tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91754778121244658432024-03-05T00:12:46.090-08:00The Writing Teacher WritesMiss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-71144525139885922092015-11-15T17:12:00.000-08:002015-11-15T17:12:00.683-08:00Gratitude Challenge Day 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoAZ3YL9lj_1HECm8FfRlRJHGzzRACIeWt4lUSkU5WRZyJPZ6FC1jW-aASw-DBkrhxN6b0AdWGZE2UnL6nLPbur-WalTymTJaKAy9w7smvBckNpYa3fk6f1mc5V6iQzcYRjn_G1rM4QWU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-07+at+3.24.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoAZ3YL9lj_1HECm8FfRlRJHGzzRACIeWt4lUSkU5WRZyJPZ6FC1jW-aASw-DBkrhxN6b0AdWGZE2UnL6nLPbur-WalTymTJaKAy9w7smvBckNpYa3fk6f1mc5V6iQzcYRjn_G1rM4QWU/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-11-07+at+3.24.48+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I suppose I should clarify that for some of the things on my list, you can't see the actual "thing," but you can very clearly see the effects or results of that "thing." </div>
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<ul>
<li>air</li>
<li>forgiveness</li>
<li>empathy</li>
<li>faith</li>
<li>hope</li>
<li>my thoughts</li>
<li>history</li>
<li>adrenaline</li>
<li>dreams (even long after I've been awake and I can't fully "see" them) </li>
<li>Bebe</li>
<li>Dad</li>
<li>my future</li>
<li>luck </li>
<li>cold</li>
<li>warmth</li>
</ul>
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I'm thankful for adrenaline. It fires you up when you need that extra push, and it ignites that thing that sometimes turns off. Adrenaline protects you when you're in danger, and it pushes you through uncomfortable situations. </div>
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I can't see adrenaline, but I sure can feel it, and I'm glad it's there to energize me when I need it. </div>
Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-78517364899247974242015-11-15T17:04:00.003-08:002015-11-15T17:04:47.278-08:00Gratitude Challenge Day 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH2BO44BLyYx9-mboYXoTWqraRGCZ2FsWhRV-AnQ4iUJZQcEBbanAgmq-WyzKKrNg1NyqeMVnOEqY1JIZQQnJwl5VOdUNf0bLA7hAe2MgEuejNTolWuB8AVz3DJoWzd6AAMe64NvSJ3JS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-07+at+3.24.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH2BO44BLyYx9-mboYXoTWqraRGCZ2FsWhRV-AnQ4iUJZQcEBbanAgmq-WyzKKrNg1NyqeMVnOEqY1JIZQQnJwl5VOdUNf0bLA7hAe2MgEuejNTolWuB8AVz3DJoWzd6AAMe64NvSJ3JS/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-11-07+at+3.24.41+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">weather alerts on my iPhone</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">sirens</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">smoke alarms</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">fires, tornado, and lock down drills</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">medicine</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">doctors offices & visits</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">email</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">data </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">the news</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">political officials</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">my conscience </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">habits</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">bills (and having to pay them) </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">gasoline</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">rain</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">iPhone battery</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Apple TV/wifi at school</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">free speech </li>
</ul>
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Being sick is the worst. You can't think straight because your head is all fuzzy, and you're either hot or cold or achy or sleepy. Everything is harder to do when you're sick. Among those things, sitting in the doctor's waiting room when all you want to do is crawl into bed and fade back to wellness, is the worst. </div>
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Last Spring, I got sick in the middle of a snow storm. My throat genuinely felt like it was coated in sandpaper, my head was pounding, and I didn't want to do anything but get some medicine and sleep it off. The catch, though, is that it had just snowed, and I couldn't drive anywhere.. including the doctor's office. </div>
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For the first time, I realized that NOT sitting in the waiting room might be worse than sitting there. So, as annoying as those waiting rooms may be, with their germ-infested, uncomfortable chairs and sneezing kids, I'm thankful that I have access to and the ability to pay for healthcare, both when I'm sick and when I'm healthy. </div>
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<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-47075642444645992582015-11-10T19:04:00.000-08:002015-11-10T19:04:00.208-08:00Gratitude Challenge Day 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN8H3brcvpKCpcsU6kLlGqCgbkIvrAVCbpc20283yFCfttU00rh7BqSuYbQrOznGhJS4sAuWVCHwoUULhQVadWwJIJboz3RdpN4ZbfB4oW__6ifS0-I1nOdXzzHVcNsf5zg96IW0Sihom/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-07+at+3.24.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN8H3brcvpKCpcsU6kLlGqCgbkIvrAVCbpc20283yFCfttU00rh7BqSuYbQrOznGhJS4sAuWVCHwoUULhQVadWwJIJboz3RdpN4ZbfB4oW__6ifS0-I1nOdXzzHVcNsf5zg96IW0Sihom/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-11-07+at+3.24.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>nasal spray</li>
<li>cough syrup</li>
<li>green juice (especially if it's too spinach-y)</li>
<li>salt water</li>
<li>ginger</li>
<li>burnt coffee (because at least I have some)</li>
</ul>
It isn't surprising that this list is much shorter than the rest; I don't often make a habit of tasting things which do not taste good. However, when a person toughens it out and withstands an unpleasant taste, it's typically for good reason. That's the case with the things on my list, five out of six of them being things that make me feel better when I'm feeling ill.<br />
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The thing that sticks out to me the most is nasal spray. In addition to its awful taste, it's just a downright disgusting thing. (Have you ever needed to use nasal spray whilst in the presence of someone else? It's awkward and gross and brings more attention than is necessary to the phlegm and germs which caused you to pull it out in the first place.) It's kind of a double-edged sword, so to speak. Most of the time, it clears your nostrils right up, reminding you that there is in fact a path to your sinuses. However, it drips back down your throat leaving this gross, bitter taste just clinging to the back of your taste buds. I usually try and cover up the taste with some sort of flavored drink (usually coffee of course), but sometimes there's just not escaping it.<br />
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However, when you have a sinus headache and your ears are popping because you're just that congested, you'll give anything - including a lingering, bitter taste - to find some relief. So, for that reason, I'm thankful for nasal spray.<br />
<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-70170288412838651442015-11-09T13:24:00.000-08:002015-11-10T18:57:56.693-08:00Gratitude Challenge Day 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Something tells me that this might be my longest list yet. </div>
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<ul>
<li>green curry shrimp (on my list for the second time this month) </li>
<li>Boom Chicka Pop popcorn</li>
<li>Oreos (also on my list for the second time this month)</li>
<li>iFratelli's veggie pizza</li>
<li>Pizza Hut thin crust pepperoni pizza</li>
<li>my Dad's spaghetti</li>
<li>sushi (especially Spider Rolls) </li>
<li>tacos (any and all tacos) </li>
<li>pad thai</li>
<li>pad see ew</li>
<li>vanilla coffee</li>
<li>Chuy's Creamy Jalepeno dressing </li>
<li>Babe's chicken</li>
<li>anything from Anamia's (especially Kelly's Queso & Ricky Tacos) </li>
<li>iced tea</li>
<li>vanilla ice cream, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, salted caramel ice cream</li>
<li>French fries</li>
<li>fried pickles</li>
<li>roasted artichokes</li>
<li>Snap Kitchen's Anti-Oxident Beet-Apple juice</li>
<li>shrimp cocktail</li>
<li>lobster with melted butter</li>
<li>ahi tuna salad</li>
<li>cheese (any and all of it)</li>
</ul>
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I'm making an executive decision here: It's far too difficult to pick just one of these scrumptious treats to crown "That For Which I'm Most Grateful". So, I'm switching gears. </div>
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Instead, I'll focus on the fact that I have so many kinds of foods to choose from on my list. I realize that it's quite remarkable that I've had the chance to taste and try so many different kinds of foods and that so many of my favorites are readily available for dinner on any given night. I'm beyond blessed. I'm well-fed and I'm able to provide for myself. I have a working kitchen where I can cook and prepare foods, and I have a working car with which I can drive myself to a variety of restaurants complete with To Go menus. I'm not only given the luxury of feeling full and satisfied each night, but I have choice in what I want to eat and the means with which to make healthy and educated decisions about the food I put into my body. I have much to be thankful for. </div>
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<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-69084706255146866532015-11-08T18:41:00.000-08:002015-11-08T18:41:02.302-08:00Gratitude Challenge - Day 4 (Two Days Late)I'm posting my Day 4 Gratitude Post a day late. Fridays are busy!<br />
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The prompt for Day 4 piggybacks on Day 3 and goes for the opposite: What are you thankful for that is very big?<br />
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Perhaps my list will also be "very big":</div>
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<ul>
<li>my TV (I'm not bragging here. It's probably not big from most perspectives, but in the grand scheme of things, it's luxurious enough to be called big.) </li>
<li>my car, Pearl</li>
<li>my apartment (I upgraded from 575 square feet to 835 square feet about a year ago. I'm in space heaven.) </li>
<li>my living room window</li>
<li>the painting hanging in my living room that Dad and I painted together</li>
<li>emotions</li>
<li>The University of Texas</li>
<li>airplanes</li>
<li>the internet</li>
<li>grocery stores</li>
<li>Hulu Plus & Netflix (and their large database of endless entertainment)</li>
<li>the armed forces</li>
<li>movie theaters</li>
<li>my photo collection </li>
<li>my collection of blogs on Feedly</li>
</ul>
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It's getting increasingly harder to pick just one thing to write about, so I'm going to go with my first instinct here: the very intangible thing that's allowing me to share my thoughts with you, dear reader.</div>
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I'm abundantly grateful for the existence of the internet and the vastness of it. Unlike many of my students, I remember a time when the internet wasn't a part of my life. Yes, I had an AOL account in fifth grade, and instant messenger was my primary means of communication for most of my adolescence. But, the helpful facets of the internet weren't readily available at my finger tips until I was in college. </div>
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I learned to drive with a Mapsco in my passenger seat, and I had to [gasp] read the map BEFORE I started going somewhere so that I wouldn't get lost. If I didn't know how to build, create, or fix something when I was a teenager, I had to ask an adult for help or [gasp] find a book that could help me. If I wanted to watch my favorite tv show, I had to actually be at home when it aired (or, if I was lucky I could claim rights to the VCR that night and make a VHS copy). </div>
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Now, I hop in my car to go somewhere, and not only can I find directions instantly, but they change throughout my drive based on traffic updates, and I can send my ETA to my friends in real time. If I don't know how to fix my vacuum or check the oil in my car, I can search a vast database of how-to videos, thus empowering myself to be more independent. When I'm feeling lonely or missing my friends, I can call them, text them, send them videos, or better yet, FaceTime with them. Sure beats the old days of paying long distance fees to call another state. I can do something to cheer myself up with the help of the ol' internet. </div>
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Speaking of long distance, I can share my location with my close friends and family so that they always know where I am if they need me, or more importantly, if I need them. I have the ability to share my thoughts openly and publicly on a variety of platforms, such as this one, and I can read the thoughts and opinions of others, all from the comfort of my own home (or on my phone while in the grocery store line). </div>
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All of those things are luxuries, though. They're advances in technology and innovative thinking that have made my life more enjoyable, meaningful (at times), and easier. </div>
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However, the single most important thing about the internet, in my opinion, is that it puts information and knowledge at the fingertips of anyone with access to a wifi or cellular connection. Knowledge is power, and the internet provides that to educated and employed people such as myself, but also to other people who may not otherwise have access to the answers and solutions they desperately need to find. </div>
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Are there downsides to that truth? Well of course. Knowledge is power, which as we all well know, can be used for both good and bad. I won't pretend as though that's not a threat that the internet provides. However, much like banned books and freedom of speech, I'd rather the opportunity for empowerment than to be fighting oppression from it. </div>
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Of all the "very big" things on my list, I think the internet is the one thing that most affects and improves my life on a daily basis. That and the University of Texas of course. </div>
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<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-20151799734442486162015-11-05T17:41:00.004-08:002015-11-05T17:41:47.141-08:00Gratitude Challenge - Day 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Very small things for which I am very grateful:</div>
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<ul>
<li>my Apple TV remote</li>
<li>eyeballs</li>
<li>my contacts</li>
<li>the key to my apartment</li>
<li>my car key</li>
<li>spare keys</li>
<li>my ring that used to be my grandmother's </li>
<li>my wishbone charm </li>
<li>my medicine </li>
<li>erasers</li>
<li>raindrops </li>
<li>ladybugs</li>
<li>my pearl earrings</li>
<li>punctuation </li>
<li>my brand new baby niece, Emily</li>
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<i>"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." </i></div>
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This is one of those quotes that I've heard a hundred times, and I don't even know who said it. Maybe it's an anonymous quote. Either way, I think there's some truth to it. </div>
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When I think about all of the teeny tiny things on my list, I can't pick one that I'm most thankful for. With some of these things, there's no way to rank one above the other. </div>
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So instead, I'll tell you about my favorite ring. I always admired my grandmother's jewelry. Bebe had the prettiest rings, adorned with gemstones and pearls, and she always had a new pair of earrings for a new outfit. She was always dressed to the nines and was widely known as a classy, Southern lady. </div>
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One of my favorite piece of her jewelry was a simple silver ring with a light aqua stone. Luckily for me, I got to keep that ring when she passed away. Every time I wear it, I think of Bebe and her classy style. It reminds me to hold my head high, to speak kindly and intelligently, and to smile. It's a beautiful ring from a beautiful woman that reminds me of many a beautiful memory. </div>
Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-23684137746020435982015-11-05T07:06:00.000-08:002015-11-05T07:10:52.098-08:00Gratitude Challenge - Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had a lot of fun making my list of things that I'm thankful for that are also black and white. I love this kind of brainstorming. </div>
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<b>books<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>writing</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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old photos<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oreos<o:p></o:p></div>
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cookies and cream ice cream <o:p></o:p></div>
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chocolate chip ice cream<o:p></o:p></div>
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people<o:p></o:p></div>
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puppies<o:p></o:p></div>
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X-rays <o:p></o:p></div>
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stars at night<o:p></o:p></div>
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piano keys<o:p></o:p></div>
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the tile in my old kitchen <o:p></o:p></div>
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paved roads <o:p></o:p></div>
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QR codes<o:p></o:p></div>
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salt and pepper<o:p></o:p></div>
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referees <o:p></o:p></div>
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yoga pants<o:p></o:p></div>
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coffee <o:p></o:p></div>
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soccer balls <o:p></o:p></div>
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wicks (in candles)<o:p></o:p></div>
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coloring books<o:p></o:p></div>
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crossword puzzles<o:p></o:p></div>
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manuscripts<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>my Dad's letters <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>my journals </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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composition notebooks <o:p></o:p></div>
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Call me sappy, but I think the thing I'm most thankful for is writing. I'm thankful that I have the ability and the knowledge to be able to write. There are a lot of people in this world that were never taught how to write - how to get all of the thoughts whizzing through their heads organized and onto the paper or even how to form letters and build sentences. I'm thankful that someone taught me how to write and that I had access to a free and public education, writing teachers that inspired me to challenge myself, and my parents, both writers, that modeled for me and helped me when I continuously changed tenses mid-essay or misspelled spaghetti for the hundredth time. </div>
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I'm also incredibly thankful for the writing of other people. Published books, essays, and poems have continuously brought me comfort and companionship over the years and have given me a lens through which to understand life. </div>
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I'm thankful for letters that I've saved from the loved ones in my life: letters from my Mom and Dad, cards from my Grandma, and notes and letters from my cousin Dai when we were silly teenagers and I wanted to be just like her. </div>
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Finally, I'm thankful for my students' writing. Without a doubt, those piece of writing are the works of geniuses. They are imaginative and poetic and full of wisdom. They are adorable and humorous, and they make me smile. </div>
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<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-6509869147391150062015-11-03T19:10:00.000-08:002015-11-03T19:10:00.408-08:00Gratitude Challenge - Day 1Every year, I encourage my learners to participate in a Gratitude Challenge during the month of November. Over the years, I've done it in a variety of ways. I've included the challenge in my writing plans, I've made it both voluntary and required, and I've asked the learners to write at home each day. I've changed the prompts in my challenge a lot over the years, too. The thing that's always been the same is that my kids have gotten excited about it, and as with many activities, I've ended up learning so much from them.<br />
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This year, I'm committing to participating in the challenge alongside them. I'll post on my blog each day. #gottakeepup For the first nine days of the challenge, the prompt is to make a list of many things and then to pick one thing to write in more detail about.<br />
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The prompt for Day One is simple:<br />
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Things for which I am grateful that are green: </div>
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<li>money</li>
<li>grass</li>
<li>brussel sprouts</li>
<li>artichokes</li>
<li>arugula</li>
<li>cucumbers</li>
<li>spinach </li>
<li>green juice</li>
<li>Season 6 of Friends DVDs </li>
<li>Hulu</li>
<li>spicy pickled green beans</li>
<li>spicy pickles</li>
<li>green curry with shrimp</li>
<li>cotton candy grapes</li>
<li>spearmint flavored anything</li>
<li>Tea to Go! </li>
<li>Doublemint Gum</li>
<li>Christmas trees</li>
<li>the trees that surround Katy Trail</li>
<li>the Messages and Phone apps on my phone</li>
<li>Starbucks</li>
<li>green lights</li>
<li>street signs</li>
<li>my jade infinity scarf</li>
<li>leaves on flowers (especially hydrangeas) </li>
<li>avocados</li>
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Looking at my list, I can't help but notice how many of these things are edible. I suppose it's not surprising; I love food! </div>
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I can narrow it down to three edible things on this list: cotton candy grapes, Tea to Go, and green curry with shrimp. They stand out to me the most because they're things that I've only just recently discovered. Last year, they wouldn't have even been on my list. I am grateful that there are always new foods and drinks to try.. that there might be things on my green list next year that I haven't even discovered yet. </div>
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I think I'm most thankful for cotton candy grapes. Have you ever tried them? They're deceivingly delicious. They genuinely taste just like candy (hence the name). They're sweet and fruity, and when I'm eating them, I can trick myself into thinking I'm eating candy, when really I'm making a healthy decision. </div>
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There's more to it than the sweet taste of them, though. They remind me of a special memory. I first learned about cotton candy grapes during a time when my whole world was falling apart. My Dad had just passed away, and my bestie, Shawna, came to stay with me. She was (and is) a Saint. She cleaned, grocery shopped, ran my errands, and kept me going during the week after Dad died and before school started. That's a time that I hardly remember. In fact, most of it is a haze when I try to look back on it. But, I remember the cotton candy grapes. She brought them home from the grocery store one day, and I couldn't believe my taste buds. It's such a small thing. Grapes. It was a happy thing though - a bright spot - and it stuck with me. In the weeks after she left and went back home and I started my new normal, trying to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving, cotton candy grapes continued to be this little burst of joy in my day. I realize that seems crazy, but if you've ever experience grief or tragedy, I think you'll connect to the way that one little thing can make you feel just a tad bit better. </div>
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So, today, I'm thankful for cotton candy grapes, the possibility of new tastes in my future, and bright spots and best friends that get you through the tough times. </div>
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<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-55045182097775369652015-03-15T19:33:00.002-07:002015-03-15T19:36:30.751-07:00Yogi WisdomOver Spring Break, I signed up for a week long trial of Class Pass, and I've been to a few yoga classes and a barre class. Downward dog and child's pose aside, I noticed a trend among the different classes I attended. I tried three different studios and learned from four different instructors, and a similar theme kept popping up as they guided us through the beginning of class.<br />
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As we started class, sitting upright on our mats with our eyes closed, the instructors told us to let go of our expectations. One of the instructors said something like, "When you come to this mat, you're coming to play and to deepen your practice. Let go of any expectations you have for this time here." (Her use of the word "play" resonated with me. Wasn't I just there to break a sweat and burn some calories?) Another instructor talked about each of us meeting ourselves where we are and resisting the urge to try to meet expectations we have in our heads for poses and stretches. (Luckily for me, my expectations were simple: finish the class.)<br />
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All jokes aside, their message stuck with me. The quote, <i>"Expectation is the root of all heartache"</i> kept creeping into my mind during my time on my mat.*** Isn't it funny how the quotes that we've memorized over time can become mantras in the quiet time we spend alone with our thoughts?<br />
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My One Little Word for this year is <b><i>enjoy</i></b>. I chose it for a handful of reasons, and I'm not feeling vulnerable enough to share all of them in this space tonight. However, one of the reasons why I settled on it is that I tend to be a thinker and an analyzer. <i>(Shocking, I know.)</i> Sometimes, in the midst of a moment, I'm trying to think about what it means or how I can carry it forward in my life, and I'd really rather just enjoy it. Let go of the expectations and the ideas I've already envisioned for my future, and just ENJOY the moment.<br />
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Walking into each new studio this week, feeling unsure about my <strike>inabilities</strike> yoga practice and supremely out of my comfort zone, I heard a lot of <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en" target="_blank">Brene Brown's</a> words swirling around in my head. A long time ago, Brene Brown taught me that in order to truly feel connection, we have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable.<br />
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If I'm really going to live my One Little Word this year and enjoy the moment, I will have to continue to allow myself to be vulnerable, to put expectation and fear aside and really connect. Thank you, yoga instructors and Brene, for reminding me what my word is all about.<br />
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Typically, I write about topics connected to my classroom and the adorable little ten and eleven year olds that learn inside those walls. Today I ventured away a bit, but as all of my teacher friends know, vulnerability and connection is as much a part of our professional lives as it is our personal lives. In fact, one of the areas I would most like to slow down and enjoy the moment is with my learners. (See how I connected it back to teaching? Thumbs up, Marly.)<br />
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***Interesting note: I've always heard that the quote, "Expectation is the root of all heartache" was said by Shakespeare. Upon some internet research tonight, I discovered that's not true. Based on what I read, there's not really a known source. (I could dig a bit further, but I just don't feel all that inclined this evening.)Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-24719458548456886192015-03-10T19:16:00.002-07:002015-03-10T19:16:42.141-07:00Some Things Are ScaryWhat is it that is so scary about this view?<br />
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Looking up at this light, each light bulb like the eye of a monster staring down at me, I grip the arm rests on either side of my chair with white knuckles. Just sitting in the dentist's chair reminds me of the screeching, threatening sound of the drill as it makes its way towards my mouth. I cringe and wince and tighten my muscles as I attempt to dissolve into the seat.<br />
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Okay, perhaps I'm being a bit dramatic with my description, but the feeling is real. I really, really, really do not enjoy going to the dentist. The sounds and smells and florescent lights invoke in me a fear and anxiety that I rarely feel in any other situation.<br />
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During each visit, I dread the moment when they take my blood pressure and then inquire, "Is your blood pressure usually this high?" <i>No ma'am, that's just extreme discomfort pulsing through my veins. </i><br />
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During my visit yesterday, I casually mentioned that coming to the dentist scares me. Not surprisingly, the dental hygienist shared that many of her patients feel the same way. She nodded her head knowingly and padded me a few times on the shoulder.<br />
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When it came time for the doctor to numb my gums and start all the <strike>torture</strike> cleaning and fixing, the same dental hygienist asked if I'd like some headphones to listen to music while they <strike>demolished</strike> worked on my mouth. Oh my goodness. Why hadn't I ever thought of this before? Music calms the soul and eases the mind. Duh. <i>Of course I'd like some headphones!</i> I told her that I thought the headphones were a great idea, and she shared that they'd started offering them to help ease their patients' anxieties.<br />
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<i>(That's my scared face. Can you tell?)</i></div>
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This got me thinking.<br />
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That lovely dental hygienist excelled at her job because she had anticipated her patient's emotions and reactions and come up with a way to de-escalate the situation.<br />
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This is what teachers do for their learners. We get to know them and understand their worries and fears and trepidations. We know what they've been through and how those experiences may trigger reactions from them in the future. We anticipate their fears, and we find ways to help them through them. We offer strategies and tools, or we modify the situation to lessen the intensity of their fears.<br />
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Anticipating their fears and offering them guidance that will de-escalate the situation doesn't always come naturally though, and it's not always easy. It requires that we be contemplative and purposeful in our practice, and that we spend time reflecting on the lives of our learners.<br />
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There's a picture book by Florence Perry Heide that I just love. It's called <u>Some Things Are Scary</u>, and each page illustrates a few different scary things. Some of my favorites from the book include:<br />
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<li>Getting hugged by someone you don't like is scary.</li>
<li>Stepping on something squishy in your bare feet is scary. </li>
<li>Being with your mother when she can't remember where she parked the car is scary. </li>
<li>Thinking, "What if you'd been born a hippopotamus?" is scary. </li>
<li>Brushing your teeth with something you thought was toothpaste, but it isn't, is scary. </li>
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I giggle to myself each time I read this story, and I've read it lots of time. </div>
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If you sat down and thought about the students' that are in your class right now, could you write your own version of this book based on their fears? From the more simple fears like, "Realizing you forgot your lunch money.. for the fifth day in a row is scary," to the more serious ones like, "Wondering whether your Dad will come home tonight is scary." I think it's something worth thinking about.<br />
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Further, how can we better anticipate the way their fears may affect them and lead them through it with support and care? What kind of <i>headphones</i>, so to speak, can we offer them?<br />
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<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-14566058271360864762015-03-08T14:02:00.001-07:002015-03-08T14:02:54.342-07:00Sub Plans and TechnologyI'm a bit behind with my posts, but it's only because I fell into a strep throat black hole for a few days. I know that probably sounds like an exaggeration; Kids get strep throat all the time (and they still come to school)! This was like Super Strep Throat though. Strep Throat's strongest, biggest, meanest self. That being said, it has taken me three days to finally finish writing this blog. <div>
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Thursday night I was talking to my Mom, and (don't judge) whining in full self-pity mode about how I didn't want to write sub plans again. (Why do they always take so long?!) She asked me how I was able to write them from home and get them to the substitute. Valid question. I explained the gloriousness that is Google Docs and how I share my plans with my awesome teammates and they print them for me. Mom's question got me thinking, though. How much does technology shape and affect my sub plans (and my away-from-school experience)? </div>
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There's the obvious things: I requested a sub online using our school's substitute system, only after texting the sub I hope to schedule to confirm her availability. I texted my principal, AP, and secretary to let them know I'd be out. I typed my plans into Google Docs and shared them with my team. I emailed my students' parents to let them know that I wouldn't be there. All of those things require technology, but they seem pretty basic to me. </div>
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Then I started to think about the communication I'm able to have with my students while I'm away. That's the thing about being gone. It's not just the effort it takes to write the plans or the loss of your accumulated sick/personal days. It's not seeing your kids for three days, not knowing how things are going and who had a good/bad day, or who hasn't done any work over the past 72 hours because you haven't been there.</div>
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I think I'll share with you some of the ways that I was able to communicate with my students' while I was <strike>crying in pain</strike> resting at home. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Morning Message using Google Presentations</span></b></div>
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I write my students a Morning Message <strike>every</strike> almost every morning. It usually has a quick message and then a few reminders for the day or maybe something to get them excited about a lesson. Then I end with some sort of positive thought. Friday's message was especially important because by being stuck at home, I was missing one of my students' last day, and I was really bummed about it. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Instructions for their tasks using Google Presentations</span></div>
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We had already started this the day before I left, so I was able to ask my substitute to pull it up and have the kids pick up where they left off. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Exit Ticket using Google Spreadsheets...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...and their responses.</span></div>
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I love using a Google Spreadsheet for an exit ticket when I'm gone for lots of reasons. First, all 50-something of my kids' responses are in one place. The easier the better, especially when I'm sick. Plus, looking at them all at once helps me notice trends. For example, the book fair and Mrs. Burks' birthday were both bright spots for many of them. It also gives me some insight into what didn't go right. This is helpful if I'm going to have a substitute the following day. For example, on Thursday, one of the kids' "wish" was that there had been more available technology, which tells me that they must have had a issue with the Macs/iPads. So, when I wrote my plans for Friday, I made sure to leave time for them to take turns in case they were short on technology. Second, I can continuously re-use this Google Form. The timestamp in the first column keeps the days straight for me. </div>
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In general, whether I use a Google Form or a piece of paper, this kind of exit ticket helps me get a feel for how the day went. For example, one of my kids' "wish" was, "I wish I could have been more focused." That's great for me to know. I could easily wait until I returned to school and probably nothing would change, but for me it's comforting to hear from them, especially on a day like Friday when I wouldn't see them again for a week. (By the way, I only left about 5 minutes in my sub plans for the kids to do this. No big loss of instructional time.) </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pictures texted/tweeted from other teachers & my (awesome) substitute</span></div>
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This is by far my favorite example of the communication I had with my kids... because who doesn't like to feel loved and missed when they're home sick? (Aren't they so cute?) </div>
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I'm lucky that for my entire teaching career, I've always had technology at my disposal. I'm abundantly thankful, and I really couldn't imagine my teaching life (or my sick days) without it. </div>
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Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-15939453578752627192015-03-03T19:14:00.001-08:002015-03-03T19:14:17.210-08:00Let Them Be LittleOne of our wonderful Kindergarten teachers, Lauren, has a sign in her classroom that says, "Let Them Be Little." It's a cute little sign, centered on a bulletin board right when you walk into her room, and it always sticks out to me. <i>Let them be little. </i><br />
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When I tell people that I teach fifth grade, they <i>often</i> reply with, "Oh, I couldn't teach the big kids," or "They're so big, they scare me." I usually smile and laugh, and say, "Oh, fifth graders are my favorite."<br />
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For the most part, they are the big kids. They're starting to get a grasp on sarcasm and comedic timing, and they're definitely starting to do what they want more often than they do what will please me. They're starting to wonder about big ideas like injustice, revolution, loyalty, and acceptance. They're tall (especially from my viewpoint) and rowdy and yes, sometimes they talk about deodorant and girlfriends and YouTube.<br />
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There are quick, fleeting moments, here and there, however, when they're just still so little. Those are some of my favorite moments.<br />
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Yesterday I took the kids to the Book Fair so they could make their wish lists. Nothing brings out the little in them quite like the Book Fair. Watching their eyes light up at the newest picture book or huddle around "How to Get a Girlfriend," giggling after every page, I couldn't help but grin. Surrounded by new books with bright pictures and shiny pages, they were so excited to read. <i>Let them be little. </i><br />
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Later in the day yesterday, one of my students crept up to my desk during indoor recess and said, "Hey, wanna play Scrabble with me?" His casual invite totally caught me off guard and made me feel like a million bucks. He had 53 other kids in the room that he could play with, and he wanted to play with this 29 year old nerd. (Of course I said yes!) We played Scrabble, and we both laughed as he tried to invent new words and cheered when he got a high score. He winced when I got a Double Word Score and sighed when the bell rang signally that recess was over. Even among a room full of kids playing "Bluff" and Uno and undoubtedly whispering secret after secret, he wanted to play a board game, with his teacher. <i>Let them be little.</i><br />
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This morning, my kids pulled out their snacks and sat on the floor around me anxious for me to start our read aloud. I started reading, and instantly they were all focused. In fact, at 10:10 am, it may have been the first time all day when they were genuinely all really listening. Just as our snack time was ending, I got to an exciting part in the book. Trying to stick to our new schedule, though, I said what I always say when it's time to stop writing, "We better stop there." Before I could even look up, they were all begging. "Please don't stop!" "Just a few more paragraphs." "You can't leave us hanging." This is why I love read aloud so much. For just a few minutes, they forget that they're supposed to be "too cool for school" and that "reading is boring," and they really just love the story. They're excitement is adorable. <i>Let them be little.</i><br />
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This is the time of the year when we start to think about all of those "fifth grade things." Talent Show auditions, Sky Ranch, and graduation are on the minds of all of our soon-to-be sixth graders. It's also the time of year when I start to think about saying goodbye to these kids that I've had for two years. I hope that in the next few months I get to see more moments like these. I hope that I can find ways to continue to <i>let them be little</i>.<br />
<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175477812124465843.post-53038520246990039792015-03-01T15:27:00.001-08:002015-03-01T19:09:07.934-08:00Are you a writer?My Mom is an insurance agent. For most of my life, she's been an insurance agent. That's been such a big part of her identity. She worked in an office, at a desk, and when she talked about work, it was about meetings with insureds and balancing Quicken and adjustors and claims.<br />
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For the majority of <i>her</i> life, on the other hand, she was writer and an artist. She wrote manuscripts and screenplays and poems. She published articles in magazines and went to an elite writing camp. She painted canvases and shirts and socks and could have been seen frequenting art fairs in Atlanta.<br />
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I've always known this about my Mom. In fact, it's always been a point of pride for me. My mother, the talented writer. My mom, the creative one. However, I've never really known her as a writer. I didn't read any of her writing until I was an adult. I missed out on really knowing her as a writer for a really long time.<br />
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Last week, I was stuck in my apartment in the middle of a "snow storm" (Texas style), and I was out of books. It was really a scary moment for me. (Such simple problems I have.) I approached my box of books, not yet unpacked since my move in September. To the right of the box, I noticed another box. It was full of Mom's manuscripts. I didn't have any new books to read, but I sure did have her writing.<br />
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I read one of my Mom's plays that day. You know when you're reading something written by one of your favorite authors, or maybe even someone you know, and the whole time you're reading, you feel the author's presence in the writing? You see them in the story and wonder about the connection between the plot and their own life? You think, "I wonder if this character was influenced by so-and-so?" That happened to me when I was reading her play. I saw my Mom as a writer. A talented and gifted writer.<br />
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Her play was good. Like really good. I laughed, and I connected with the characters. I visualized the events in my head as a read. The minute I finished reading, I couldn't wait to talk to her about it. I immediately wished I'd read it years earlier.<br />
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My father, on the other hand, has been a writer by trade for as long as I've known him. He's a copywriter, to be exact. He's extremely talented. He has a way with words that often baffles me, and his vocabulary is beyond impressive. He's written songs, both serious and jovial. He's written copy for ads, both print and television. Among my favorites, he's written me countless letters and emails. It's always been a part of his identity. My father, the talented writer.<br />
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That's the thing about writing, I think. If you're a writer, it becomes part of your identity. If you stop writing, it begins to fail to be a part of your identity. You're a writer because you write, and you're not a writer because you don't write.<br />
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This got me thinking, of course. You either are a writer or you're not, and the thing that dictates that is whether or not you write.<br />
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Well, if I'm supposed to be a writing teacher, I should surely then also be a writer. Right? My students know that I write, much like I knew that my mother wrote, but do they really think of me as a writer?<br />
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Further, to be a writer, I simply have to write. So, as much as I'd like to stay within my cozy comfort zone and spend more time brainstorming reasons why I'm too busy to write than to actually write, I won't. Out of my comfort zone I go. Writing and blogging.<br />
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And what better time to start than during the Slice of Life Challenge? My goal is to write and post three times a week for the month of March. Feel free to hold me accountable; I'll need it.<br />
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Here's to being a writer (again), at least for the month of March.<br />
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<br />Miss Nathersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07361087140302570810noreply@blogger.com3