Slice of Life: Challenge Accepted

Last week I attended a workshop by Stacy Shubitz, one of the Two Writing Teachers, who suggested joining the Slice of Life March Challenge. After giving it some thought and initially worrying that it would be just one more thing to add to my already over-crowded list of things to accomplish before going to sleep, I have decided to accept.

I already know how satisfying blogging can be. Back before I had children (biological or classroom) I came to rely on my two (now-defunct) blogs as a venue to record my musings and frustrations. Narcissism aside, blogging gave me an outlet to reflect on my life in a thoughtful way. Somehow the medium of the Internet audience made it seem less gratuitous (and perhaps more meaningful) than just writing it down in a book.

My previous life as a blogger captured a slice of my life as an early 30-something. One of my blogs, The Knitting Life (January 2005-January 2006), I used primarily to post about new crafting projects and their progress. This was in the pre-Ravelry days, before those wonderful people made social networking for knitters so easy.

My second blog, The Trying Life (January-November 2006) dealt with more personal issues and traced the increasingly audible ticking of my biological clock and the frustrations of delayed motherhood.

Today, just a day after my 40th birthday, I am in a very different place than I was six years ago. Although I do miss the seemingly limitless amounts of free time I had back then, I truly do believe that I am happer and more fulfilled now. At the risk of descending into cliche, I have so much to be thankful for:  a wonderful, supportive husband, two beautiful, healthy children, and a career that challenges and fulfills me. I am surrounded with family, friends, and colleagues who value and support me.

I am slowly clawing back small aspects of my pre-childbearing life that enhance the daily grind of my life. I have returned to my position playing the oboe for The Central Pennsylvania Symphony. I actually am working on both a knitting project and reading a book for pleasure at the same time. And as the prospect of a glorious summer vacation peeks over the frosty horizon, I know that I can even contemplate starting to run again.

So as the first day of the challenge approaches, I look forward with eager anticipation to getting myself back into the habit of writing reflectively about my life. As a writing teacher, I know and appreciate more than ever the importance of using writing as a means of making sense of our world. Thank you, Stacy, for giving me the inspiration to do it!