The Sunrise Story

Four days into Nerdlution: The Sequel and things are going well. I am happy...happier with my nerdlution choices this time. I have two nerdlutions: 1. Practice Random Acts of Kindness daily 2. Spend one uninterrupted hour unplugged As with the beginning of the first round, I'm focused and motivated...but it feels different this time...more natural? No. Easier? No. I've been searching for right words to describe the difference I'm feeling and I can't...yet. The words will come.   Random Acts of Kindness Being conscious about being kind and showing kindness really makes a difference. I'm more thoughtful when I make choices. I think about people who need to be shown kindness and try and focus there. I've been tracking my RAKs on my phone. Oh, I forgot...I shared a Kid President video with my students and challenged them to respond.  I'm excited about what they will do.  The thing about RAKs...they really come back... Unplugged ...

Sharing my slice of life (#sol14) over at  Two Writing Teachers.    Please join us! To celebrate my birthday last week, I decided to practice random acts of kindness. Lately, gratitude has become a conscious and daily practice in my life and I am feeling the changes. I feel more grateful for all of my blessings. This made me want to share this feeling...so I decided to do just that.  I made a plan. I mapped out potential random acts that I could do. I even researched them online to get ideas. Then, I started. For a while, I struggled with what "counted" and then I decided that it didn't matter. If it was kind and I made a decision to behave that way...it counted. No matter how big or small. I also decided that I wanted to keep this goal separate from spending money (mostly). I wanted to show that it's not about money, it's about choices and perspective and sharing kindness and goodness.  My first act was a letter to my mom. It was a simple note sayi...

Nerdlution was quite a learning experience for me. I learned things about myself and my approach to new projects. Unfortunately, some of my bad habits resurfaced.  Nerdlution: The Sequel was something I dreaded. I thought about skipping it and then I thought about why. I know why. I didn't complete my nerdlution goals all fifty days during the first round. One goal, I barely touched. I feel like I failed. My typical reaction to failure is avoidance. Whew! That's quite a confession, but oh so true. And I want that to change...so I'm back...to try again. Risking it another time!  With some time to reflect, I realize that the goals may not have been accomplished all fifty days, but I did learn some things about myself and my habits. That alone is success.  Nerdlution: The Sequel affords me the opportunity to try again. That's quite a gift. Here I am...with two goals to accomplish and some plans on how to keep track and succeed.  Nerdlution: The Sequel Goal...

Every Saturday I get the opportunity to celebrate the week over at Ruth Ayres' blog,  Discover. Play. Build.  Thank you! It's become a highlight of my blogging week! I thrive on routine. It brings me comfort and security. I do enjoy straying from the routine...but I confess when the change in routine is out of my control, sometimes I struggle. Snow changed my routine this past week...a lot! No school. ALL WEEK! When I felt anxious, I focused on celebrating...so here I am sharing my celebrations... One: Forties I turned 42 this week. I'm celebrating my forties! I get it now. I think it took me a couple of years to get it, but I must say I love being in my forties! I truly believe it's the best time of my life...so far. Two: Risk I am the most un-artistic woman alive...but I love it...like I can't carry a tune and I have no rhythm, but I cherish music! Anyway, I went to a painting class with some friends. I decided to hav...

Slice of Life Sharing my slice of life (#slice2013) over at  Two Writing Teachers.   Please join us! On Wednesday I turn 42.  I love birthdays.  Celebrating!  Laughing!  Singing! Birthday cake...presents...cards!  But this year, I wanted something different. Something more. I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I read it somewhere...I wish I could remember where. For my birthday this year, I'm going to practice acts of kindness. Twenty-two (since my birthday is on the 22nd) during the week of my birthday. (Although I am going to try for 42, since I'm 42 years old.)  I'm starting today...Sunday!  I have a list of 22 ideas... Can't share the ideas...yet! Excited to start!! I'll journal and blog about what I actually accomplished and what happened. Celebrate my birthday with me! Be generous! Spread joy! Do something special for someone else and share it in the comments here. I can...

Every Saturday I get the opportunity to celebrate the week over at Ruth Ayres' blog,  Discover. Play. Build.  Thank you! It's become a highlight of my blogging week! Celebrating a great week!!! A week filled with risks (my 2014 OLW) for me. Starting with the best news, Leo, my doggy got a clean bill of health! He's fine, maybe older than I thought, but healthy and back to normal. Praise God! It was scary and a reminder of how much he means to me.  I feel better! I spoke at a school board meeting about an amazing pilot that I've had the opportunity to launch at my school. Speaking to the board and the senior staff of my school district was scary. I stepped up to the podium, with my trusty notebook and began, "Good Night," I said. Sigh! Everyone laughed. I was told it broke the ice. The board asked lots of questions about the pilot. I have no idea what will happen, but the presentation went well. The BEST part of it was the amazing sixth gr...

Sharing my slice of life (#slice2013) over at  Two Writing Teachers.   Please join us! Every morning I am greeted with a couple of friendly emails. I receive one from the universe... It never fails to make me smile...the idea of the universe thinking enough of me to send me an email. The other email I receive every morning is from author,  Patti Digh . Those emails include a rock with a phrase or word painted on it. Last week one of those emails really stayed with me. It was this one:  "Create your own tribe." YES! Reflecting on 2013 I was struck by how comfortable I was in my own skin...FINALLY...after 41 years. I felt at peace with me. Without knowing it, I've been searching for a reason why. Why did it finally feel ok to be me? Why am I ok with showing others the real me?  I created my own tribe. Little by little. Step by step.  Some of you are part of my virtual tribe. Finding my PLN on  Twitter  and my blogg...

Every Saturday I get the opportunity to celebrate the week over at Ruth Ayres' blog,  Discover. Play. Build.  Thank you! It's become a highlight of my blogging week! I knew I should have started writing this blog post sooner than Saturday morning. This week was a good week...filled with joy and success and happy moments...but I'm having a hard time focusing on those right now. My dog Leo is sick. The vet isn't sure exactly what it is, so I'm focusing on the best possible outcome. So today I celebrate Leo.  Leo was adopted ten years ago from a wonderful shelter in West Virginia . I got him when he was almost a year old. I remember visiting the shelter, with my roommate, looking for my dog. As we walked through the line of kennels, I noticed that most of the dogs were begging for attention...barking, jumping, licking...looking for people to see them. Not Leo. As I approached his kennel, I looked for the dog inside. He was cowered in the bac...

This post is for Slice of Life over at Two Writing Teachers  Do you ever read something and the idea lingers? It won't leave you alone? It's such a gift when that happens. I was catching up on my blog reading from vacation and I came across this post on Teach Mentor Texts.  Un-Boring List Lists are fun. Un-boring is fun! I had to know more. I read about where the idea came from and decided that I want to make my own. The idea of an Un-Boring List fits in perfectly with my OLW risk.  Here's the first draft of my Un-Boring List:  1. Say YES (especially when you feel like it's out of your comfort zone) 2. Try something new as often as possible 3. Travel to a new place 4. Spend a day without electronics 5. Find independent bookstores and make a purchase  6. Surprise someone...just because 7. Mail cards, letters (real life paper ones) once a week to my niece & nephew 8. Attend a writing workshop/retreat 9. Find new, creati...

Every Saturday I get the opportunity to celebrate the week over at Ruth Ayres' blog,  Discover. Play. Build. Thank you! It's become a highlight of my blogging week! Celebrating endings and beginnings usually make me sad...but not now. I'm excited. I'm joy-filled.  Celebrating my bowl of happiness...my joy jar... New Year's Day It's empty now. I will spend the year filling it with memories, surprises, blessings, ordinary miracles of my life. I originally heard about it from the author Elizabeth Gilbert . I tried it last year and didn't get past March...so here's my new bowl of happiness. I've even given some jars that I decorated to my friends for their own joy jars. I'm grateful for my practice of gratitude with my family and friends and on my own. I celebrate being grateful because I believe it has changed me. I love this new ritual and look forward to incorporating it into my years to come.  Another ritual I'...