There is nothing better than a super sharp No.2 pencil. My weapon of choice is a Ticonderoga. Pencils are such an underrated writing utensil. They offer you the comforting, soft scratching sound as they move across the page, and you can easily change your mind.
When I came across the above quote, it really struck a chord with me. What kind of mark am I making? Will I be sharper after all this pain subsides? Those questions will be for another day.
“It’s what’s inside that counts.” This is a lesson I learned growing up and one I tried to instill in my children and my students. I think this is the most important lesson of all. Goodness and beauty begin from the inside out.
On this National Pencil Day, be like a pencil. Remember, you make a mark on everyone you touch, pain will make you stronger, and your best side is your inside.
Rita DiCarne 
Rita, I am inspired by the quote you shared. Making a mark is an important cue for all educators. It is essential to make a positive mark on students so they learn to do the same as they grow. Pain sharpens us. I wonder about that. It may help with understanding but when pain hits it is difficult to think about what will come next. Your response is a good one. I agree that phases of pain do make us stronger. The last lesson is one to ponder. Thanks for the interesting approach to lessons learned.
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A brand new pencil with a sharp point, a black Ticonderoga AND a Pilot Precise V5RT Retractable Ball Pen. Your closing lines are superb.
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The pencil lessons resonate with me, especially as I approach retirement. I must confess, though, that I giggled a bit at the last one–“Your best side is your inside”–as I recover at home from getting some of my innards surgically removed. I wonder if the surgeon thought my best side was my inside, tee-hee?
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You are certainly making a “mark!”
I hope I do too!
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