Tuesday, March 1, 2016

I'm out, I'm in . . .

She loves me, she loves me not.

I so remember picking the petals off a daisy as a little girl, siting in a circle with friends in front of the Hobensack's house on 8th Street.

A similar refrain has been going through my head the past few weeks.  First I received the email from the Slice of Life Challenge inviting me again to participate, and then my daughter, the best author in the family, also invited me.

Last year I was in, all in.

This year?  I'm out.  I'm in. I'm out . . .

And so I decided this year I was definitely not going to participate.  And I had a multitude of reasons-- or excuses?

One of the main reasons/excuses was last year's SOL.

I was determined to write all 31 days.  And I was on a roll.

Day after day I wrote.  I was going to make it!

And then one busy day somewhere around Day 22 or 23, I woke up one Saturday morning thinking about the busy day to come as a high school principal and it hit me.

I had not written a post the day before.

How did I forget?  Yes, it was a busy day.  Fridays are always a blur in high schools, especially for principals.

And so my best opportunity to write every day ended just like that.  My perfectionism hit me as a train barreling around a mountain curve.  Failure.

And so, that is most likely the reason that I woke up this morning with my decision set. I hate to fail again, and I most assuredly will never make 31 days of writing.  I was out.  Definitely out.

And then tonight.  What just popped up on my email and Facebook?  My daughter's #SOL16 post.  And she delineated her dilemma-- how hard it is for her to participate.  She is a ELL high school teacher with a new baby,  Time is extremely limited.

And then her post also detailed all the steps she has taken to inspire her own students to participate-- to motivate them, as she always does.  She is a special teacher and her students' world stories are also special.  I read it.  And then I read it again.

And that is that.  My daughter inspires and motivates me. And so does #SOL16.

I am in. . . .

19 comments:

  1. This sounds familiar! The same failure happened to me last year! I wrote while on vacation, while sick, and then one day I just forgot. This year, I'm not promising to write every day... I hope I will, but I will not quit if I have a day of failure. It's awesome for you that you and your daughter have one another as motivation and inspiration. Glad you're here!

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    1. Thanks, Robyn. I have also altered my expectations. I will write when I can. Good luck in your SOL journey this year!

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  2. This sounds familiar! The same failure happened to me last year! I wrote while on vacation, while sick, and then one day I just forgot. This year, I'm not promising to write every day... I hope I will, but I will not quit if I have a day of failure. It's awesome for you that you and your daughter have one another as motivation and inspiration. Glad you're here!

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  3. I am so glad your in, all in, and if you miss a day we will look the other way. Dare Greatly like Berenée Brown tells us, "Risk aversion kills innovation." Off to read your daughters post!

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  4. I am so glad your in, all in, and if you miss a day we will look the other way. Dare Greatly like Berenée Brown tells us, "Risk aversion kills innovation." Off to read your daughters post!

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    1. Thanks, Deb, for your encouragement. Love the quote! Good luck!

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  5. Thank-you for sharing your struggle with such honesty. I look forward to reading your views and perspectives, as I am a grade 2 teacher. Looking forward to the month together.

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    1. Thanks, Kiki! I appreciate your response-- it is always great to read and hear from other educators!

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  6. So glad you decided you're in. I remember reading some of your posts last year. One day missed does not make a failure. Love that your daughter motivates you. I have one of those daughters (she doesn't slice, but she's my best cheerleader).

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    1. Thanks so much, Ramona! It is great that you remember last year's posts. Daughters and Moms have special relationships. Glad you share that also!

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  7. Gosh, I love this. I could so relate to this indecisive stance. Yet, you got just what you needed through your daughter's message. So glad you are in!

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    1. It's funny I still feel indecisive, though less so. I will do my best. Good luck on your journey!

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  8. I can relate. I went back to work full-time this year and the work load has left me without a lot of energy to write, so I didn't know how I could possibly commit to writing every day for an entire month. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Good luck to you!

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  9. I can relate. I went back to work full-time this year and the work load has left me without a lot of energy to write, so I didn't know how I could possibly commit to writing every day for an entire month. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Good luck to you!

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    1. We can all just do what we can do-- I love the month starting with great anticipation! Good luck on your journey!

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  10. Hey, nobody expects perfection. We just write to write. Enjoy the journey and if the journey includes a missing day or two because life happens, that's okay. Love that Jennifer's post nudged you to jump all in! Such a special daughter you have! I'm lucky enough to have my mom join in the writing challenge too. :) Happy writing!

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    1. Thanks, Michelle! So great there are other Mom-Daughter teams out there! Good luck!

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  11. Jennifer is amazing! She not only inspires her students, but also mom. So glad you are in.

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    1. Thanks so much. Great to hear from you. Yes-- I think she is amazing also! :)

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