“So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye — Goodbye!
I’m glad to go, I cannot tell a lie”
– from “Song Long, Farewell” by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Here we are: the last day of March. For the fifth year in a row, I’ve written – and published! which is harder for me – for 31 days in a row. Other years, I’ve ended the month writing about a sense of power or community or learning. This year, I’m ending with a sigh. This has been the hardest year yet for me, mostly, I think, because I’m worn out. Writer’s block only dogged me a few times, but I sometimes struggled to get my words out the way I wanted.
So… why keep going? I mean, I could have quit. Well, in addition to several half-written posts, I’ve been jotting down lots of notes about ideas that popped up but didn’t quite fit in this space. Maybe this will help me try my hand at writing something beyond my blog. And once again, I found myself paying attention to details throughout the day, realizing that I could frame them this way or that, understanding, again, that the way we choose to tell a story makes a big difference in how we define ourselves. I kept going because I expect students to turn things in and I need to remember how hard it is to turn in things even when you want to do them, because I love reading other people’s blogs (and Deirdra only blogs in March, so I can’t miss that (heehee), and because I love the way being in a community of writers buoys me up even when I think I can’t write another day.
As grateful as I am for all the ways this challenge helps me grow, year after year, tonight, I know that “I’m glad to go, I cannot tell a lie” because, like Brigitta in The Sound of Music, I am tired – especially because I keep trying to write *after* we get the kids to bed. Now that is something I will change for next year.
Thank you to the whole team at Two Writing Teachers for organizing this challenge and for growing this community. Imagine all the writing teachers out there that are better for this work – and then imagine all the children who have better writing instruction because of that. Amazing.
Now, on to the next.
Persistence and Pedagogy 
Ah, that sigh, a small (or maybe big) sense of deflation, relief mixed with loss, fatigue, wondering now what. I get all of those sentiments from this slice and feel most of those myself. On we go, to explore the next ways we’ll tell our stories. Glad you were here!
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Imagine how wide the net is spread writer to writer, teacher to student! It’s been a great month writing with you. See you on Tuesday!
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Glad you were able to squeeze this in this year!
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I think that the heightened attention to life and the abundance of inspiration from others makes the challenge worth while even when we are a bit tired or not overly happy with our own writing. I am glad you were here. See you on Tuesdays!
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It is beautiful to think of the trickle of impact this challenge has. Go rest my friend! See you on Tuesdays!
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I agree with Terje’s beautiful words: “the heightened attention to life and the abundance of inspiration from others” are reason enough to show up, even when we are tired and feel uninspired. One thing I always relearn in March: there is value to this daily writing even when I’m not fully feeling it. We are all so very tired this year, and yet we prioritized our writing and this community that we love. Here’s hoping for some rest and restoration for you in April!
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Thanks for the effort.
I looked forward to your writing and enjoyed.
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Thanks, Dad! I’m glad I did it. And it’s not like I’m going to stop writing. You know that’s not a possibility!
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Amanda, it is hard to believe that five years have passed since you started writing with the community. I must say that I am tired too, especially this is the 2nd 31-day challenge I have been in since February 1st. Are you going to try to write during National Poetry Month. If you have any photos of winter in Canada with or without a poem for my Winter’s Embrace Gallery of Artistic Expressions, I would showcase them. I plan on unveiling the gallery during National Poetry Month. Let me know. I have enjoyed reading your slices all these years.
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Carol! You are one of the bloggers I missed this month & I soooo regret it. I will be going back through some over the weekend – and yes to pictures! – and yes to poetry but I won’t be publishing daily. I need a break!
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I feel the same. This was a really hard year, which made it feel more important that I participate. Thanks for showing up AND publishing. 🙂
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So glad you managed to get through another month of slicing. It must be super hard with kids, those times are a bit dim and distant for me, but I barely wrote anything back then!! I agreed with all your comments about putting notes aside and paying attention to detail…Hope you have time to rest and recover!!
Thanks for dropping by and commenting very regularly!!
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