Into the Unknown

~ rdicarne ~ Leave a comment

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.

A “Little” Gratitude

~ rdicarne ~ 7 Comments

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?

Precious Moments

~ rdicarne ~ 6 Comments

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.

Saturday Studies

~ rdicarne ~ 6 Comments

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!

New Month, New Challenge

~ rdicarne ~ 6 Comments

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.

#SOL24

On the Threshold

~ rdicarne ~ Leave a comment

There is a Chinese proverb that states, “The hardest step is over the threshold.” Today we stand on the threshold of a new year.  For some, it is a time for celebration and optimism, for others a time of deep reflection and maybe some regret.  We have a choice. 

Today I choose to be reflective but without regret – giving myself grace and letting the last day of 2023 fall easy. I am going to list all of the wonderful experiences of the past twelve months – large and small. It is too easy to get wrapped up in the should haves, could haves, and what ifs. Instead, let’s focus on what was.

Did 2023 present me with challenges?  You betcha!  Did some of them knock me down? Maybe to my knees but never to the ground. My circle of family and friends picked me up when I couldn’t quite gather the strength, and I reciprocated whenever and however I was able. 

As we get ready to step into 2024, what is it that you want more of in your life?  What are you looking forward to? What lessons from 2023 are you bringing with you?  

Whatever your answers are, I wish you good health and much happiness in 2024.  May you keep building the life you were meant to live.  Happy New Year!

Fifteen

~ rdicarne ~ 5 Comments

Fifteen. Fifteen days until the last day. The last day of school!

This time of year is so hard. Hard for teachers. Hard for students. Hard for parents. Patience is being tried by many things – antsy kids, deadlines, grading, changes to the schedule – the list can go on and on. A person could very easily be prone to behaving badly, but what would that prove? Who would benefit from the impatience?

Instead, I am going to try and be even more patient than normal. How am I going to accomplish this? I have compiled a list of 15 things I could do for 15 minutes to help reduce the stress of these last 15 days. Some of these things could be done in school, and others can only happen after school or at home. In no particular order…

  • take a walk
  • Chai latte from Starbucks
  • meditate/breathe
  • listen to music
  • sit on the deck
  • ride the recumbent bike
  • yoga/stretching
  • take a long shower & use an aromatherapy shower steamer
  • write in my gratitude journal
  • watch a stand-up comedian
  • connect with a friend
  • read
  • pray
  • power nap
  • walk in the pool (this one is longer – have to go to the gym.)

I am thinking about putting these in a 15-block grid and choosing one a day to be my reward for keeping my cool in school. It will be like an end-of-the-year bingo game for one. Let me know if you have any tricks for holding onto your patience when it is being tested.

Cheers!

~ rdicarne ~ 5 Comments

Today is National Moscato Day! This day was created by the Gallo Family Vineyards in 2012. When it comes to drinking wine or any alcohol for that matter, I am a lightweight. I have tried fancy red wines and dry white wines, but my palette could not grow accustomed to the tastes. It did not mature with the rest of me. I prefer light, sweet wines, and Moscato is one of my favorites!

Moscato is made from the Muscat Blanc grapes from Piedmont Italy. Believe it or not, muscat grapes are the same grapes that are used for raisins. Moscato has peachy, orangey, and nectarine flavors and is often used as a dessert wine and comes in white, red, and rose’. It is the third most popular win in the US. I guess there are many other wine drinkers with the same taste as me.

Moscato is a great summer wine. Here are a few ideas.

If you haven’t tried Moscato, put it on your shopping list and start creating sweet summer beverages. Cheers!

Pieces of Me

~ rdicarne ~ 3 Comments

PIECES – This was yesterday’s writing prompt provided by teachwrite.org on their May Writing Prompts list. If you haven’t visited them, please check them out.

It really got me thinking. What do I write about? Missing pieces? Broken pieces? Puzzle pieces? Bits & pieces? After searching for quotes about “pieces,” I landed on the one above and the idea of “pieces of me.” Then everything started to fall into place – like pieces of a puzzle.

I have been listening to “Words & Music” on Audible as well as some celebrity memoirs. What I have enjoyed hearing about the most is the people/things that influenced each of these people. They have given me a glimpse into their many “pieces.” Yoyo Ma was greatly influenced by his immigrant parents, Sting by the town he grew up in and left behind, and the list goes on. I began to think about my “pieces” and how they all fit together to create the puzzle that is me.

  • Places I Have Been – Philadelphia, Horsham – all the places I have visited in my life.
  • People I Have Loved – parents, siblings, aunts & uncles, cousins, Chuck and his family who became my family, my kids, their spouses, my grandkids, and friends from grade school, high school, college, and beyond.
  • Song Lyrics – too many to begin to even make a short list, but those of the 70s for sure.
  • Book Quotes – beginning with my favorite Nancy Drew and all those that followed that helped me garner the nickname, “Read-a-book.”
  • Places I Have Worked – Burger King, Brooks Drugs.
  • Places I Have Taught – St. James, Holy Angels, St. Catherine, St. Alphonsus, Bucks County Community College, West Chester Writing Project, Our Lady of Mercy, and all the wonderful colleagues I have had along the way.
  • Students I Have Shared Learning With – I have even taught children of former students!

This list could go on, and on, and on, but what is important is to recognize that I did not get to be here in this place being the person I am today without capturing “pieces” of every person, place, and thing that has come into my life. I wholeheartedly believe that every experience – good or bad – shapes us and helps us grow.

Hourglass of Life

~ rdicarne ~ 10 Comments

One thing I know for sure is that my hourglass has more sand on the bottom than on the top. This realization is not meant to be maudlin or overly sentimental; it is a fact. Another thing I know for sure is that my vision of life has gotten clearer (and not just because I had cataract surgery on both eyes). Here are just a few of my “visions.”

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Yes, I have heard this all my life, but now that I am older, and people around me are getting sick and/or dying, it is really hitting home. Losing parents and aunts and uncles is very sad, but losing contemporaries is sobering. It reminds me that living every day and staying in the moment is even more important.

It is okay to say, “No.” I have been a people pleaser for most of my life. This often resulted in me being overworked, stressed out, or frustrated. There was no one to blame but myself. Now, I guard my time and energy and only commit to things that are important to me.

Not all people are meant to stay in your life. Over the years I have had many “friends” with whom I thought I would have long-lasting relationships. That isn’t how life works though. I use to be sad that I had not remained close with some of my friends, but I realize now that each person comes into our lives at a certain time for a certain reason. Not all are meant to be with us for a lifetime, and that’s okay.

Do what you love. So much of life is taken up with responsibilities and “have-to-do” moments. Not everything on the “have-to-do” list is of equal importance. It’s okay if I let the less important things go and do what is really important – spending time with my husband watching sports, reading, or writing.

The creation of this list is still a work in progress because every new day is an opportunity to see life through a different lens. The closer your focus, the clearer the view.