I promised myself I’d try to blog twice a week again. After a long time not posting, getting back in the rhythm of Slice of Life and Poetry Friday felt like a stretch, but a positive one. And, last week I did it!
But that was last week.
This morning I knew it was Tuesday, and I told myself I’d think of something to write for Slice of Life during the day. I told myself that even though I knew full well that writing after school is NOT my jam. But still, I work with adorable second graders. How could I not find a story idea?
Still, I came home from work utterly uninspired. I didn’t want to write about the unfortunate-photo-on-the-iPad incident. Or how the first time two students sing you “The Twelve Days of Christmas” it’s endearing. The first time. Or about the amount of energy I expend trying to avoid sending students to the nurse. I didn’t really want to write anything.
Still, I thought about all the times I’ve read posts that other people started with the words, “I wasn’t going to write tonight…”. With them (and my promise to myself) in mind, I decided I should at least try. Maybe I could describe the fire in the wood stove, my sleeping cat, my on-going text conversation with my daughter, the Christmas tree lights glittering in the other room, the hum of Christmas carols playing from the radio in the kitchen… See, there’s a lot you could write, I told myself. So I opened a new page in my blog.
Has anyone else noticed this weird new thing that WordPress is doing? Ok, it could be that it isn’t new, but I have only recently noticed it. That happens to me sometimes. Anyway, when you start a new document, they now have a prompt or question. Once you start typing it disappears. Tonight it said: “What are 5 things you’re good at?” It struck me, in the midst of my struggle to find something to write about, that this new thing (that felt somewhat invasive the first time I noticed it) might actually be helpful.
Off the top of my head, without second guessing, I quickly typed my answers:
5 things I’m good at.
- Baking
- Taking pictures
- Procrastinating
- Avoiding uncomfortable truths
- Changing the conversation
Hmmm…interesting. I wonder what WordPress will ask me next time? This could be the start of a beautiful relationship… or at least a Tuesday safety net! What are 5 things you’re good at?
Nix the comfort zone 
We’ve all been there. I’ve often gone to school, on alert, waiting for a story to find me. I have not seen this new WordPress feature…but I’ll be on the lookout! Glad you wrote!
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I’m glad I wrote too! Knowing that so many others manage to find something to say when they think they have nothing to say, was a nice, gentle nudge.
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Oh the never ending what do I write about! It’s dreadful and some of my best work came from prompts. They are lovely little lifelines for me. And you are good at so many things. Like being a wonderful friend.
I’m good at cooking, ironing (a lost art), dallying, comforting people who are hurting, and shopping (I’m an efficient shopper, not that I’ve excelled at spending money).
>
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Ironing? Wow! Kurt teases me that I don’t even know what an iron is. Theoretically I can see the appeal, but I’ve managed to resist so far. 🙂 I hope you add “being a wonderful friend” to your list as well!
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No wonder I always enjoy your stories. We are kind of kindred spirits, as I match you with 1-4 with things I’m good at. 😉
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Well, that explains it 🙂 It’s an interesting prompt and I suspect I’d answer it differently on different days.
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Molly, I always enjoy reading your slices and blogs. When you think you have nothing to write, writing appears. Maybe it takes a while but it is inside your heart waiting to be retrieved. How serendipitous that you add baking at the top of your bests. My slice is about baking and how I learned the art. Happy baking this holiday.
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I’ll have to check out your baking slice. I just planned a cookie baking extravaganza with my daughter and am soooo looking forward to it. Little known fact: I used to be a pastry chef…once upon a time in a galaxy that feels far, far away!
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You are the third person to write about WordPress! That was my slice! 🙂
Now, I never thought about procrastination as a thing I’m good at, but my goodness, I need to edit my post to drop that in there!
As for writing, some days, things just pop, others (like last night), I need that prod from somewhere else. My slices have been fairly gloomy lately, so looking inward to find good things was a welcome change!
Thank you for your slice! I’m glad it got written!
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I’m going to have to pop over to read your slice! I love that there were three of us writing about the WordPress prompt. Also, I can relate to the “fairly gloomy” vibe. I’m always thrilled if I can cobble something together that isn’t dark these days.
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Love that you have found a safety net! “Has anyone else noticed this weird new thing that WordPress is doing? Ok, it could be that it isn’t new, but I have only recently noticed it. That happens to me sometimes. Anyway, when you start a new document, they now have a prompt or question. Once you start typing it disappears. Tonight it said: “What are 5 things you’re good at?”
I cut and paste my blogs from Word onto WordPress so I have never seen their suggestions. Thanks for the new info.
Five things I am good at: 1. coffee with friends out, 2. planning our winter in California. 3. reliably going to Chelmsford to be with our grandsons and their parents 4. nasal breathing 5. seeing the doc when I’m ailing.
Thanks for asking.
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I’m almost tempted to open up a new document every morning just to see what the prompt is! You and Hannah are both fabulous at making connections and maintaining them 🙂
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I’ve started to notice the WordPress prompts. They are similar to the ones the get me going from KGUA radio in Gualala, California.
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This! I love this post! I’m so glad I’m not the only one who finds themselves at the end of a full day (a day in which I SHOULD be inspired) to be completely…UNinspired. I’d like to think that I’d be starting with a head full of ideas from the day, but nah.
You say it best: “I told myself that even though I knew full well that writing after school is NOT my jam.” Kind of like exercise for me. Morning me likes to think that afternoon me will be just fine to rock it out after school. Afternoon me things that morning me needs to simmer down a bit. =))
Glad we were both able to find inspiration from the same source!
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Ooooh…I think you could write a great post about the dialogue between your morning and afternoon “me”. 🙂
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Oooh I think you’re right! Maybe a few other Me’s could get involved. There’s just-waking-up Me, there’s settling-into-bed me…this could get GOOD.
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I love this post – and let’s just notice that I’m commenting on Saturday… because that’s how blogging is going these days. I like the way you meander through your day and respond to the question with such interesting things. Mostly, I like that you wrote, even though you didn’t necessarily want to. On to next week!
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