The car turns on. My phone connects. I reverse out of my parking spot and begin the long drive home. I have time to reflect on the day and the choices I made. I get to do this at my own speed, uninterrupted in the quiet, with only my podcast to listen to.
The mental load begins to lift as the snow drifts down. This snow will not stick, even though it is covering the grass. This snow will melt and life will continue as we know it. It is the same with the worries and concerns from the day. They too will melt and life will continue as we know it. This snow feels like a reminder, or maybe that's how I'm choosing to see the world, that everything has its season. So too, do 8th graders have seasons. I'm not sure what this one is yet, but I am living for it day by day. As the windshield wipers remove the wet, the view clears again. Focus is important, but too much focus can blind us to other possibilities.
I realize, as I pull into the garage that I feel lighter. I made a choice to switch my thinking and from there, my brain put the stressors of the day in a box to take back out and handle tomorrow, or the next day, or the next. I hope tomorrow, even when the snow has melted, that I remember that everything has its season, and all seasons are important to growth.
I really enjoyed reading your post today. I think starting with the car turning on and ending as you pull into the garage helped tie this slice together. You included such good reminders that “everything has its season, and all seasons are important to growth”.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to your first year of slicing! I could feel stress lift as I continued to read this slice. Good for you to have this quiet time and the motivation to put your day away. This line has me thinking about being too focused: Focus is important, but too much focus can blind us to other possibilities. I have never really thought about it like that, but it is true.
ReplyDeleteTotally drawn in to your reflection and imagery. Really love the comparison of worries melting like the snow. Happy writing!
ReplyDeleteFrom your title, to the quiet mood you create for us inside your car, to your thoughtful reflections… you create a mood of thoughtfulness and peace. Even if your day with 8th graders didnt lend itself to that! I enjoyed your writing today, I’m so glad. You joined the challenge!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good attitude to have. All but two years of my career (38 years) I had a short commute, so the worries came home w/ me. I also wanted to address your teaser by sharing my strategy for this challenge: I write the evening before the next day’s posting. That takes the pressure off. I also begin a slice of I have a kernel of an idea I may want to develop later. These both help. Like the first year of teaching, the first year of slicing is the hardest.
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