Slicing and Wondering

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community today. It's always good to read what everyone shares.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb. 

      Congratulations for the honor of being chosen as the best group blog in the Edublogs awards. You would continue to do wonderful work no matter what, but it's always nice to be acknowledged for it. Terrific end of year accolade!

           It's time to ponder the year behind us, and look forward to 2016, too. I might write a post about 2015, another year of changes for me, but this time I am looking forward, and I wonder, sometimes seriously, outward and inward . . . 

       (As I re-read my post, I also wondered from a teacher's view: Isn't this isn't the way one wants our students to think, self-reflect and then answer with a plan? Further work will be needed; further research done, but the student takes the first step.)

When I wrote, I found I needed to reply with a second wonder. You'll see why!

I wonder how everyone will work to make change so that we no longer rise in the morning and hear of yet another tragedy because of guns or bombs?
(Do I have an organization that I trust and support to help do this?)

I wonder if people will try very hard to be kind to each other because of OR in spite of differences?
(Do I have an idea of how to reply kindly even when disagreeing?)

I wonder if we can finally, finally help everyone obtain health coverage?
(There are such worries when medical bills pile up and up. Do I know who might be good to contact to show my concern?)


I wonder how we will manage this next Presidential election with such diverse opinions?
(When I support one group more than another, will I find compromise?)

I wonder if people will ever elect a woman president? 
(How can I further support the reasoning that gender doesn't matter; intelligence and integrity do?)

I wonder if I will ever find a way to focus on one project at a time? (Still so scattered!)
(Is there a book available that might show a path for this new journey?)

I wonder how many repairs/changes to my home that I'll do this year?
(Isn't it a good thing simply to create a list of people, call them, and begin?)

I wonder if I will make a plan for writing, and then sending it out to see if I can publish?
(Isn't it true that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step?)

I wonder when I'll stop writing good ways to live, and start listening and doing?
(Enough said.)

Wishing you all a holiday merry and bright, and a year of future wonders.

From Rainer Maria Rilke: 

               “And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.”

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photo credit: Teddy via photopin (license)