one thing, while I want another. That you're manic. That you're moody.  I suppose that could be true. There are times - oh are there times! Times where I want to pull my hair out, you frustrate me so. Times where simply your name gives me a feeling in the pit of my stomach. Times where I want nothing more than to avoid you at all costs. Then, slowly, sweetly, quietly, you remind me. You remind me that to hate you would be to hate a significant portion of my life, and who wants to waste all that time? That there have been plenty of good times together, more than enough to outweigh the bad. When our time together begins, the sky often lights up in soft pastels, signaling that it's time to celebrate that we're together again. Other times, like today, things can be grey, and we have to dig deep for some warmth and motivation to want to be...

{a love letter to Sundays} Ahhhh, Sundays. You're never far from my mind. Sometimes my thoughts wander to you when they shouldn't. When I'm working, or when I'm driving, or when I'm with other people. But a ll I have to do is think of you and *poof* my shoulders relax,  *poof*  my breathing slows,  *poof*  my mind races with possibilities. Our time together is so special. We linger over our breakfast and coffee when we finally stumble out of bed, later than the rest of the week. We spend time reading, writing, and listening to music. We try to stay away from the TV, but sometimes we are happiest catching up on our shows together. Sometimes we spend time outside, on a hike, or even a walk around the neighborhood. I do love when we get together with family and friends, but I also love when we lay tangled up on the couch with a book. The later it gets, the more I want you to stay. Many times I beg, borrow, and steal more and more minutes from you, until I know I...

Mornings like these, he told her, strengthened them against the trials of the day, sent them out in protective gear that warded off disaster.    (from About the Night by Anat Talshir) I have been envious of people with morning routines for years. My grandparents always woke up, came to the kitchen to have a bowl of cereal, a cup of coffee, peruse the paper. Friends who speak of their morning workout routines. Even Slicers who talk about writing in the mornings before work. Why can't I get my act together? All of that sounds wonderful. When I read the quote above, I immediately highlighted it, wrote it down, and committed it to memory. Reflecting back on it, I think I had found my purpose for change. My morning routine wasn't a routine at all. It was a list of things to do as quickly as possible in whatever order made sense so that I could get to work on time. Shower. Breakfast. Lunch. But the idea of using my mornings as a way to strengthen myself, to prepare myself f...