WFMAD Day 2: My Abundance of Time

Today's non-fiction prompt: What is your favorite time waster? Be specific: write down the websites and what you get out of spending time on them. The television shows and movies that you've watched in the last movies. The phone calls, coffee dates, lunches, or evenings out that robbed you of time you'd like to have back. What time of day are you most likely to engage in these time wasters and why? THAT IS YOUR WRITING TIME!!

My favorite time waster has to be, without a doubt, Pinterest. I could spend hours perusing memes, recipes, DIY projects, and even teaching ideas. Sadly, I have spent hours doing said perusing. And while most of my pins have not been touched since pinning, there are also just as many that I have actually utilized either in my classroom, my kitchen, or for my own personal life hacks. But, I digress. More often than not, Pinterest truly is a time waster for me. Usually it takes place in the evenings, when I am winding down from a long day and just need to "zone out" for a bit. Seems innocent enough, until I realize I'm capable of zoning out for hours at a time! Even if I just spent the time reading, it could be more beneficial for me. I've found that the more I read, the more likely I am to write, and when I stop reading, I stop writing. Coincidence? I think not.

My second favorite time waster is probably Facebook. Here I can stalk old high school classmates and college friends, usually all with the same result - babies, babies, and more babies. With the occasional "fur baby" thrown in there for good measure. The main reason I haven't shut down my Facebook account is that I live an ocean away from the majority of my loved ones, and I find it a helpful way to stay connected. But most of my time on Facebook is actually spent not communicating, but rather, lurking. Peering into the "private" perfect lives of my peers and growing more and more dissatisfied with my own situation. Pictures of weddings and engagements remind me that I'm 27 and still single to mingle. Adorable baby pictures remind me that I'm still not a mommy. Posts from family remind me that I'm missing out on birthday parties, game nights, and general celebrations of life with loved ones. So much of my time is wasted watching those around me, wishing I had what they had and not even considering how blessed I am to be where I am, doing what I'm doing.

The second half of my Facebook affair is the desire for affirmation, recognition, and let's just call it what it is: attention. Everyone is constantly competing for attention. I saw a quote once that said, "I share, therefore I am." Why do I write status updates about my daily runs? Because I want people to be impressed by my hard work and pat me on the back. Why do I post pictures of new haircuts? Because it feels good when people compliment me. Why do I share pictures of my lunch? Why not??

When I stop to think about how much time I truly spend on Facebook alone, it's embarrassing. Having the app on my iPad just makes it that much easier to pop on for a minute here, two minutes there, half of my lunch break, oh, and one more time before heading home for the day. If I added up all the minutes spent throughout the day checking Facebook, I'd be able to Write Fifteen Minutes A Day multiple times!

I think I might have a problem.

Write Fifteen Minutes a Day: Day 1

Once again I am dusting off this blog to attempt another project - this time a writing one! Maybe I'll make it through the whole thing this time. I came across this challenge on Twitter, where a colleague of mine posted a link to this blog. The author is posting both a fiction and non-fiction prompt for each day of September and the goal is simply to write for 15 minutes a day. So, here goes nothing!

Today's non-fiction prompt: Write about why you are afraid to write. What is your worst writing nightmare? What is the worst thing that can happen if you send 15 minutes a day, every day for the rest of this month, writing? 

I didn't used to be afraid to write. When I was a child, I was always told how creative I was. My teachers told me that I was smart, that I had talent, that I was special. Then I grew up and realized that I wasn't so special, but that everyone around me was just as good as, if not better than, me at everything that I thought I excelled at. So I gradually stopped sharing because there was always someone else who could do it better than me.

Then in college I had a professor actually try to convince me to switch majors so that I could focus on my writing. She may not remember me, but Jamie Janosz's encouragement, feedback, and support instilled in me a new sense of self-esteem that would later cause me to write for the Moody Student (campus newspaper), start three different blogs, and submit some of my poems to the BFA literary magazine, Sono Libero.

The recent influx of bloggers screaming for attention has only served to silence me once more. Over the last five years I've written a mere handful of posts that truly got people's attention, elicited responses, and sparked conversations. But now, it seems that I write purely journalistically, to keep my supporters up to date on what's happening in my classroom. I don't write poems, stories, or spiritual devotions anymore, just the news. I mean really, why bother? How could my meager attempt at expression compare? Who would want to read what I have to say when someone else says it more spiritually, more humorously, more captivatingly, more creatively ...

So now I find myself afraid to write because no one will listen to me? Because I don't think I'm good enough? Because I don't think I have anything worthwhile to offer?

Yes. All of the above, as pathetic as that may be. So, maybe this month I'll stretch myself and my fingers and gain a little of my confidence back as I work through this writing challenge.

25 Days of Christmas Photo Challenge Day 2: Decorations

Day 2: Decorations

 

This picture was taken today in Colmar, France at the Christmas market. In case you can't tell, we are reflected in a huuuge ball on the Christmas tree! It was such a beautiful day; the air was clear, the temperatures were above freezing, and we had a great time together.

25 Days of Christmas Photo Challenge Day 1: Lights

Well, I can't seem to finish anything I start these days! I'm going to give this another go with a daily photo challenge for December. I'm off to a great start, already a day behind!

Day 1: Lights

These are the traditional Christmas lights that can be seen on the main street in my village. I love them!!

Project November Day 16

Day 16: Something you're proud of

Today I'm proud of something relatively simple. After school several BFA staffers got together for our first card making session of the season. We turned on Christmas music, sipped cider, and worked on Christmas cards while unwinding after a stressful week.

Typically when I am in the card making or scrapbooking mindset, I am very indecisive. It often takes me a ridiculously long time to decide on which paper to use, and then my brain is so full of ideas that I can't narrow it down to one I want to actually do. Tonight, however, was a different story. I knew almost instantly which paper I would use and what my design would be, and I was able to crank out three designs tonight! That may not sound like much, but I made six of each, or 18 cards in less than three hours.

Seriously. Exerting that much brain power on a Friday night after a long school week is worth mentioning.