SOL #6 {3.06.18}: My Watch & Its Guilt Trips

I have a love/hate relationship with my watch.

Last April, I splurged and bought myself an Apple Watch. One of the features of this watch is a daily reminder to exercise, stand, and move.

Every morning, I get a little reminder on my watch telling me to get going. I'm sure the watch thinks this is supposed to be motivational. If didn't exercise the day before, it reminds me. If I haven't exercised much that week, it tells me that too.

Here's the thing -- I also have a love/hate relationship with exercise.

When I do it, I like it. I love watching the little circles on my watch fill up to show my progress. It's a great day when I can "close my rings" before I even eat breakfast.

When I don't exercise, it's because I really don't want to and I'm okay with that choice. No amount of nagging from my watch will make me want to head to the elliptical. As a matter of fact, feeling that little buzz on my wrist with my watch's daily motivational messages downright makes me mad. It makes me NOT want to exercise even more than I did before. It is anti-motivational.

It's amazing how a little thing like a watch can cause so much angst.

SOL #5 {3.05.18}: Get Ready for It

I am making a concerted effort to walk my dog, Rosie, as often as possible.

This wouldn't be a big deal except she doesn't like to walk. (Have you ever heard of such a thing?) She will literally pull back on the leash when we reach the end of the driveway, trying to slip her collar over her head so she can make a getaway back to the comfort of the sofa.

While on the walk, she pulls and barks anytime a car drives by. And don't get me started on how many plastic bags I need to bring along to clean up after her.

Walking her is a real pain. It would be much easier to go by myself.

Last week, I considered leaving her behind. Confirming thoughts swirled in my head:

      She slows me down.
           She's obnoxious when cars drive by.
                 What do the neighbors think of my badly-behaved dog?

I almost listened to those voices, but I didn't. I threw her sweater on her (it is March in Wisconsin, after all), laced up my shoes, popped my earbuds in, and out we went.

We had gotten up to the top of the hill before I even really noticed that she was actually behaving. A neighbor was out at the end of his driveway so we stopped to say hello. Rosie just stood there -- and waited! No barking. No pulling. No acting like a lunatic. 

We kept walking. A car drove by and I didn't have to use both hands to yank her back to the shoulder of the road.

It appears that maybe, just maybe, Rosie was beginning to learn how to go for a walk.

I'm glad I didn't give up on her.

This experience reminds me of writing and what all of us are going through right now with the challenge of writing every day.

For the first few days of March, the writing comes easy. We have energy and enthusiasm and there are lots of comments from friends to cheer us on.

But as the month moves on and your energy begins to wane, you may hear that voice. The one that tells you it's okay to not write today or that you should just quit. That one that whispers that you don't have time to write. The one that tries to tell you that no one will notice if you're gone.

       That voice is a liar.

I'm here to tell you to get ready for that voice. Most of us, experienced slicers or not, hear that voice at some time during the month of March. (Many of us hear it multiple times.)

When you hear it, it's time to keep your head down and barrel forward. Go to the page and show that voice who's boss. Prove it wrong.

You'll be glad you didn't give up on yourself.

SOL #4 {3.04.18}: Outside My Window

I sit in my favorite chair, a mug of coffee steaming on the table next to me.

The book I'm reading sits there too, calling to me to pick it up. I'm almost done with it, after all. I just don't want the story to end so I let it sit. Maybe later.

Outside the window and see the sun is rising. This seems to be happening earlier and earlier every day which is a good thing. It means spring is coming.

Lots of birds are circling the sky this morning. They weren't here last week. They are waiting their turn at the feeder and keeping warm with flapping wings.

Through the glass, I can hear their chatter and imagine the conversations they are having:

    It's good to see you again! How was your winter?

    Why did we come back so soon? It's so cold!

    Should we stay here or keep flying? This place is kinda nice.

    Has anyone seen my family? We were separated in flight. Can I join yours?

    Check out that sunrise! 

    Are you done at the feeder yet? I'm hungry.

So much changes outside my window. So much stays the same.

SOL #3 {3.03.18}: Packing Problems

I am a horrible packer.

It's actually become a joke around here with my family teasing me that there must be a dead body in my suitcase because it weighs so much. You should see their exaggerated faces and the noises they make when they lift my suitcase! Serious drama, I'm telling you.

Anytime we go away, I have a tendency to overpack my suitcase. The way I look at it -- if there's space, I should fill it up. And heaven forbid if I forget something that I could have brought. You know, just in case.

This is usually not a problem because we drive most places we go and my husband is there to carry in the suitcase.

Except for when he's not.

And the hotel doesn't have an elevator.

And you're staying several floors up.

And you wonder why you brought so much for an overnight trip.

SOL #2 {3.02.18}: How Do They Know?

How do the birds know when it's time to fly back north?

This week has brought many old faces back to my yard -- Robins, Sandhill Cranes, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Kildeer, Canadian Geese, Finches, and more.

I step outside my front door and it is no longer silent -- there is a symphony of song.

My birdfeeder is the local hangout spot. I now have to fill it about every three days.

There is even a Hooded Merganser duck swimming around in the pond behind my house. His stay here will be short as he heads even farther north.

The funny thing is that I never really see the birds migrating -- they just show up.

How do they know?

SOL #1 {3.01.18}: A Slice of Me

Here we are...off to the 2018 Slice of Life Challenge.

I'm looking forward to making my writing muscle even stronger and to meeting new friends along the way over the coming days.

To get things started, I thought I'd start off with a short introduction of myself.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I think these pictures tell my story pretty well.

What did you learn about me?

I'm looking forward to writing with you this month!

Jennifer