On Thursday afternoon, I attended a Strategic Planning Committee meeting. This is a new group, tasked with prioritizing the humanities as AI becomes the new reality. The committee included members from elementary through high school with representatives from literacy, social studies, and the arts.
During the meeting, the committee leader, Ali, asked us to brainstorm a “This I Believe…” list to help us begin a conversation around what we value and what to prioritize in our district. Here is her invitation with a few of her own examples:
I was blown away by some of the things that other people in the room wrote and inspired by the conversation that followed our quiet writing time. I knew I had found my people…Maybe that will be a slice for another day!
I’m still thinking about my “This I Believe” list as I embark on my tenth (?!?) Slice of Life Challenge. I think I retell this story every March 1st, but nine years ago my friend Erika asked me if I wanted to join the challenge on February 28th. I jumped in blind and I’ve (rarely) looked back since. This challenge, this space, and this community has become part of who I am.
All of that being said, I feel like I am once again jumping in blind. I have no plan. I don’t even know how I will find time to write. If you’ve read my blog over the years, you know that many of my posts have been written from the bed of one of my three daughters. I’m contemplating adding a tag to each post this month letting you know where I’m writing from. My guess is that many may be written from my car in between drop offs and pickups. My children currently feel like a full time job, between their activities, their emotions, and just trying to be there for them.
But, despite all of that, I am committed to writing because…
This I Believe…
*Writing helps me remember who I am.
*Writing helps me slow down and prioritize what’s most important.
*Writing is a gift I can give myself.
*My writing can be a gift for others.
*The connections I will make this month will fill me with joy.
*I will find/make time for writing every day because I make time for what I value.
*Showing up here makes me a better teacher of writing.
*This season, as chaotic as it is, is worth documenting.
*Sharing our stories this month will make us all better humans.
*I’m grateful to be here with all of you.
So, here is to March and writing together. I’m glad you’re all here and I look forward to all we will share together.
This post was written: On my phone in a hotel room in Long Island City, New York while six teenagers were getting ready for their dance competition award ceremony.
Where There Is Joy 
Jessica,
I’m so thrilled to learn there are places prioritizing the humanities over AI. I love your list of beliefs. I write on my phone, too, and in retirement writing has become a welcomed companion. Happy March!
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Haha, I love your idea of ending each post with a “This post was written…” statement! I think you should keep that up, it will certainly capture a lot about your life. Kudos for finding the time in all the in-between places of a busy woman. And I also like to think our writing can be a gift to others. I hope you will write more about that this month, as we can all use some more ideas of how to “gift” our work.
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What a lovely way to enter this year’s challenge, Jessica! That is such a great exercise; I will have to borrow it.
I also remember reading about how you wrote from your daughters’ beds and feeling so incredibly moved by that image. I love that you’re adding that “wrote from” section, haha!
Looking forward to connecting even more this month!
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First, I am so glad you are on that team because we need your voice! I’m looking forward to catching up through writing with you this month. I believe it keeps us connected and continues to strengthen our friendship!
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Agreed!
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beliefs, work, and living…that what this slice captures and it is beautiful. the tags are a brilliant idea…you’ll discover which local gets the most of your time
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I really appreciate your beliefs and your presence on that committee. The one where you said a chaotic month like this is worth documenting reminds me of a Bruce Coville line. He wrote it about keeping a journal, but it fits with your list of beliefs. He said, “Keeping a journal is a way to save your life,” or something like that. I like the double meaning. Your different writing places is also reminding me of those T-Mobile commercials, “You’ll never believe where I am right now.” That can be your tag and your theme this month.
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Oh! I love your quote and the upgrade for my where I’m writing from idea! Definitely using that. Thanks.
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This is part of the writing mystery – you can write at odd times in strange places about anything you want and later be surprised how much writing got done when you thought there was no time to get words out.
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Jessica, I love everything about this slice. Your “This I Believe” statements are so inspiring and so aligned with how I feel, that I think I need to print them out! I also would love to know where you’re slicing from – such a fun way to document! Happy tenth year 🙂
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still catch up with you each week and miss this amazing writing group.
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I just commented on about blog questioning why I still write, even though as a retired (but subbing still) teacher, I don’t have much of a chance to impact student writing. And then, there is your list. I’m going to copy it & put it in a document to help me remember there are many reasons to keep writing.
And I agree with the suggestions to keep adding your location – that could be very interesting. I’m currently writing about 500 miles from my home as we visit family. Tomorrow I’ll be writing during the car ride home…
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Jessica-
Your post is a timely reminder to revisit, name, and celebrate what we value. Starting a PD with a focused reflection on “This I Believe” and then sharing collectively, builds community.
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I love this idea and I love how you make so many people around you believe in themselves.
Also, please write a slice about the teenagers getting ready. I’m sure their routine surpasses my own makeup routine.
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Oh my goodness. They use products I wouldn’t even know what to do with! Good idea.
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I’m so glad we jumped in together 9 years ago. I know I am better for the experience.
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I think this is my favorite of your statements (second to “my writing can be a gift to others”) because it’s such a great reminder of what writing can do for us, personally. Thank you for sharing this with us, and thank you for the prompt idea!
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I know we are all educators, but I didn’t expect to find such an excellent community builder in one of the first blogs I read! Thank you for being on the committee and thank you for this idea!
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Welcome back to the challenge! I love “This I believe” poems and have written a few myself over the years, and I must say, yours is wonderful and so true. I’m glad you are finding pockets of time to write, despite your busy schedule. Happy March!
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All the posts I’ve read today are so different and so engaging. That’s what I love about slicing and reading other slices. We each bring a unique perspective. I felt affirmed by all your statements about writing and I love the photo of what was going on in real time.
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