Time to Write Again

-

 When I majored in English in college, I chose to focus on writing, not literature.  After my first class, I faithfully wrote for at least 15 minutes a day and I continued that practice for many, many, years. Once life happened, and I got busy with teaching, I wrote much less consistently.  I kept a journal off and on, I felt inspired to the occasional short story, essay or (bad) poetry.  

So I am going on year 3 of retirement and it's time for me to start living the life I want.  It's way too easy to just let the days go by without really being productive.  So there are some things I need to put more energy and commitment into. 

1.  Less mindless phone, more reading.  And not just online - although I love the Atlantic. Reading at bedtime instead of Faceback is an easy practice to embrace. I'd love to be able to talk to Bob about the things I'm reading; new ideas to bring to the table instead of same ol'.

2.  I need to start writing again.  Maybe taking a plug at this blog post will help me be accountable.  Or maybe I need one of those "prompt of the day" journals.  I love to write, I enjoy writing and it helps me be. 

I have written a few things since I retired.  In fact, I write a mean letter to a school board or an editor.  I don't know that any of those have changed a single mind but they've made me feel better. So it's time to move beyond words of outrage or incredulity and onto something more productive.  Here I go. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

what goes up, must come down

-
"Once on the elevator , elevator etiquette experts strongly recommend standing as close to a wall or corner as possible to make room for other riders. You should move to the back of the elevator if you are going a long way, and stay in the front if you plan to get off soon. If you decide to stand in front of the elevator buttons, be prepared to be asked to push buttons for other elevator riders. While in an elevator , you shouldn't eat, smoke, or talk on your cellphone. Many people prefer to ride an elevator in silence, so if you have to strike up a conversation with someone, keep the topic neutral, and your tone of voice low. If other people in the elevator seem irritated or upset by your conversation, you may want to change the topic or quiet down. Step aside for people getting off the elevator , and be sure not to block the door when the elevator stops.  ~Wisegeek.com Heh heh heh.  I've discovered a new hobby.  It's called "freak out the strangers on ...
Read more

the next step

-
Well, I'm about to start a new adventure.  After being a classroom teacher since 1995, I'm about to become a year-round educational employee.  Yesterday I accepted a job as the secondary curriculum coordinator for the school district.  It's kind of still sinking in, but I think I'm excited about the change. For the past year I've been working on a Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction, so when a position came open that required this degree and would let me use what I learn, I felt like I had to apply.  I was sort of surprised to get it, but am really excited as well as flattered that my current boss thinks I can do the job. This means that I will be facilitating curriculum revisions, working with school counselors, planning professional development, organizing district-wide events such as Poetry Out Loud, and completing "other duties as assigned"  I still get to work with great people in a great department. The downside is that I'm ...
Read more

why be a hater?

-
Image
So apparently the second grade class my son is in has a large contingency of Barney haters.  That's right, I said Barney.  As in the big purple dinosaur that teachers children how to be friendly and kind to one another.  I don't know why Barney has become the target of their twisted 8 year old minds, but apparently he has.  I know this because each day my son comes home and sings another variation of an "I hate Barney" song.  Today's song is sung to the tune of the sweet holiday carol, "Joy to the World:" Joy to the World, Barney is dead! We bar-becued his head! What happened to the bo-dy? We flushed it down the po-tty, Around around it goes, Around around it goes, A-ro-und, a-ro-und around it goes! Yes, the song is disturbing.  Yes, I'm concerned about my son's sense of humor, even though he assures me that "everyone is doing it."  And I guess the peer pressure to sing anti-Barney songs isn't as unhealthy as peer pressure...
Read more