I Remember When...

I came across this Instagram post and decided to jump in and join! Please join me!!!

Good morning. Hope you've had your shower. I sure have. We start writing tomorrow, the first day of school in these parts so go get a new notebook or journal or sketch pad or start a new blog or word doc. Whatever feels the most natural to you (I prefer typing. Others love pen on yellow legal pads). Decide when you'll write (only 8 minutes!) and where you'll write (your bed? A desk? The porch? The bathroom?). The main rule for this whole thing is to be kind to yourself. It's okay if you miss days. It's okay if you feel like you have nothing to say. There's no good writing or bad writing. The goal is to just write. Anything. The more we do it, the more surprised we'll be. Toni Morrison once said: "it's not being in the light, it's being there before it arrives." Til tomorrow friends.

A photo posted by Ann Dee Ellis (@anndeecandy) on Aug 16, 2016 at 7:27am PDT

It's a writing challenge called the 8 Minute Memoir Writing Challenge. It sounds like everyday there will be a prompt. This is good for me because work started today, but I can commit to eight minutes everyday! Today's prompt is, "I remember when..." 

Tonight, I typed my response. It came out as a poem. With a little revision, here's my 8 Minute Memoir about remembering...

I remember when Virginia was new to me.

I remember when the job was new and the people were unfamiliar, but friendly, faces.

I remember starting over.

I remember being the youngest.

I remember when life was simpler.

I remember when I didn’t know anyone or anything...and now,

Those faces are filled with love and smiles and kind words.

The job is still important, but it isn’t everything.

There are roots where there once was a seed and the roots run deep.

Age has seasoned me and allowed me to see more and learn more and grow more.

I am who I am because of these people...the students, the colleagues, the friends…

all of whom have become a part of my heart, a part of my soul, a part of me.

It’s the memories, the people, the experiences that weave together to create a person.

The worries are forgotten.

The tasks that seemed insurmountable are now

tiny specks in the rearview mirror of life.

People are remembered.

Kind words are remembered.

Love is remembered...and carried along, so that I’m never alone.

I am the product of the love and laughter and failures and successes and the people in my life.

There are no shoulds, no regrets, no wishes... there’s only love, love, love.