Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #3 Slice of Life Mash-Up: Three Daily Pages

For the last three years, I've intentionally spent time writing and sharing a Haiku-A-Day for the month of December. The first two years I exchanged a daily Haiku privately with willing friends, mostly through text and email. Last year I wrote and shared each Haiku on my blog. Throughout this process, I've discovered that the practice of noticing and reflecting through writing a Haiku grounds me, provides with with a certain kind of peace, assists me with better practicing gratitude, and helps me better navigate this "hurry up" world. This year my goal is the same as last year: to pen and publish a daily Haiku on my blog throughout December. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #3
Slice of Life Mash-Up: 

Three Daily Pages

Several years ago I began carving out specific, daily time to write. Not just to complete a paper for graduate school or to write an example to use for teaching. This writing was only for me. I set a goal for myself to write three daily pages in my notebook. 

This summer I dug through some of my past writing notebooks. As I reread pages, I noticed patterns of my behavior and reactions to events. I marveled at how I grew as a writer and as a human. I generated new questions about myself. In retrospect, circling back to my writing gave me clarity about some difficult decisions I faced. 

I began writing in this notebook (see below) in early October. I'm approaching the last few pages, so I am excited to begin a fresh notebook soon. Ultimately, I'm grateful I got into a daily writing habit. I try to remember how my writing has helped me grow whenever I don't feel "in the mood" to write. 

Three daily pages - /

my ongoing writing goal./ 

Nearly full notebook.

Daily writing remains my goal, my fuel for growing.

**********

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? Consider sharing a slice of your life with Two Writing Teachers. All writers are welcome! 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #2: Christmas Cactus

For the last three years, I've intentionally spent time writing and sharing a Haiku-A-Day for the month of December. The first two years I exchanged a daily Haiku privately with willing friends, mostly through text and email. Last year I wrote and shared each Haiku on my blog. This year my goal is the same as last year: to pen and publish a daily Haiku on my blog throughout December. 

Ultimately, I've discovered that the practice of noticing and reflecting through writing a Haiku grounds me, provides with with a certain kind of peace, assists me with better practicing gratitude, and helps me better navigate this "hurry up" world. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #2: 

Christmas Cactus

Not too long ago, I moved to a new place. In order to make my home more cozy, my mom shared some house plants with me. In the past, I haven't exactly done the best with house plants. I pretty much unintentionally kill them. I either under water or over water them or use the wrong kind of soil or place them in the wrong kind of lighting. But so far my plants have done okay. I haven't killed them...yet!

After recently marveling at my sister-in-law's healthy forty-year-old Christmas Cactus (one passed along to her by a great aunt), I was inspired to get out of my comfort zone and try to take care of one. So I bought a Christmas Cactus from a local nursery. It's only been a few days, but this plant is still beautiful. 

Rounded, scalloped leaves/

red bed succulent. Will it's/ 

beauty remain here? 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge Day 1: Snowfall Slowdown!

For the last three years, I've intentionally spent time writing and sharing a Haiku-A-Day for the month of December. The first two years I exchanged a daily Haiku privately with willing friends, mostly through text and email. Last year I wrote and shared each Haiku on my blog. This year my goal is the same as last year: to pen and publish a daily Haiku on my blog throughout December. 

Ultimately, I've discovered that the practice of noticing and reflecting through writing a Haiku grounds me, provides with with a certain kind of peace, assists me with better practicing gratitude, and helps me better navigate this "hurry up" world. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #1: 

Snowfall Slowdown!

Well, December arrived with a powerful winter statement: snow slowdown! Heavy snowfall - at least four inches so far - has created a winter wonderland. I've shoveled once today and will likely be out several more times to clear the sidewalk. Our street isn't plowed yet, and I fear my little Camry will get stuck, so we will just stay put for now. Although I am sad to miss our welcome community of church this morning, this provides me with extra time to spend with my kids to relax and cherish our time at home. Instead of running typical errands after church, it will be a slow Sunday. 

Here are a few reflections I made early this morning as I was outside shoveling: 

Snowfall hugs tree trunks,

weights power lines, conceals seeds. 

Welcome December.

April Check-In #letswrite2019

April Check In: #letswrite2019

Back in January, I committed to some writing goals when I wrote and published this post. I am grateful to Leigh Anne Eck for her thoughtful work in  organizing #letswrite2019.  

Below are the goals I outlined back in January: 

• Continue to blog regularly. For me, this means writing and publishing at least three posts a month.
• Continue daily writing in my writer's notebook - at least three pages each day.
• Participate in March Slice of Life 
• Participate in December Haiku-A-Day
• Write and submit at least one professional piece of writing
• Submit at least one poem locally or nationally
• Apply for at least two professional opportunities - one in the form of a grant for classroom needs and the other in terms of professional growth 

So far, here is my writing progress for #letswrite2019:

• I have continued to blog regularly. Although I haven't written at least three pages for the month of April yet, this is my second post this month. 
• With the exception of one day when I was sick, I have written at least three pages a day in my writer's notebook.
• I successfully participated in Slice of Life this March.
• In February I applied for a professional growth opportunity and was recently selected to participate in fellowship this coming June. 

I am confident that I can continue to blog regularly each month, write daily in my notebook, and participate in the December Haiku-A-Day. However, I do need some direction and advice concerning two of my goals. Can anyone help me out? 

1. Where is a good place to submit some professional educational writing? (How do I even get started with this?) 
2. Where is a good place to submit a poem? (This does not need to be about education.)

#letswrite2019

#letswrite2019

On the first day of 2019, teacher and writer Leigh Anne Eck of A Day in the Life invited writers to publicly set writing goals and share them. I adore this invitation, yet it also caused me to pause. For the past several years I have set personal (and public) reading goals, usually on Goodreads. Each year I set professional goals centered on teacher growth and student learning outcomes. I've made goals about my education, health, my finances, my spiritual life, and even about house projects. 

I realized that I have never set a personal writing goal. 

How can this be? Writing is incredibly important to me. Nevertheless, I have been deeply thinking about an attainable, meaningful writing goal for the past twelve days. Below is what I came up with:

Trina's 2019 Writing Goals:

• Continue to blog regularly. For me, this means writing and publishing at least three posts a month.
• Continue daily writing in my writer's notebook - at least three pages each day.
• Participate in March Slice of Life 
• Participate in December Haiku-A-Day
• Write and submit at least one professional piece of writing
• Submit at least one poem locally or nationally
• Apply for at least two professional opportunities - one in the form of a grant for classroom needs and the other in terms of professional growth 

Thank you, Leigh Anne, for organizing this challenge, the accountability check-ins, but mostly for engaging me in some deep thinking of what I want to accomplish as a writer this year. 

Thinking about setting a writing goal? Join A Day in the Life and use #letswrite2019: