II'm writing every day in March as part of the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life group. This slice is thanks to Ana who lead our Thursday night writing group this week. Ana suggested we all write about the hour before we zoomed into the meeting. I did!
She pulled down her cap and started swimming while I hopped over to the room where that fake running machine, otherwise known as elliptical, sits waiting to torture. I did the requisite minutes as fast as I could. I was on a mission, and the sweat dripping from my brown was evidence of my intent to get as much into the next hour as I could.
I quickly headed to the circuit where those foreboding machines were mocking me to come visit even though there were others with toned bodies and perfectly defined abs mulling around as if they had nothing else to do. I did the arm pull down machine, but my heart was already reading slices.
Fortunately, I had thrown my Chromebook into my gym bag, thinking maybe I might catch part of my writing group. I followed my heart and headed to the table near the pool.
I glanced over, She looked small compared to the others as she swam back and forth, almost effortlessly. She was clearly the younger sister in this cohort and I was feeling apprehensive for her; but, she was strangely confident practicing without her usual teammates as she prepared for the biggie Regional Meet.
For a moment, I lost my focus and returned to that morning, not that long ago, when her mom insisted I join the smiling toddler as she learned to jump off the side of the pool. If I am honest, I think she was confident even then. What I really remember is that I was a petrified new Meme, not sure of anything, learning to swim on my own in a new life that I could not even imagine. I did have one of those really cool Slice of Life moments thinking, "It is a good thing confidence is not genetic."
Then, filled with hope, I logged onto zoom where my friends were already gathering, grateful for this community where I too take risks, do hard things, and practice writing every day in March.
6 comments:
I really want evenings to work out so I can come and write in this group. There is nothing more empowering than writing with others and sharing that bond. I'm so glad you shared about this in your post today. When I retire, I will be part of 100 writing groups if they're offered. I feel like I get up and do this and do that and go to bed and get up and do it all over again. I'm ready for some time to write. Thank you so much for posting this.
I like your build up to joining the writing group. Fun description of the machines. Getting together with a group offers encouragement. arjeha
Anita,
I am at the point in this month where it’s feeling hard, not so much the writing as the keeping up and making choices about what to do and what not to do. I love this metaphor because the gym and definitely not the pool are comfortable, natural places for me. I workout at home, but I may need to go back to the gym to increase my energy level.
Anita!
I've had a traumatic experience as a little one that's prevented me from learning how to swim. I don't even like getting in pools, so the thought of a little one exited to jump in one is so unorthodox to me haha.
I love this prompt for writing. I usually write in the mornings first thing so the only thing that happens in the hour before my writing time is sleep! Some thought-provoking observations here about confidence and jumping in and doing the thing.
Anita, I love how this captures both the motion of the present and the tenderness of memory. The way you notice her quiet confidence now, while remembering your own uncertainty then, feels so honest and full of heart. That line about confidence not being genetic made me smile—it holds so much truth and growth. I love being part of a writing group with you!
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