Reflacting During Gratitude Month

Reflect + Act = Reflaction

Reflection:

Lately, I am in fast mode, moving from event to event. I am acutely aware of the lack of just-for-me and slow-down time. I wonder if I can deprogram myself from racing through life?  

Actions:

Just be and enjoy being!  (Eckhart Tolle)

Be full of gratitude!

More yoga time!

Write!

Forward Steps:

Last night, I presented my second keynote address to the Reading Specialists Council of Suffolk via Zoom. I felt relieved when I finished the presentation, The Power of Writing: Inviting and Encouraging Students to Discover the Writer Within because this week was one of constant motion. Despite the exhaustion of a jam-packed week, I was grateful and honored to present my keynote to a group of interested teachers. Needless to say, I decided to relax and just be.

This afternoon, I share my thoughts through digital art, nature photography, and writing poetry. This work has had a calming effect on me.  Below is what I call a digital inspiration from the past that influences my writing since it is about gratitude.

Inspiration often comes when I look out the window and see the colors of autumn but sometimes portions of life are not inspiring. Yet, the desire to write is still there. The following quote addresses how a writer proceeds without instantaneous inspiration. Upon reflection, I realize that most of the time I am an impatient-doer writer, not a waiter.

If you wait for inspiration to write, you're not a writer; you're a waiter.

~Dan Poynter

Here is my 18th slide from last night's presentation, Inviting and Encouraging Students to Discover the Writer Within. I started with a prose piece, then followed with a free verse poem with the topic, The What of Writing.

The poem below was penned one night this week when I felt like an insomniac.

✍

It's time to finally join my Poetry Friday friends at Heidi Mordhorst's blog, my juicy little universe. Heidi is sharing her thoughts on the importance of voting. The piece of digital art showcased explains the reasoning for Heidi's naming this year as a "life-or-death election year". Heidi also reminds us that it is Folktale Week 2022 and the writing group, the Inklings critique group's, monthly challenge.

RSCS Presentation-The Power of Writing

As I sit preparing my keynote address on Zoom for the Reading Specialists Council of Suffolk professional development series, my mind wanders back and forth between the content component and the creative process. 

The "Second Summer" October days we are having provides a beautiful Autumn scene outside my library window. The light streaming in promotes creativity and helps me keep on task. Below is an example of a slice from my upcoming presentation.

Writing is an art form that moves thoughts to paper. It is a process that reveals pieces of the inner self while splashing thoughts across the page. Writing starts as a glimmer of an idea, a seed that sprouts in the quiet corners of your mind, and takes form when the muse beckons you. Writing can be an arrangement of free thoughts or an on-demand task. It can be a messy synthesis of ideas or an elegant rewrite. With faith, the writing process allows thoughts to germinate, grow, and give voice to a learning life.

I look forward to my first keynote address at a professional development program. CTLE credits are being provided for all educators who participate. There is even a book raffle of Buffy Silverman's newest Kidlit book (donated by Lerner Books).

Join me at Slice of Life Tuesday celebrated at Two Writing Teachers

a meeting place for a world of reflective writers.