SOL20 Day 31 - March 2020's Story

Slice of Life Story Challenge 2020 -- Day 31
March 31, 2020
"March 2020's Story"
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My writing today was inspired by Diane Anderson (newtreemom), whose traditional last slice of the March challenge is a poem she creates from the titles of her thirty-one slices. (See her poem here.)

I was very intrigued by this idea! I looked back at the titles of my slices for March, to see if I could possibly arrange them into a poem. As soon as I had reread all the titles, however, I realized that I wanted to leave them in chronological order for my poem
....I like the story that the titles tell as the month progressed! 

So here is my poem for March, 2020 ---


~ ~ ~
March 2020's Story

Creeeeeak! The Door Opens!
A Moment of Rambling

Appreciating Tuesday
Judy By The Numbers

March 5 Haiku
March 5-6 Haiku
What Do You See?

Sunday Memories -- A Cinquain Poem
The Train Chain
A Six Word Story
Observations from the Couch

Vital Hope
Calm and Comforting
Currently...
Reflections and POSITIVITY

The Word Nerd Visits Again!
The Crunch Time Caper

Sister Love
What Really Happened

Enjoying Fresh Air...And Noticing
Antidote, Please!
Oh, Happy Day!
Yesterday's Noticings

Another Six Word Story
"A Breath of Fresh Air"
Unplanned Inspiration

Green Is....
I'm Joining the Spring Fling!
Force of Nature

Lessons Learned...And a Thank You!
March 2020's Story
 ~ ~ ~

I have loved participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge for my 4th straight year! To all the other participants, and to everyone at Two Writing Teachers, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Stay well, everyone!

:-)
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JudyK   March 31, 2020    

P.S Happy birthday in Heaven, Susan! We love you!

SOL20 Day 30 - Lessons Learned...And A Thank You!

Slice of Life Story Challenge 2020 -- Day 30
March 30, 2020
"Lessons Learned...And A Thank You!"
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Earlier today, I was thinking about this 2020 Slice of Life challenge which we'll be wrapping up tomorrow. Life is so different now than it was at the beginning of this challenge on March 1...and it's still changing. It's all been so surreal.

As I was reflecting, I was thinking about all the lessons I've learned during this challenge. I decided to write them down:


Lessons Learned from SOLSC 2020


Stories happen anywhere and everywhere

Learning never stops, even during pandemics

If we all help each other, we can accomplish great things

Communication is essential for human beings

Every person has to accept that we have a new normal



Old dogs CAN learn new tricks --- In my case, distance learning ;-)

Friends are friends, even when physically apart



Loved ones are our most valuable treasures

It's important to remember that we are all in this together

Finding a way to practice self-care is crucial

Even in times of a world-wide crisis, life does go on



I'm going to be sorry to see this year's challenge end; I'm always sorry, every year, when it ends! But this year, the ending will be even harder because we've come through so much together during this one. The support from the SOLSC writing community has been invaluable in helping many of us to preserve our sanity during such a crazy time. I am very thankful to the Two Writing Teachers website for giving me and all my fellow slicers the opportunity to create and connect.      Thank you, everyone! :-)



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JudyK  :-)  March 30, 2020

SOL20 Day 29 - Force of Nature

Slice of Life Story Challenge 2020 -- Day 29
March 29, 2020
"Force of Nature"
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Looking out my bedroom window when I woke up this morning, the very first thing I noticed was that the skies had cleared. And then I saw:

~ ~ ~

Tree branches swaying wildly

this way and that

dipping and bending

up and down

forcefully

~ ~ ~

A cold front is making its way through. What new weather will it bring this time?


:-)
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JudyK   March 29, 2020

SOL20 day 28 - I'm Joining the Spring Fling!

Slice of Life Story Challenge 2020 -- Day 28
March 28, 2020
"I'm Joining the Spring Fling!"
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On March 20, Leigh Anne Eck invited all Slicers to a Spring Fling, so that we could have some fun -- badly needed during this stressful pandemic -- and share some self-care tips -- also badly needed during this stressful pandemic! If you would like to read Leigh Anne's post (I would highly recommend it!), you can go here to see it:   Spring Fling Invitation 

So, with only 3 days left in the March challenge this year, I am finally joining the party! Better late then never, right?  ;-)

I am envisioning all of us party-goers at a rustic cabin which is perched near the edge of the side of a small mountain. We are sitting outside in the cabin's sunny front yard, enjoying BYOB beverages while lounging in comfy lawn chairs. On the sides of the cabin, as well as behind it, is a shady forest full of oak, maple, and pine trees. (There are other kinds of trees in the forest, too, but I'm not a tree expert, so I don't know what they all are.) At the front edge of the front yard is a wooden rail fence which protects people from falling down the steep drop-off of the mountain. 

From our vantage point, we can look over the fence to see a large lake in the valley at the bottom of the mountain. The lake, with its crystal blue waters, spreads off into the distance and is surrounded by other small mountains. There are a few boats on the lake: small motorboats leaving rippling wakes behind them. The people in the boats are tiny blobs of various colors, too far away to recognize as people, although we know they are.

The mountains at which we gaze are tree-covered, with just a few homes and cabins barely visible through the trees here and there. Above the mountains is a deep blue sky, dotted occasionally by a few wispy white clouds. A large bird -- an eagle, perhaps? -- soars in the sky above one of the mountains.

It is here in this environment that we are relaxing and enjoying the beauty of nature, our laughter and easy conversations wafting across the yard. We are talking about life, our families, our jobs and hobbies, our hopes and dreams, and anything else that comes to our minds. We are sharing our self-care tips...which is the reason we came in the first place. I listen to many good ideas about how we can take care of ourselves during this difficult time, and finally, I share mine:


1. Make a schedule for each day. Your schedule doesn't have to be written in stone, because we all know that things happen every day that we don't plan for. Just use your schedule as a guideline to help you accomplish the most important things you need to do each day.

2. Find time every day to do something you enjoy. You may have other family members and pets that you need to take care of, as well as yourself. You may be planning lessons for your students, participating in virtual meetings, and teaching online. You probably have household obligations -- doing laundry, cooking dinners, cleaning, etc. You might feel as if you are being stretched to the limits to do what you need to do for everyone else. Even if it's only for a brief few minutes every day, don't forget to allow yourself time to de-stress and enjoy an activity that YOU choose to do.

3. Make at least a little time every day for some type of physical activity. Go outside if you have a chance, and get some fresh air. Walk the dog, play with the kids, do yard work, enjoy a leisurely stroll, go for a run. If you'd rather stay indoors... do some yoga, ride a stationary bike, lift some weights, jog around the house. Most of us are being much more sedentary than usual, thanks to all the current restrictions and closings, and that isn't good for our health. Be sure to schedule some activity into your day to remind yourself to move!


Now, with my self-care tips being shared, I plan to stay at the mountain cabin and continue enjoying the company of my fellow Slicers for a while. Some of you might need to head for home soon. Not me. I'm going to linger.




:-)
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JudyK   March 28, 2020