Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Slice of Life: A Stretch Reflection!

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 
to the Tuesday Slice of Life (SOL) community.
Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Betsy, Dana, BethAnna, Kathleen, and Deb
                    for hosting this meeting place each Tuesday and nurturing our writing lives.

Here's the visual I made last year with a
little help from fellow blogger, Michelle.

Moving On (an acrostic composed in January for my 2015 OLW)

Steps,
Tiny steps, with time to
Refresh, to celebrate
Each day's small effort as I seek
To gently grow,
Comfortable as a cat, content and
Happy to move forward slowly.


I'm totally amazed at how quickly a year passes.  It's a fifth Tuesday, and one of the days I devote to reflecting on my one little word for the year.  I'm reluctant to write, feeling that I somehow didn't measure up to my wishes for this to be a year of stretching.  However, a few glances back at some posts remind me that I did indeed do a bit of stretching this past year.

I filled in for six weeks in our school library (a delightful stretch). 
I was lucky to witness a long-wished-for remodel of our kitchen
And I stretched as I decluttered many items while packing up.
I continued to log many steps throughout our very mild winter,
a delightful spring, and a drier than usual summer.  
I must admit the arrival of a very wet fall and winter
has resulted in fewer steps.  
I've made progress with my boxes from teaching, 
(thanks to daughter's help)!
I can't say that I'm done, but I continue to 
celebrate any small effort in the right direction. 
I've read many of the possibilities
for this year's Newbery award.
Our after school book club has stretched 
to include many more students.  
A new opportunity arrived at the end of September
when I was asked to accept a new calling
to serve the women of our congregation.
This calling is a "big stretch" for me, 
and I'm grateful for the support of family and friends
as I stretch my circle of caring,
as I learn to gently grow, and
to be content and happy 
with any forward progress, however small. 


Now, I'm thinking about next year's OLW, maybe by next week it will find me!

9 comments:

  1. I think you certainly stretched this year. It is always fun to read everyone's reflections on their OLW and to see how it guided them throughout the year. I also love your idea of reflecting on the third Tuesday! I just might have to steal that idea!

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  2. Congratulations on a year filled with stretching! I'm envious of that new kitchen, but am hopeful that I'll have one by this time next year. Good luck with your new calling. I'm sure you'll be wonderful. Happy New Year, Ramona!

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  3. Stretch! Great word. I'm still thinking about 2016's OLW, too! Thank you for being one of my best commenters in 2015 on my blog! You rock! Jennifer Sniadecki

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  4. It seems to me that you've done that word "stretch" proud, Ramona. Such a lot of accomplishments during the year! That book club has grown and grown. You've touched so many kids' lives. Happiest of New Years to you.

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  5. I really need to do these fifth Tuesday check-ins next year. Good for you for sticking with it, Ramonoa! I've been terrible about doing them publicly, though I have been living my word (YET) all year. I add yet to everything as a way to remind myself that I still have time to accomplish my goals.

    I have 2016's OLW picked out. Looking forward to sharing it next Thursday on TWT.

    Happy New Year!

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  6. I am still trying to find my OLW. I like how you check in and reflect on the 5th Tuesday. Nice way to make a conscious effort to focus on your word. Stretch is an awesome word too. With what I know is coming it makes sense. You've made me think. Thanks! :-)

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  7. I am glad you looked back and surprised yourself of how much you actually had stretched. Reflecting regularly also looks like stretching to me. Looking forward to your new OLW.

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  8. You really did do a lot of stretching this year, Ramona! Your post reminds us of the importance of capturing our life in words to help us remember those tiny moments before they slip away. I just spent the morning reading through my notebook of the past year and was able to relive so many moments my memory had forgotten. I'm looking forward to reading about more of your moments in 2016. Happy new year!

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