tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71120123002748097362024-03-14T01:16:35.119-05:00Sweet Writing LifeSome reflections on writing, reading, & lifeJennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-81599830164374772862021-03-03T06:28:00.002-06:002021-03-03T06:45:53.877-06:00Just 21 Minutes {SOL 3.3.21}<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Like many others, my to-do list these days is a mile long.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Just this morning, I was writing today's list of things I needed to get done in my journal and I ran out of lines. (It's going to be a really busy day apparently!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">But as I looked down my list, everything I had written there had something to do with work:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">New course</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Send chat to Tim</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Logo design in Canva</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Start new website</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Research Medium</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Write 300 words on the book</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And while these things are certainly important, I wondered where the 'me' time was.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The other day, I read somewhere about taking time to read for pleasure for 21 minutes every day in 2021. Just 21 minutes. I could certainly squeeze that in!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I started yesterday and read 21 minutes of a novel that I have been wanting to read for a while, but always pushed it to the side to read some book that will help me with my business. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">These 21 minutes felt like a total indulgence...and I loved it!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The funny thing is that after my 21 minutes were up, I went back to work with a different attitude. I tackled more of those things on my to-do list with a little more energy. I didn't feel so drained. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">It's funny how just 21 minutes can do that.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQXECzFmm38/YD-BW3MOB3I/AAAAAAAB0jM/PKbxQOuvOuQCP04heWe5iV-grgr32_XdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/SOL.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQXECzFmm38/YD-BW3MOB3I/AAAAAAAB0jM/PKbxQOuvOuQCP04heWe5iV-grgr32_XdQCLcBGAsYHQ/w207-h207/SOL.png" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">I am a former 4th-grade teacher and the founder of Teach Write LLC. I believe that teachers who write make the best teachers of writers. </span> </p>Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-35933281223283482222021-03-02T07:08:00.000-06:002021-03-02T07:08:17.295-06:00Waking Up to Write {SOL 3.2.21}<p> My alarm went off at 4:45 am, but I was already awake.</p><p><br /></p><p>I had first opened my eyes at 3:12 am. </p><p><br /></p><p>Squinting at the clock across the room, I was sure that I had missed it. I gave a sigh of relief that I had not, and then also silently swore because I had awoken so early.</p><p><br /></p><p>My alarm was set for 4:45 am because I needed to get up to start the Zoom for my Wake Up & Write group. For the month of March, many of my Time to Write writers are coming together first thing in the morning to silently write together. Just us, our writing, and our coffee. </p><p><br /></p><p>From 5:00 until 6:00 AM Central time, my writing friends popped in and out of our Zoom. Some spent the entire hour. Others just a few minutes. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehPCCUypEhs/YD434aUktsI/AAAAAAAB0dw/WfTp8UD92nYYxR-mZknvXfSLEUXTQYTkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehPCCUypEhs/YD434aUktsI/AAAAAAAB0dw/WfTp8UD92nYYxR-mZknvXfSLEUXTQYTkgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0503.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>They came from far and wide -- places like Ghana, Cambodia, and Canada -- where it wasn't quite as early as it was for me. (Thank goodness that I'm naturally an early riser.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Today was just our first day, but I think I'm going to like this Wake-Up & Write time. There's just something about starting my day with quiet writing time alongside my friends, knowing that I've begun the day with a win.</p><p><br /></p><p>At 6:00 am CT, my alarm sounded again. It was time to stop.</p><p><br /></p><p>"Good morning, writers," I gently announced to bring our time together to a close.</p><p><br /></p><p>We all smiled at each other, took a few seconds to say hello, logged off, and began the business of the day.</p>Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-79483569465028511782019-10-01T10:09:00.004-05:002019-10-01T10:09:50.613-05:00#TeachWritetober19 Day 1: My GoalsThe idea for #TeachWritetober came to me last year. A group of friends and I were all participating in November's NaNoWriMo. We were chugging along, writing every day -- until NCTE hit in the middle of the month, only to be quickly followed by Thanksgiving and thinking about the upcoming holidays.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, I didn't write a word after the 14th of November.<br />
<br />
November is a really hard month to commit to writing a great number of words. (NaNoWriMo has a 50,000-word goal.) There are so many days I'm away from home that I was doomed to fail before I even began.<br />
<br />
Hence, the idea to move a daily writing challenge to the month of October.<br />
<br />
October is a good month -- no holidays, no conference travel, still not burned out from a crazy school year.<br />
<br />
And judging by the response, it looks like a lot of educators agreed with me.<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple;">#TeachWritetober -- </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple;">Your choice to write whatever you want, for however long you want, every day of the month.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
#TeachWritetober is for you, teacher-writer, to nurture your writing habit by doing <i>something</i> related to writing every day.<br />
<br />
You choose the writing outcome.<br />
You choose the amount of time.<br />
You choose -- just write.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This morning I read <a href="https://benjaminkwoodcock.com/2019/10/01/teachwritetober-2019-goals/">a post by Benjamin Woodcock</a> where he shared his plans for #TeachWritetober19. He made his goals public and plans a weekly accountability post to share his progress. I thought that was brilliant so I'm going to do the same.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Here are my plans for #TeachWritetober:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Send at least 3 emails each week to the participants to cheer them on, offer inspiration and ideas, and to check-in. (Accountability and support are HUGE when it comes to challenges.)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>Write daily in my journal. This could be either Morning (Anytime) Pages or a recap of the day. I'm going to be flexible here because the writing is more important than what I'm writing about.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>Write a weekly recap post where I publicly share how it's going -- the good, the bad, the celebrations, and the struggles. All of it.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Any kind of writing that I do above and beyond these goals is icing on the cake. I want to set myself up for success by making this challenge manageable, yet habit-forming. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I want to set you up for success too!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What are your goals for #TeachWritetober? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Leave a comment and share or even better -- write a blog post about it and either share the link in the comments or share it on social media and include #TeachWritetober in your post.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Write away, friends!</div>
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-60665168478651801222018-08-21T13:56:00.000-05:002018-08-21T13:56:16.100-05:00The Un-Nesting {SOL 8.21.18}Both of my kids left for college on Sunday. This is the third time I've gone through the experience of moving my kids from one home to another for a year away at school.<br />
<br />
The first year, it was my son who left. When your firstborn leaves the nest, it is a sad day, a day you never imagined would arrive as quickly as it did.<br />
<br />
Last year, my daughter joined him in flight, leaving our nest completely empty except for our two dogs. Having BOTH kids gone was an adjustment I was dreading.<br />
<br />
This year, as the kids packed up to leave, I was sad, but not as sad as I've been in years past. Having made this extreme adjustment before -- from a house of four to a house of two -- I knew I would get through it. Afterall, I had survived this adjustment twice already.<br />
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My first day without the kids living here I spent the day cleaning: washing the carpets, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, dusting, and gathering up old clothes to take to Goodwill. Getting the house back into order brought me comfort for some strange reason. It reminded me that last year when both the kids left, I found my way into a new life, a life that included the house only getting as messy as I made it, date nights with the hubby, and not having to share the hot water, the car, or the washing machine.<br />
<br />
A life that I kinda....<i>liked</i>.<br />
<br />
I guess my massive cleaning efforts yesterday were my way of ushering out one way of life for another.<br />
<br />
And you know what? It was okay. <i>I</i> was okay. <i>My kids </i>were okay. And we will all be okay again this time.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-54603650383182808632018-06-18T06:33:00.003-05:002018-06-18T06:33:45.871-05:00#DWHabit: DEEP {6.18.18}A poem.<br />
<br />
On the surface,<br />
just words.<br />
<br />
But go deeper<br />
and find a message<br />
interwoven<br />
among the letters.<br />
<br />
Something that begs to be said<br />
without saying it.<br />
<br />
A hint<br />
a whisper<br />
a revelation<br />
an inkling<br />
a story<br />
<br />
All revealed through<br />
a few very carefully chosen words<br />
of a poem.<br />
<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-66104634202818154992018-06-17T09:11:00.001-05:002018-06-17T09:11:50.075-05:00#DWHabit: EMBRACE {6.17.18}Light breaks the night,<br />
growing<br />
minute<br />
by<br />
minute.<br />
<br />
The darkness fades to dawn<br />
taking with it<br />
yesterday<br />
and all its<br />
stories.<br />
<br />
First the pink,<br />
then the orange,<br />
then<br />
finally<br />
the yellow.<br />
<br />
The birds awaken<br />
and ride the sky,<br />
singing<br />
sweet<br />
songs<br />
of joy.<br />
<br />
They understand.<br />
<br />
A new start,<br />
A new chance,<br />
A new day.<br />
<br />
I embrace the moment<br />
and await the new stories<br />
of today.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-70564659298426624352018-06-15T06:58:00.001-05:002018-06-15T06:58:11.673-05:00#DWHabit: BRING {6.15.18}BRING<br />
<br />
Packing for vacation<br />
is not fun.<br />
<br />
I'm not done<br />
until the suitcase<br />
is stuffed so full<br />
I have to sit on it<br />
to get it zippered.<br />
<br />
<i>ziii..zi...ziiii..zipppp</i><br />
<br />
I know I bring too much.<br />
<br />
I know I will be made fun of.<br />
<br />
I know I will not use half of what I bring.<br />
<br />
But you never know<br />
when you'll need that one thing<br />
you chose to leave behind<br />
even though there was extra room<br />
in the suitcase.<br />
<br />
So I bring it all.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-28946645285413891402018-06-14T06:50:00.000-05:002018-06-14T06:50:28.405-05:00#DWHabit: POWERLESS {6.14.18}<u>Powerless</u><br />
<br />
We prepared the soil<br />
churned it up<br />
raked it out<br />
pulled the weeds<br />
with a merciless tug.<br />
<br />
Lovingly<br />
we dug the holes<br />
placed the seeds<br />
tucked them in<br />
with a gentle pat.<br />
<br />
We watered.<br />
<br />
We waited.<br />
<br />
Watered some more.<br />
<br />
<br />
Still nothing.<br />
<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-25831505749629826242018-06-13T07:19:00.001-05:002018-06-13T07:19:48.959-05:00#DWHabit: EPHEMERAL {6.13.18}ephemeral = short-lived<br />
<br />
<span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit;">like</span><br />
a thought<br />
(why did I come in this room?)<br />
a laugh<br />
(she said <i>what</i>?)<br />
a scene<br />
(seven cardinals at the feeder)<br />
a scent<br />
(lilacs in bloom under the bedroom window)<br />
a sight<br />
(the sun dipping low in the evening sky)<br />
a sound<br />
(soft whimpers escaping the dog's dream)<br />
an action<br />
(a secret smile when he saw her)<br />
a moment<br />
(walking out the door for the last time)<br />
<br />
Writing<br />
takes<br />
the ephemeral<br />
and makes it<br />
<br />
permanent = forever.<br />
<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-32481097823871290802018-06-12T06:47:00.001-05:002018-06-12T06:47:22.216-05:00#DWHabit: DISPUTE {6.12.18}I want a puppy.<br />
<br />
A soft, fury<br />
bundle of love.<br />
<br />
Who will get so excited<br />
to see me come home<br />
that she can't help but<br />
spring,<br />
spring,<br />
spring<br />
up and greet me.<br />
<br />
Who will snuggle<br />
with me on the sofa<br />
and fall asleep.<br />
Soft whimpers and sighs escaping<br />
her dreams<br />
as she nestles into me<br />
and reaffirms that I am her person.<br />
<br />
Who will bring me a ball<br />
and beg with her eyes:<br />
please throw it just<br />
one<br />
more<br />
time.<br />
(I <i>promise </i>this will be the last time.)<br />
Until it's not.<br />
<br />
Who does puppy things<br />
like<br />
chase her tail<br />
play tug-of-war<br />
and wrestle with her toys.<br />
Until she collapses<br />
from her puppy exhaustion<br />
and her sweet snores start again.<br />
<br />
I want a puppy.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-37860909422960015522018-06-11T06:54:00.000-05:002018-06-11T07:01:13.819-05:00#DWHabit: FAVOR {6.11.18}I am not the kind of person who is comfortable asking a favor.<br />
<br />
I am the one who DOES the favor,<br />
the helper,<br />
the doer.<br />
<br />
If you are my friend and you ask for help<br />
I will walk to the end of the earth for you.<br />
To give you what you ask.<br />
To help you with what you need.<br />
<br />
What you ask will go at the top of my To Do List<br />
and I will stop at nothing until I can cross it off.<br />
<br />
But asking a favor?<br />
<i> That is a completely different story.</i><br />
<br />
I don't want to burden you.<br />
Distract you.<br />
Take your time.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure why that is.<br />
<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-11103855157421860132018-06-09T10:35:00.000-05:002018-06-09T10:35:44.972-05:00#DWHabit: ABSORB {6.9.18}Absorb is a funny word.<br />
<br />
When I taught my 4th and 5th graders how to use prefixes and suffixes to increase their vocabulary and decode bigger words, we learned that 'ab-" means <i>away. </i>I liked to teach my students to use Memory Minders, small tricks to help us remember what something means, and our Memory Minder for the word part 'ab-' was actually the word 'absorb,' to soak something up and away.<br />
<br />
When I am ready a really good book and don't want to stop (to do something trivial like sleep), I wish I could put the book under my pillow and have my mind absorb its words overnight. Soak all that information into my head.<br />
<br />
When I am practicing being mindful, I am trying to absorb all that is happening right at the moment. Trying to soak it all in.<br />
<br />
For some reason, when I give the dog a bath, her fur does not absorb the water. It runs right off of her.<br />
<br />
The wind was howling through the screen door in the kitchen the other afternoon and blew over the vase of flowers that Jeremy had given me for our anniversary. Water was running everywhere because the towel I was using did not want to absorb the water. Paper towels were more absorbant and did the trick.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-83518030309726259672018-06-08T06:45:00.003-05:002018-06-08T06:45:56.598-05:00#DWHabit: PICK {6.08.18}<b><u>Lilac</u></b><br />
I round the corner of the house<br />
and without looking,<br />
I am 100% sure it has <i>finally</i> blossomed.<br />
The lilac bush.<br />
It's sweet, dense scent wafts through the air,<br />
tickling my nose,<br />
reassuring me that<br />
yes,<br />
nature has come back to life.<br />
I pick a few blooms<br />
for Mom<br />
so she knows this too.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<u><b>Peony</b></u><br />
The bud starts out<br />
the size of a jawbreaker<br />
Tiny and hard,<br />
but holding a treasure within.<br />
Days and weeks of spring sun pass<br />
And the tiny jawbreaker grows into a gumball<br />
stuck to the end of a stick.<br />
The ants go to work.<br />
Then bud bursts open<br />
Revealing a pincushion of petals,<br />
the color of bubblegum.<br />
I pick a few<br />
for the table<br />
bringing nature's treats inside.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-56230685868376365122018-06-07T06:47:00.002-05:002018-06-07T06:47:59.834-05:00#DWHabit: DISINTEGRATEI begin the day with BIG plans.<br />
<br />
I feel strong and capable,<br />
ready to take a deep dive<br />
and slay<br />
each<br />
and<br />
every<br />
one.<br />
<br />
My intentions are strong<br />
<br />
My eyes focused on the prize:<br />
Bold checkmarks<br />
down<br />
my<br />
to<br />
do<br />
list.<br />
<br />
I begin.<br />
<br />
Then.....<br />
<br />
<br />
Life happens.<br />
<br />
<br />
Email chimes.<br />
Facebook notifies.<br />
Phone rings.<br />
Twitter chirps.<br />
<br />
Distractions,<br />
every<br />
one<br />
of<br />
them.<br />
<br />
And I watch my big plans<br />
disintegrate<br />
into dust.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Hands, Clapping, Dust, Flour, Bakery, Craftsman" height="266" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/04/20/13/22/hands-731265_960_720.jpg" width="400" /></div>
Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-67258846209885097122018-03-06T06:15:00.001-06:002018-03-06T06:15:46.563-06:00SOL #6 {3.06.18}: My Watch & Its Guilt TripsI have a love/hate relationship with my watch.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Here's the thing -- I also have a love/hate relationship with exercise.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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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 <i>anti</i>-motivational.<br />
<br />
It's amazing how a little thing like a watch can cause so much angst.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-65317055516932872992018-03-05T04:52:00.002-06:002018-03-05T04:52:51.345-06:00SOL #5 {3.05.18}: Get Ready for ItI am making a concerted effort to walk my dog, Rosie, as often as possible.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Walking her is a real pain. It would be much easier to go by myself.<br />
<br />
Last week, I considered leaving her behind. Confirming thoughts swirled in my head:<br />
<br />
<i> She slows me down.</i><br />
<i> She's obnoxious when cars drive by.</i><br />
<i> What do the neighbors think of my badly-behaved dog?</i><br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
We had gotten up to the top of the hill before I even really noticed that she was <i>actually behaving</i>. A neighbor was out at the end of his driveway so we stopped to say hello. Rosie just stood there -- and <i>waited</i>! No barking. No pulling. <i>No acting like a lunatic. </i><br />
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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.<br />
<br />
It appears that maybe, just maybe, Rosie was beginning to learn how to go for a walk.<br />
<i><br /></i> <i>I'm glad I didn't give up on her.</i><br />
<br />
This experience reminds me of writing and what all of us are going through right now with the challenge of writing every day.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
But as the month moves on and your energy begins to wane, you may hear <i>that voice</i>. 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.<br />
<br />
<i> <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">That voice is a liar.</span></i><br />
<br />
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.)<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<i><br /></i> <i>You'll be glad you didn't give up on yourself.</i><br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-74337891961287860452018-03-04T06:47:00.003-06:002018-03-04T06:47:33.155-06:00SOL #4 {3.04.18}: Outside My WindowI sit in my favorite chair, a mug of coffee steaming on the table next to me.<br />
<br />
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. <i>Maybe later.</i><br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Through the glass, I can hear their chatter and imagine the conversations they are having:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> It's good to see you again! How was your winter?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> Why did we come back so soon? It's so cold!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> Should we stay here or keep flying? This place is kinda nice.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> Has anyone seen my family? We were separated in flight. Can I join yours?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> Check out that sunrise! </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> Are you done at the feeder yet? I'm hungry.</i></div>
<br />
So much changes outside my window. So much stays the same.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-10010465043020563762018-03-03T06:02:00.001-06:002018-03-03T06:02:51.372-06:00SOL #3 {3.03.18}: Packing ProblemsI am a horrible packer.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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 <i>could</i> have brought. You know, <i>just in case</i>.<br />
<br />
This is usually not a problem because we drive most places we go and my husband is there to carry in the suitcase.<br />
<br />
Except for when he's not.<br />
<br />
And the hotel doesn't have an elevator.<br />
<br />
And you're staying several floors up.<br />
<br />
And you wonder why you brought so much for an overnight trip.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-5364504264668804022018-03-02T05:00:00.000-06:002018-03-02T05:00:00.215-06:00SOL #2 {3.02.18}: How Do They Know?How do the birds know when it's time to fly back north?<br />
<br />
This week has brought many old faces back to my yard -- Robins, Sandhill Cranes, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Kildeer, Canadian Geese, Finches, and more.<br />
<br />
I step outside my front door and it is no longer silent -- there is a symphony of song.<br />
<br />
My birdfeeder is the local hangout spot. I now have to fill it about every three days.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
The funny thing is that I never really see the birds migrating -- they just show up.<br />
<br />
How do they know?<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-38962548507178145192018-03-01T05:43:00.001-06:002018-03-01T05:43:39.207-06:00SOL #1 {3.01.18}: A Slice of MeHere we are...off to the 2018 Slice of Life Challenge.<br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to making my writing muscle even stronger and to meeting new friends along the way over the coming days.<br />
<br />
To get things started, I thought I'd start off with a short introduction of myself.<br />
<br />
If a picture is worth a thousand words, I think these pictures tell my story pretty well.<br />
<br />
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What did you learn about me?<br />
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I'm looking forward to writing with you this month!<br />
<br />
Jennifer<br />
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Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-14464547555425700272018-02-28T12:58:00.006-06:002018-02-28T12:58:41.500-06:00SOL #11 {3.11.18}:Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-38247841846606493642018-01-02T08:45:00.003-06:002018-01-02T08:45:44.396-06:00The Word That Chose Me {1.02.18}A new year. A new One Little Word.<br />
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I don't know about you, but I feel tremendous pressure when I go pick a new OLW. After all, I have to live with this word for an ENTIRE year, so I better get it right. Some years, I have hit my mark. Others, not so much.<br />
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This year was no exception. I thought and thought. I tried on a few words for size, but none seemed to fit just right.<br />
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However, one word kept coming back to me. I tried to ignore it. Push it away. I didn't like it and I wanted it to not like me.<br />
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I felt this word was selfish and self-serving and that is NOT what I want 2018 to be about.<br />
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I talked it over with friends and they reassured me that this word was a good pick for me. I tried to deny it again.<br />
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Finally, I gave up and accepted my word:<br />
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I spent yesterday reflecting on my new OLW and what it REALLY meant, not what I was telling myself it meant (money, money, money!). I was pleasantly surprised to find these inspirational thoughts about abundance:<br />
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<i>“Abundance is not something we acquire, it is something we tune into.”</i> </div>
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--Wayne Dyer</div>
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<i>“Secret to having abundance: Stay focused on what you love and express it fearlessly.” </i></div>
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--Anonymous</div>
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<i>“You must find a place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.” </i></div>
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--Deepak Chopra</div>
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<i>“Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing for others.” </i></div>
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--William Arthur Ward</div>
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<i>"When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” </i></div>
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--Tony Robbins</div>
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In the end, it looks like abundance is the perfect word for me. I'm glad it chose me.</div>
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Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-50122616748744466192017-11-28T09:17:00.003-06:002017-11-28T09:17:39.193-06:00The Memory Tree {SOL 11.28.17}When my kids were babies, I started an annual tradition of creating a photo ornament of each of them.<br />
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Every year, I would take a favorite photo (yes, we printed our photos -- at a store! -- in those days), hunt down a photo ornament, and hang it on our Christmas tree.<br />
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As the years passed and the ornament collection grew, I began looking forward more and more to putting up the tree. I loved looking at how cute the kids were, each ornament sparking a favorite memory and taking me back in time.<br />
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This year is the first year that both of my kids are away at school and my husband and I had to put our tree up alone.<br />
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But we weren't alone -- we had our collection of photo ornaments and their memories to keep us company.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"The days are long, but the years are short."</span></div>
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-76485164462409489642017-11-07T08:46:00.003-06:002017-11-07T08:46:56.109-06:00Leave Your Excuses at the Door (Literally) {SOL 11.07.17}This past week, I spent four days in Nashville at <a href="https://www.businessboutique.com/">Christy Wright's Business Boutique </a>event. Christy is an advocate, teacher, and business expert whose work involves helping women start and grow businesses that they love. (If you are trying to do the same, you will want to get to know Christy.)<br />
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Some of you may know that I left the classroom this past spring to start my own business, <a href="http://www.teachwrite.org/">Teach Write</a>, which is dedicated to helping teachers teach writing. This move is exciting, but it has launched me into a sea of uncertainty and doubt as well.<br />
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At one of the sessions, Christy talked about overcoming our fear and challenged us to stop making excuses that hold us back from bringing our dreams to fruition.<br />
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I am quite familar with both fear and excuses, but I am an exceptionally good excuse-maker.<br />
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<i>"I must clean the bathroom before I write today."</i><br />
<i>"It's a bad time to make those cold calls because it's lunchtime."</i><br />
<i>"I need to do a little more research first."</i><br />
<i>"I don't know anything about running a business."</i><br />
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At the end of Christy's presentation, they passed out Post-Its and asked everyone to write their excuses down. Then, as we left for the day, we were to put the Post-Its up on the doors, literally leaving our excuses at the door.<br />
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See the Post-Its on the glass doors?</div>
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This was a very powerful experience.<br />
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Not only did it help us call out our excuses and move them from the shadows into the light of awareness, it also showed us that other women's excuses and fears were also my own.<br />
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It reminded me that I am not alone.<br />
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What excuses are holding you back from doing something your heart has been calling you to do?<br />
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I encourage you to write them down and bring them out of the shadows into the light of awareness where you can walk right through them.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112012300274809736.post-30379065803322113062017-10-31T10:16:00.002-05:002017-10-31T10:16:26.418-05:00A Message From Beyond {SOL 10.31.17}The doorbell rang a little after 3:00 pm and I shuffled my way toward the front door.<br />
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Peeking through the side lights, I saw four ladies standing on my front porch, holding Bibles. The bright daylight behind them hurt my already sore eyes.<br />
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<i>Ugh, Jehovahs' Witnesses,</i> I thought to myself.<br />
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It's not that I mean any disrespect to anyone's religion, but these ladies had terrible timing in more ways than one. They had just woken me from a much-needed nap that I had been fighting all afternoon to fall into. I was hoping sleep would help me forget about my morning, but that just wasn't in the cards for me.<br />
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I opened the front door and greeted them. One of them introduced herself and handed me a brochure.<br />
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On the cover of the brochure was a picture of some people standing in a misty-cloudy sort of setting, staring lovingly at each other. The words "You Will See Your Loved Ones Again" graced the top of the brochure.<br />
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I stared at the brochure for a moment while the lady began her pitch. She didn't get to talk long before I burst into tears. Right there, standing in my front doorway.<br />
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You see, earlier that day, we had to put our beloved 14-year-old Springer Spaniel, Toby, to sleep. It was a gut-wrenching decision, but one that had to be made out of necessity because of his failing health. Being the only one home, I had to take him to the vet myself. I stayed with him the entire time. It was very peaceful, but the only comfort I could find was knowing he was no longer in pain. I missed him already.<br />
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The ladies my front porch stared at me and the tears streaming down my face, offered some words of comfort after I explained what happened, then told me they'd come back another day.<br />
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That brochure though...<br />
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It could have been seen as a strange coincidence, but I took it as a message from my Toby. He wanted me to know that he was in a good place and that he was okay.<br />
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And although they woke me from my nap, I gave thanks for those ladies for delivering that message that I so desperately needed.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Laffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409566035103972341noreply@blogger.com3