Slice of Life 8 (I guess?): On Setting Goals

 Well, it's March 8th and this is my fourth slice of life.  I set a goal to write daily in March and... I haven't met it.  To be honest, even typing that sentence kind of makes me upset with myself.  I told myself that I would write everyday in March, and I'm a week in and already failed?!  I am a goal oriented person, but sometimes feel tempted to just throw all plans to the wayside if things don't go as expected.... very all or nothing thinking.

Trying to eat healthier and eat a piece of chocolate before lunch?  Guess I should give up!

Miss my step goal for one day?  No point in trying to keep up my steps the rest of the day!

Spent too much this paycheck?  Guess I'm going to wait until next payday.

But I guess when I think about this month, I've written intentionally five times (counting today, hehe) during the first 8 days of the challenge.  That's better than last month!  That's more than I've written for fun in a long time!  Being a better me (meaning doing things that make me happy and fill up my cup) is like climbing a mountain.  One step at a time.

I searched my Google Photos for "mountain" and this gorgeous picture from my trip to the Azores in Portugal in 2018 came up.  I had a terrible friend falling out with the friend I traveled with, so I haven't looked at these pictures in ages.  SO PRETTY.

PS- If you leave a comment and are coming from SOL, can you leave your blog URL in the comment so I can check out your writing and leave a comment!  I want to make new internet friends!

Slice of Life Three: When You Can't Eat...

 Tomorrow, I am getting my first ever colonoscopy.  Fun, right?  Although I am only 29, a bevy of stomach issues has caused me to reach out to my doctor.  Today is a "liquid only" diet, and I was really anxious how I would be able to get through the day without eating.  It reminded me of when I was in my early twenties, living in Shanghai, and did juice cleanses every once in a while.  Honestly, nothing sounds worse then going through the day without eating.

Throwback photo when I was really into the Farmhouse juice cleanses.

This also made me reflect on how different I view my body than I did just five years ago.  The pandemic has put extra weight on me, but also helped me realize how fragile life is.  I hope in five years I can look back and be happy with how I looked and how I treated myself.  Also, I hope my colonoscopy doesn't render anything serious...

Slice of Life Two: Extra Recess

 We had our schedule changed around today because in science, students are working on their Rube Goldberg projects and needed more time.  (I have fond memories of completing a similar project when I was in science too!)  Because of this schedule, my last class was in my room for over two hours.  That is way too much time for students to be in the same room, and too much time for me.  I decided to take the kids out for a little bit of extra recess.  It was SO joyous.  It also reminded me how much adults just as much as kids need extra break time.  Break time for me looks like reading a book just for fun, watching anything on Bravo!, taking a bath, or sitting and scrolling on my phone (is that terrible?)  This is just a general reminder to myself and anyone know may need it, it is good to take breaks and have fun.  Sometimes so much can be refreshed after having just a few hours off of a task.

This post is coming a little late, but with good reason!  Last night our middle school team went to a Cavs game and it was so much fun. Community means everything to me, and getting to spend time outside of work with colleagues really filled my cup.

Cavaliers vs. Hornets, 3/2

Slice of Life One: Hello, March!

 It's been a really, really long time since I've made a commitment to daily writing.  The last time I can really think I did it was when I was teaching in China and blogging daily.  Recently I've been thinking a lot about practicing what I preach, quite literally: as a reading and writing teacher, it is important to my students and also to my own practice that I read and write daily.

For the next 31 days, I am committing to writing at least a few minutes about a "slice of my life" and joining some other teachers in an online community.  I am also committing to leaving at least three comments on other posts a day.  One of my New Years resolutions was to write more so this seems like fun.

I've always loved the start of a new month.  I love changing the background screen on my computer, I love turning the page in my calendar, and I love setting new goals and intentions.  (Strong Libra energy, right?)  I also really like spring.  This was my first Ohio winter since college and I forgot how long they feel.  I'm hoping this month brings some new energy (after a season of feeling so, so tired and kind of down) and the zest of passion that I usually have for my job.

What are you hoping to accomplish in March?