What Inspires You?

I'm inspired by books, art, music and people.  I'm inspired by nature.  I'm also inspired by kaleidoscopes.  I have a small collection, several are just the mirrors.  When you focus on something it reflects in the kaleidoscope.  I always marvel at the beauty I see reflected back to me, even in a stack of laundry.

While playing with my phone I found several kaleidoscope aps.  The one that made this picture is from "Toy Kaleidoscopes".  It acts just like my mirrored kaleidoscopes.  Point it at something (clothes in a closet, cans in the pantry, etc).  You can get some very beautiful shots.

I then uploaded it to my facebook page and then dragged it to my desktop.  From there I was able to upload it to my blog.  I am sure there is a more direct route than the one I took.

I find inspiration in the blogs I read, Two Writing Teachers have talked about choosing "One Little Word".  I decided on gratitude.

Yesterday with my 5/6 combo I asked them to make a gratitude list.  List of things they were grateful for, accomplishments, new skills they had learned, people who had helped or supported them.  At first they just looked at me.  Gratitude?  You see the elementary school I work at is a feeder school for our community's homeless shelters.  Many of my students have seen more grief than most adults will live through their entire lifetime.

After I gave them time I shared an article from the "Parade Magazine" insert from our newspaper.  "Up Your Gratitude: Thank-you Notes can have Profound Effects"  This link is a copy of that article.

John Kralick is a lawyer who discovered the power of Thank-you notes.  His book "A Simple Act of Gratitude" is now available in paperback.

I asked my students to write a thank-you note to someone.  I said it could be a family member, a friend, or a teacher who has helped them.  They wrote.  The room was quiet as they wrote.  I encouraged them to write at least one thank-you note a month.  My goal is to write one note a week.

I want to go back and read more posts about "One Little Word".  It has already led me to some amazing ah-ha moments.  To me gratitude and inspiration are closely linked.  I am looking forward to finding more ways to be inspired.  What inspires you?

H is for Hats

What's the big deal about hats?  I am sure that hats are an important head accessory in other states besides Montana.  Cowboy hats and baseball style hats are two of the most common head coverings to be found in Montana.

During the spring of 1977 I splurged on a baby blue wrangler felt hat.  I wanted to be properly decked out for the upcoming Bucking Horse Sale. The Bucking Horse Sale is held in May.  Rough green stock is rode and sold at auction.  In years past it was an excuse for one large party.  People traveled from all over to attend.  I wore that hat proudly, convincing myself at least that this city girl looked pure country.

That summer I found what I thought were two young pups running down the street.  I picked them up and called a friend who worked at the pound to find out how to find them a home.  He told me they probably would not find homes.  So I decided to keep them.  I took them to the vet for a check-up and to see about their shots.  The vet said they were long haired dachshunds and both were pregnant!  

Tigger had a regular litter there were 7 pups.  Duchess had problems.  I took her to the vet.  He delivered one live pup.  As fall turned cold I brought the dogs in from the shed outside to the basement.  One morning I went to get them.  Coming down the steps I opened the door - there spread on the floor were pieces of baby blue felt, an overturned hat box and gloves missing a few appendages and many fuzzy fur balls.  I was furious - my new hat was tattered and torn!

I turned around and went upstairs to cool down.  My mom said, "You should have put it up."

"I had it up." I whined."They knocked it down and ate it."

Another slicer, tjkfirst, from the "Two Writing Teachers" Slice of Life Challenge left a comment on my blog. Her brother has the H Bar Hat Works here in Billings where I live.  Talk about a small world.  His company is on facebook and he says he has a one man hat shop specializing in custom hats!

Hats, every hat has a story, even ones long gone.

Reflections on Slicing My Life in March

I have enjoyed the writing challenge this year.  I have "met" some great people, and enjoyed their writing.  The slice a day has been "challenging"  so often I didn't know what to write or where to start.  From reading the many posts of others I have gleamed ideas for class, read recommendations for new books, learned new idioms "before the sparrow farts".  I have learned about the lives and concerns of many great people.  I am sad it has come to an end.

In our district it has been a long standing practice to move teachers to new schools every 12 years.  This is my twelfth year.  The idea of starting in a new school feels daunting, yet exciting.  I have become so attached to the children, families, and staff where I work that it makes me sad that I am leaving.  It hurts to know I am leaving this teaching community.

Daily writing has helped me examine many of my thoughts that were fluttering around my brain.  I even took risks and shared my writing with several of my classes.  Quickly realizing that my writing did not pass my student delighted screening.

I think what I valued the most was the comments.  It was proof that someone out there was listening.  That what I wrote made a connection, a chuckle, or was thought provoking.  Those comments gave me encouragement.  They made me feel connected.  They made me feel that I was part of a community.  The year I participated in the NWP I felt that community, and I have missed that type of daily connection.

This was my second year participating.  Last year I only made it a few times.  This year I wrote 30 out of 31 days.  I feel exhilarated with that accomplishment.  What I feel the most is thankfulness.  I have learned so much reading "Two Writing Teachers" and the many other blogs.  I have found many that I decided to follow.  I hope they keep posting on a regular basis.  Here is to the future - Tuesday slicing and to the wonderful friendships we are building.