I sit down to write.
I am not prepared.
My phone pings.
A text from Dawn.
This is not the beginning I have been drafting in my mind. This text reminds me of where I started, on a whim, 7 Slice of Life Challenges ago-ready to find the joy.
Earlier today, Peter popped his head into my office, still sporting his winter hat from recess duty I expect. “Are you ready?” he asks.
I look up from the task on my to-do list that I had decided I could accomplish in the few moments I had between my coaching work for the day. I quickly scanned my brain, what should I be getting ready for?
I quickly remember that Peter must be referring to the Slice of Life Challenge.
I confess that I am not prepared, but heading into my eighth year, I know I will find the space and ideas for daily writing. As Peter steps into my office completely, I start unraveling the heavy I’ve been carrying around. I tell him that I didn’t even Slice on Tuesday, but I have written…a lot this week. I’ve written letters (plural) to Board of Education members, Town Council members, and even the Mayor. I’ve written and delivered a speech at our hometown’s Board of Education Meeting. I’ve written social media posts informing my community about how our local board plans to gut our schools. I do what I can and know all my words fall on deaf ears. “I feel paralyzed,” I tell Peter, clearly unloading more than he was expecting when he first came by.
“Write about that,” he says.
I don’t do heavy. My blog is called “Where There’s Joy.” I tell Peter all of this. “What a great launch that will be,” I say.
And he tells me to write it down. Don’t overthink the audience. Just write it down.
He has given me permission to be real.
So here I am, writing.
Tears spill down my face at the weight of it all,
and it still feels heavy…but maybe I feel a little lighter.
As I sit, thinking of a way to end this, an email alert pops up on my screen. Dawn has published her first Slice of the season. “Ready, Set, Go…But Not Alone.” I haven’t read it yet but I already know she’s right. This heavy I feel will fade and I will not spend the next thirty days wallowing in misery. I’m here for the party and the friends I know will come, both old and new.
But for today, I’m grateful for permission to get it all out.
Where There Is Joy 
Happy for you that you got it out. Peter was right. Glad you listened. The writing you’ve been doing is heavy and the passion you have behind all that is heavy in its’ own way. Here, for the next few weeks (that sounds easier than number the days of ahead of us) you’ll find the little, lighter stories from home, school, in the car, outside that are calling to be written – and when you listen you will be living the beautiful title of your blog!
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Peter is right: spill those words onto the page. There’s joy and release in writing it down. And honestly, you aren’t alone in feeling the weight of all this [waves arms around]. One day, one post at a time, right?
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Dawn’s came and then yours and now I am finishing up a slice. I’m not sure it will be my best year, but I am glad we are at the party together, my friend!
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Hooray for a party! Let’s be sure to share plenty of hugs along the way.
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Oh, I’m so sorry for the weight you’re carrying, but glad that writing about it helps a bit. I always delight in the the community that you and Dawn and Peter share (and feel a bit envious as well!), and their encouragement and advice behind the scenes feels like what is best about this community. Here’s to supportive friends, and here’s to sharing honestly!
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Friends can give great advice, but we must be brave to follow it! I’m glad you did because I need that, too.
“Don’t overthink your audience.”
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I can so relate to your SOL today…”Tears spill down my face at the weight of it all, and it still feels heavy…but maybe I feel a little lighter.” is my favorite line! I, too, cried today (many times, I’m afraid) from the heaviness of it all. I’m glad to know I’m not alone. That’s what this community shows us- we are not alone. Here’s hoping your day got better!
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I hope yours did too! ❤️
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This is a powerful start. I do think it’s important to be real. Every day is not filled with joy. That’s just the reality. To write about it is powerful and helpful to all of us who read your words. Sending hugs. Sorry it’s all so hard.
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Hi, I’m glad my Pollyanna comment didn’t stress you even more. I think spilling problems onto a page can be a path to Joy, even if it isn’t joy itself. I think this is a little like the curating issues on social media. Other people might get the wrong idea about how other people’s lives seem so pleasant and perfect. We have to sometimes share the frowns and the tears. It actually makes other people feel better to know they’re not the only strugglers. I know you like to look on the bright side, and I’m sure you’ll manage to find lots of silver linings this month. Don’t worry about bringing us down on occasion, though.
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Grateful for you…and I love Pollyanna.
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Write the real! I know it’s “Where there’s joy” but we have to acknowledge what is going on – and the gutting of our schools is real and important. I’ll be here, reading, even if you start with heavy – even if you stay with heavy. Because you know what? I’m going to be writing about tears this month, too. (I just found a saved draft entitled “Secondary Trauma” – and decided maybe NOT to start with that one. Sigh.) Sending you strength.
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First of all, thank you for standing up and speaking out on behalf of so many who are not as courageous or able to engage in defense of schools and their communities. It means everything that you took those steps and also could be convinced to share them with this community. Reminded me of this quote: “We can’t carry it alone but we can carry it together.” https://e-tangata.co.nz/reflections/we-cant-carry-it-alone-but-we-can-carry-it-together/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_term=18Dec2023
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Write whatever you need to write at the moment! My blog is all over the place, just like my life, lol. Sometimes it’s happy and sometimes it’s very much not. But it’s all real. Write what you need to get out.
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The quote is indeed pushing me forward, I feel you, Haven’t touch my blog for a while nor prepared, but here I come, second-year -not-so- ready slicer.
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I’m so grateful you are here (and convinced me to do this so many years ago). We’re all in it together!
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I love, love that quote! I appreciate you sharing it, as well as your struggles with heavy topics. Sometimes to see that there is joy, we need to experience the negatives.
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