writing

Finding Purpose

~ rdicarne ~ 5 Comments

Getting older is not for the faint of heart. It brings new aches and pains, medical issues, and many hard decisions. All of that can feel overwhelming at times, but getting older also brings new freedom—well, at least it has for me.

I subscribe to Beth Kempton on Substack (https://bethkempton.substack.com/) and have taken a few of her online workshops. Beth sends out a Soul Circle Journal Note to her subscribers each week. It focuses on one word and how it relates to our writing practice. This week’s word was PURPOSE. Beth’s words have stuck with me since I read them on Monday.

“If we always force ourselves to begin with the purpose of a thing before any words have flowed onto the page, we are in danger of (1) missing out on what it could be because we are too attached to what we think it should be.”

Getting back to aging. Beyond my writing practice, I started thinking back to my purpose/s in life over the years and how much time I wasted on what I thought “should be” instead of focusing on what “could be.” My younger self was constantly worried about being a good enough student, friend, wife, mother, or teacher. How did I measure up to everything and everyone around me?

I have no regrets, but I could have been more open to taking a few risks or trusting myself more. Now that I am in the fourth quarter of this game of life, I realize that I don’t worry much about the “should be” but focus instead on what “could be.” I am coddiwompling (traveling purposefully toward an as-yet-unknown destination) through life and leaving myself open to what “could be.” Never could a younger me be able to let go and wander without a travel plan. That only came with the wisdom of age.

**Coddiwomple is my OLW for 2025.

If My Room Could Talk

~ rdicarne ~ 5 Comments

My current book club selection has got me thinking about perspective. I am currently listening to The Briar Club by Kate Quinn. It is the story of an all-female boarding house in Washington, DC, in 1950. Each chapter focuses on one of the women living in Briarwood House. I am only on Chapter Four, but what I find so interesting is the Interstitial, a chapter between chapters told from the house’s perspective. That got me thinking – what if the walls of my classroom could talk? What have they observed?

Room 208 – Thursday Observations
The same two or three students unstack the chairs each morning, and today was no different. The rest of the class takes it for granted that a chair will be at each desk when they arrive in homeroom.

I love watching the students get excited when they are writing collaboratively. Sometimes, they can get silly, but they are just little kids with bigger bodies. I heard seven stories set in Gooberville!

Morning recess can get messy, especially near where the boys sit. I can’t believe how many of them miss their mouths; popcorn, pretzels, and Doritos fall on the floor. Like clockwork, M. gets the broom and dustpan to clean up after his friends. Snack trading is becoming a daily sport with high-level negotiations—some budding lawyers in this room.

Some students are very confident and raise their hands ALL THE TIME. I get tired of hearing those same voices every day. I wish I could talk to those quieter students who are afraid to answer. I would tell them to take a chance, to go for it. My friend, Room 206, tells me that some quieter ones emerge from their shells in 8th grade. (SMILE)

Do you believe some students still don’t bring all the necessary books or recess snacks to the room? The hall pass complained to me just the other day about how many hands she passes through each day! Then you have the kids who bring everything with them but leave half their belongings in class when they leave. (SHRUG)

I do love these kids like I have loved all those who came here before them. Honestly, though, I love it when the end of the day comes, and I am filled with silence. I get a peaceful night’s rest and am ready to meet them again in the morning.

What other things can I learn from my classroom? Maybe tomorrow I will chat with the pencil sharpener or one of the desks. 😉