Saturday, June 21, 2014

Celebrate this Week {6-21-14}

I just returned from the All Write 14 conference in Warsaw, IN.  It was an amazing two days of learning and making new friends.  While there, I met Ruth Ayres and other friends who took me under their wing as I was travelling alone and this was my first time attending this conference. (I blogged about it here at my teaching blog, Mrs. Laffin's Laughings.)
Ruth reminded us that it is important to celebrate, even in times when we don't really feel like it. Sometimes celebration is hard.  Sometimes it is difficult to find the bright spot in the gloomy day (or week). But sometimes, that celebration comes easily.  Such is the case this week, having returned from time away that nourished my soul and mind.

Here's what I'm celebrating this week:

Writing:  At All Write, I saw the power that writing has of bringing people together.  Writing, itself, is a solitary act.  It is just the writer and the pen (or keyboard). It is easy to become isolated.  However, writing can also connect us.  At All Write, I was witness to the friendships that blossomed as a result of people's writing.  Link ups like this one and Slice of Life have connected people in ways that takes the isolation out of writing. I am looking forward to becoming a part of this community.

Nature:  Sometimes, we need to step back from something in order to see the growth it makes.  It's that way with a lot of things.  I see my own children every day and don't notice the changes they go through.  But when others see them a few times a year,  they remark on how tall they've gotten or how much more mature they've become.  That was the case with my gardens.  I love gardening.  I love to sit on my patio and just look at nature around me.  A few years ago, my husband bought me an arch for the patio and I planted honeysuckle vines on both side.  This spring, the honeysuckle has been very slow to bloom. (It doesn't help that winter just ended a week ago... ) But, when I got back yesterday, this is what I saw...


When I saw these bright pink blooms, I couldn't help but smile!

How about you?  What are you celebrating this week?  I hope you will share your Celebrate This Week post with Ruth's link up.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jennifer

14 comments:

  1. I love your observation about writing being a solitary act that leads to connections. It is so true. Being part of this weekly community, as well as the Slice of Life writing community is truly enriching.

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  2. I love this idea of finding celebrations - especially when it's hard... Nature seems to help - you can't help but smile when you see the blooms. :-)

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  3. How lucky that you were able to go to All Write! It's on my list for next summer! Great observations in your celebrations. The honeysuckle is beautiful!

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  4. Blogging seems to offer a wonderful mix of the solitary and the communal. I think we (or at least I) need this ying/yang in my life. Internal reflection and then sharing with like-minded souls. Love your observations and your beautiful PINK blossoms.

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    1. You said this so perfectly -- the ying and the yang. It is so true! (By the way, do you know that you are a "no reply blogger?")

      Jennifer

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  5. Writing as a way/means to connect...that has happened to me as well! I am a little envious that you got to attend All Write! I am hoping to read more of the twitter feed and posts about it during next week. Love your honeysuckle pictures!

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  6. All Write sounds like such a great opportunity for learning and growing as a writer. I may try to get there sometime in the future. I have been soaking up nature by hanging out on my back porch as much as possible. It's great to watch it change day by day.

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  7. I love how something that's usually done alone (writing and reading) can be made powerful through sharing it with others! Have a great week!

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  8. You are so right about the amazing community that can develop through writing. You may want to check out the It's Monday! What Are You Reading? community too if you haven't already. (At unleashingreaders.com on Mondays). There are many overlaps in the Slice, Celebrate, and #imwayr communities! I'm looking forward to reading more blog posts about All Write this week.

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    1. Thank you, Elisabeth, for the invitation to explore #imwayr. I haven't participated in the past, but I will check it out this week. (By the way, did you know that you are a "no reply blogger?")

      Jennifer

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  9. You are so right about how writing brings a community together. I wonder if it has anything to do with making ourselves vulnerable by sharing our writing publicly. I believe sharing writing aloud is one of the ways my classroom community gels. I hope to get to All Write next year. It sounds amazing. Your photos are beautiful. I'll bet it smells heavenly. Have a good week.

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  10. I attended All Write this year for the first time - what an amazing experience. I love how you wrote about writing being a solitary act but also connects us. I look forward to reading more of your blog here plan to go back and read your teaching blog. So much fun meeting new bloggers!

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  11. So glad you left your link today. Are you the Jennifer who's commented on some of my recent posts? You captured the joy of All Write. I'm hoping to be there next year.

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    1. Yep, that was me! Nice to meet you. Loved your blog!

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