Today I feel content and peaceful, and that is by design, not accident. I purposefully put aside my many lists and decided to improvise this weekend.
Yesterday, I went to my AquaFit class and destressed so much that the only thing I did for the remainder of the day was take a drive with my husband, read, and rest. Unproductive looking to some, but just what I needed.
Today has no agenda. So far I have paid a couple of bills, tackled some laundry (which I don’t hate doing – I find folding therapeutic), and read. The rest of the day will probably be much of the same – reading, writing, and listening to calming music. It is my little slice of heaven.
It could have been very different though if I created a long list and put huge expectations on myself for this weekend. It would have been easy to do. Don’t get me wrong; that happens often – just last weekend in fact. The point is if we don’t make/take time to care for ourselves who will? How will you find your peace and contentment this week?
I was looking forward to my Aqua Fit class all week, and it did not disappoint. Making it to the Saturday morning class is always the goal, but not always possible, so despite the rainy forecast, I was out the door and on my way.
The class is all women but for one lone man. We spend 50 minutes working out to a variety of music playlists provided by our encouraging instructor. Today it was oldies – as in the 50s, 60, and 70s. I found myself singing along as I moved my body in ways that would be impossible on dry land. With the use of water weights and pool noodles muscles get a great workout while joints can glide easily in the water. No matter how my week was or my mood going into the pool, I always leave feeling better physically and mentally.
As a reward for spending 50 minutes working out (and to avoid a crowded locker room) I spend 10-15 minutes in the hot tub where the jets help to loosen the tough spots – hip flexors and lower back. Sometimes everyone in the spa is quiet and other times there are lively conversations. Today was a quiet day.
There are times when I think about going to a Tuesday or Thursday 6:00 PM class, but the thought vanishes at the thought of coming home in the dark. Since we are losing an hour of sleep tonight but gaining more daylight, those Tuesday and Thursday classes look more promising – especially during weeks where other plans preclude me from getting to class on Saturday. I need to start penciling them into my calendar and making time for my physical and mental wellbeing – once I make up from losing that hour of sleep tonight that is! Happy Weekend!
I thought this day would never come! After six days of standardized testing and rain, the week has finally come to an end. I love every Friday afternoon, but this one is particularly sweet.
For the first time this week, the sun is shining. The students are gone, my classroom is quiet, and I am taking home an almost empty backpack. Life is good.
I am looking forward to a weekend with minimal plans, no alarm clocks, and a new book to start. The only thing better would be if we were not losing an hour of sleep Saturday night, but that is an excuse to take a nap on Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, I have a ton of things on my “to do” list at home, but there is VERY little on my “must do” list.
I hope your Friday afternoon is landing easy and is a little slice of heaven.
My students have been taking standardized tests since March 1st. and will take the last one tomorrow. Each day there is a different subject area test administered first thing in the morning. The daily teaching schedule is altered, and we have shortened class periods. On top of that, the weather has not cooperated, and we have had indoor recesses all week. I can’t wait to be able to say TGIF!
This week is exhausting for the students who are taking the tests and the teachers who are administering them. My 7th graders are used to having 20-25 minutes to get outside and get some fresh air before they go to lunch. The boys usually spend that time burning off some pent-up energy by playing basketball or football. Needless to say, the energy level is VERY HIGH this week with no place to let off some steam. The boys have taken to making paper airplanes – some sophisticated ones – from our classroom stash of looseleaf and colored paper. Some of my colleagues are surprised to see paper airplanes flying every which way when they walk past my classroom. I am not usually one for chaos, but this was controlled chaos.
Time is a thief, and these middle-schoolers are already growing up too quickly. If I can give them some time to just be kids and use their creativity and laugh – a lot – then why not? As long as the planes get put back in the “hangars” when it’s time to get to work, these student “pilots” have my blessing.
When I hear words like aerodynamics, float, lift, speed, and balance flying around the room alongside the airplanes, I know there is learning going on. When I see one of my airplane “engineers” going back to the supplies to make changes to their glider designs or completely start over, I know there is learning going on. I don’t need a standardized test to prove that to me.
It is not the clear-sighted who rule the world. Great achievements are accomplished in a blessed, warm fog.
Joseph Conrad
The drive to school today was very foggy, a little rainy, and a tad dreary, but I do love the fog on Mann Road. I always want to stop and take pictures as long as there are no cars creeping up behind me. If I didn’t have to go to work, I would have been parking by the side of the road and writing in my notebook using the fog as a metaphor for this stage of my life. All I kept hearing in my head was “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2.
When I was younger with a growing family, I thought that once my kids were grown and on their own I would have life figured out. WRONG! Now that time is more precious, decision-making seems to be harder with more pressure to “get it right” whatever that means.
I look at those trees shrouded in fog and know that before too long they will be covered in leaves, and it will be hard to decipher one from branch from another. But today I can still see each individual tree and branch – some in the background – some in the foreground. Yet each plays an important role in this particular grove.
This foggy, rainy, dreary day has given me permission to go a little slower, think a little deeper, and trust a little more. No need to fear going into the unknown.
What are the top ten things you are grateful for that cost under $1.00?
I am not quite sure where I found this prompt, but I used it for my own journaling as well as with my 7th-graders. Here is my list in no particular order.
Tea bag: Black pekoe or herbal, each little sack of leaves leaves my taste buds wanting more. A cup of tea can perk me up in the morning or help me relax at the end of the day.
Grandchildren’s smiles: They can brighten up even the gloomiest day. I have been very blessed by having four of those smiles in my life.
Autumn leaves: They remind me that there is beauty in every season. Of course, this is my favorite season.
Sunrises: They remind me that God paints each new day with beautiful possibilities. Each day and each sunrise is a gift.
Pencil: It lets me scribe my thoughts and feelings and erase my mistakes. I prefer wooden pencils that I can sharpen to a sharp point.
Hugs: Hugs are reassuring and comforting. They make me feel loved.
Phone Call: Hearing from a friend or family member that I haven’t talked to in a while always makes me thankful to have that person in my life. I need to remember to be that person who reaches out.
Creativity: If it weren’t for the creatives in the world how dull life would be. I am especially thankful when I get a sudden burst of creativity.
Kindness: I have been the beneficiary of many kindnesses in my life – some large, some small – but each of them made me feel cared for and seen. I hope I have made someone else feel that way.
Library Book: What a gift to have a public library from which to borrow books. A book can take you to any place you want to go without leaving your couch.
I am sure I am leaving out other priceless things, but that’s what I have a notebook for. What would be on your “top ten” list?
We never pass up the opportunity to spend time with our grandchildren. Now that they are getting older those times take on a different look. Take last night for instance. We spent the late afternoon and evening with our grandsons. In the past I would spend most of my time doing arts and crafts, building Legos, or watching dinosaur reenactments. Yesterday, I wasn’t sure if I should bring my “Mary Poppins Bag” (as my husband calls it) with my crafts supplies and various other activities along, but I did. I made sure I brought my tablet and Kindle Fire as well because that is usually something they ask for when I don’t bring them!
Much to my surprise neither boy asked for a tablet or device. We set up the craft supplies on the dining room table and started to discuss options. When the oldest, age 10, was called into the living room to help Pops, my husband, navigate the TV remote, he didn’t return until it was time to eat dinner. Instead he and Pops watched Dinners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food Network. I could hear Pops explaining what a “dive” was and P. asking Pops how he was enjoying his retirement (just two months now). I was a little sad that P. didn’t want to make crafts with N. (age 6) and Nona, but smiled at the more “grownup” conversations I could hear from the living room.
That sadness didn’t last long though because the crafting was going full steam in the dining room, and the question of was there enough glue on each piece of construction paper was serious business. N. made a leprechaun for himself and one for his big brother. He also made a scary pumpkin and a pipe cleaner spider even though Halloween is months away.
After dinner it was another screening of Finding Nemo complete with blankets, pillows, popcorn and M&M snacks. While we sat in complete darkness except for the light emanating from the TV screen, I couldn’t help to just take in the scene. These are the moments that bring me such joy, the moments that become priceless memories.
#SOL24
I am participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge sponsored by twowritingteachers.org.
The first Saturday of the each month means a Continuity morning with teacher leaders of the West Chester Writing Project. While I may be a year or two from retirement, I try to never pass up an opportunity to learn something new. Today’s presentation on using AI in the classroom was given by one of the newest WCWP teacher leaders who went through the Summer Institute in 2023.
When it comes to AI, I feel like less than a newbie, but I am excited to explore the many resources provided to us today. I think for now I will be using it as a teacher tool until I get more familiar with its many functions. Who am I kidding? It may take me until retirement to get comfortable using AI at all! Yet that’s not the point.
It doesn’t matter when or how I use the information I learn each month. What matters is that I never lose the passion for learning or the will to keep growing no matter where I am on my life’s continuum. Happy learning!
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 