March 2021 SOLC–Day 31
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
Writing the final post of the challenge is, well, challenging. On one hand, I want to reflect on the month past, the process, the growth. On the other hand, I simply want to type, “DONE!” and push “Publish”.
I believe this is my seventh year to finish this challenge, and the end is always filled with big emotions: relief, triumph, sorrow, gratitude. It always feels like I should offer up some profound words of wisdom and insight, but for now, I’m coming up short. Perhaps in the days ahead, I’ll have some space for reflection as the experiences of the month shift and settle. But for now, I know this:
Once again, I hesitated before signing up for this challenge.
Once again, I’m thankful I did.
Once again, I regretted all the posts I didn’t read, or the ones that moved me that I didn’t find time to comment on.
Once again, I was deeply moved by the thoughtful comments that visitors left on my blog. By the time they took to connect.
Once again, I marveled at this writing community, this group of people trying to capture their lives in words, willing to put it out there for others to read.
Once again, I discovered fabulous new-to-me writers and mentors who taught me something every day along the way–about struggle, about writing, about life…
Once again, I flirted with the idea of quitting. And didn’t.
Once again, with this post, I am finishing the challenge, filled with relief, triumph, sorrow and gratitude.
One by one, I type the letters: “d” “o” “n” “e”.
DONE.
Nix the comfort zone 
[…] of my favorite photographers is my writing critique group partner, fellow SOL blogger, Molly Hogan in Maine. I cannot imagine how she gets such amazing photos of birds. She must be so still and […]
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I am giving you a high five at the finish line!
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Right back at ‘ya! Congratulations!
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Yes, we made it! You captured so many of my feelings also.We are stronger than we think. Thank you.
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Yay for us! This is a moment that is definitely worthy of celebration 🙂 Congratulations!!
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I love one of your last lines that includes, “Relief, triumph, sorrow, gratitude,” that pretty well sums it up for me along with your spelled out, “done.” These are all my sentiments exactly. Congratulations, you did it!
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So many mixed feelings! Congratulations to you, too!
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This so perfectly captures many of my thoughts about the last day and what it feels like to finish #SOL21 and what it meant to me. As always, I wish I had had more time to read the wonderful posts each day. I tried to respond to five posts daily, but there were so many that I missed. In so many ways, I am sorry it is over. Your post was such a great way to begin my journey today with Slice. Thank you!
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Thanks, Lynne. This year I had much less time for reading and commenting and I really missed it. The accumulated slices are a treasure trove of prompts and mentor texts!
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I feel your joy. I feel your pain. Thanks for a month of must reading in the early morning. You need a vacation! I guess that’s a few weeks off. You’ve earned it.
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Thanks so much for following along, Dan. I’m playing around with some poetry this month and will see where that leads. I’m definitely looking forward to spring break though!
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Perfectly expressed. I loved reading your slices, but I didn’t respond as many times as I wanted to. Celebrate — you are done for this year’s challenge.
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Thanks, Diane! I appreciated all of your comments along the way. I know what you mean about reading and wanting to comment and not having the time. So often I didn’t comment on a post that moved me because I wanted to craft a thoughtful response and then time slipped away…Congratulations!
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The end of March is always bittersweet. It’s a marathon for us (and it keeps going until the prizes are completed in mid-April), but then when life returns to normal, it’s a bit sad. At least we have Tuesdays…
So glad you decided to recommit to the challenge this year, Molly!
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A huge thank you to you, Stacey, and to the team. What a wonderful opportunity this month is to share and grow together. I’m always deeply grateful that I’ve participated.
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So glad you decided to blog again…I love waking up in the morning and reading your posts, throughout March and during the rest of the year too. Keep those amazing photos coming!
Kim
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Kim, my mornings often started with your posts, too! Like I said, I love how we’re doing similar things, bookending the country with photography and writing 🙂
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Yes to all of this. I realize that many of us are leaving this month regretting the blogs we missed. I’m going to try to be grateful for the moments I *did* get to read – and I’m glad I got to yours at least a few times. You inspire me – here and with your camera!
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Amanda, I didn’t get to respond to nearly as many of your posts as I’d have liked to. They always inspired me and/or moved me, but often I simply didn’t have time to craft a meaningful response. Thank you for sharing this month. Keep up the photography! I love seeing your photos, too!
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Ditto! It was a LOT this month. I’m kind of looking forward to Tuesdays when I can get back to some of my old friends 😉
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