This is my 9th year participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge sponsored by https://twowritingteachers.org/. I am participating in two other writing challenges at this time as well, and I am a little behind in both of them. I contemplated not participating in the #SOL24 challenge because I was afraid of not being able to keep up and complete the challenge based on how the other two were going, but I love being a part of this community.
I began January with high hopes of renewing my writing habit. I took the ten-day Winter Writing Sanctuary with author Beth Kempton. (https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/) Off to a great start, I was writing every day and tapping into my creative self, but life got in the way. There was some personal writing that had deadlines, a few snowstorms that included shoveling duties, and just sheer tiredness that all took their toll on my plans. I couldn’t even take advantage of the extra day in February!
That is behind me now. A fresh page on the calendar means a chance to start over. As the quote above states, my winter doldrums are beginning to thaw, and my creativity is beginning to run again. What I am going to keep reminding myself is that these writing challenges are a chance to “wake into myself again.” While I will do my best to meet the goals I have set for myself to complete these challenges, I am going into March giving myself grace and looking forward to the hope of spring.
Rita DiCarne 
The quote caught my eye because that’s the energy I’m looking for in March. I stayed with your post because of your discussion of being behind. I’m always behind in writing challenges (except for this one last year). May March bring you success in all the writing challenges.
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That is a gorgeous quote. Love that you are using this month to ‘wake into yourself again’ – that is beautiful. Yes, indeed – “A fresh page on the calendar means a chance to start over. ” To start each day with writing and posting, a muscle will be built by month’s end. Here’s to writing!
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I’m starting to sense that many of my retired teacher friends are participating in multiple challenges. Hmm… I’m glad you’re here again. Whenever I contemplate not doing this challenge, I remind myself that I don’t *have* to write every day. If life gets too overwhelming, we’re allowed to take a break from this. And this wonderful community will have our backs. That said, I’m excited to read what you’ve got to share. ❤
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The thing is I am not retired yet. My teacher-self has at least one more year to go, but my writer-self wants more time for herself!
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Oh Rita! I just assumed that you were since you’d taken on all this. Good luck! I’ll be cheering you on!
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Rita, I laughed when I read your slice title. It is just like mine, except I added a “s” to the word challenge. What does one say about like-minds? Like you, life got in my way in February. Perseverance and passion are tied together but sometimes life energy peters out.
I enjoyed your line: writing challenges are a chance to “wake into myself again.” Let’s make this March one that promises sweet nuggets of warmth and good cheer.
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