Last night I finished a short book by Joan Didion entitled The Year of Magical Thinking which she wrote during the year following her husband’s sudden death of heart failure. Perhaps inspired by her loss and sorrow and so many Slicers who are presenting their thoughts in free-form poetry, I decided to try this strategy today…
Today is…
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
a day that will never repeat itself
ever
Today is…
cloudy and still somewhat chilly
unlike some of the more recent spring-like
days
Today is…
unscheduled but full of things to do
and I am already getting a late
start
Today is…
another day that my lovely daughter
will soon be home for lunch and
conversation
Today is …
not like my usual Tuesdays when
I am in my Chair Yoga class at
the library
Today is…
my return to Weight Watchers
long overdue, but necessary to stay
healthy
Today is…
a multitasking day
doing laundry, cooking, cleaning
and writing
Today is…
when I’ll be doing some organizing
for an upcoming poetry workshop
I’m teaching
Today is…
already one-third over and I’ve barely begun
to tackle all the things I need
to do
Today is…
not special in any particular way
but a day to be cherished
nonetheless
Today is…
a day to be thankful for
just the ordinary things in
my life
Teaching for Life 
Love the last line, yes, every day needs to be cherished just for being. Believe me, I know.
LikeLike
We are in a special club…not necessarily one I want to be in. But I’d rather be in it than not here at all!
LikeLike
Love your poem and the form you used. Especially like how the beginning and ending lines: “a day that will never repeat itself” and “a day to be thankful for” tie the happenings of the day together with what is really most important.
LikeLike
Sometimes writing just flows…as this piece did. And I really didn’t even have to work at the beginning or ending. They were already there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s start a club…the Ordinary Club. Enjoying the ordinary is a good practice to follow!
LikeLike
We can find a lot of extraordinary when we just look at the ordinary. Love this form a and this process for looking at your day. One one little word is intent and enjoying the ordinary is what I am trying to do.
LikeLike
Now here is a way to write a lot about a little. You really put the smallest of moments of the day into a lovely poem. I hope you add this poem to your workshop. Great structure!
LikeLike
With your recommendation I most certainly will! In fact, it may become the model for the reflection I will ask the participants to do at the end of the workshop. Thanks for encouraging me!
LikeLike
I love this format, Barbara. As others have said, it is simple yet filled with so much information. I can see myself trying this out very soon and can see my young students find success with it as well. Thanks for the inspiration!
LikeLike
Actually, the idea just popped into my head shortly before I sat down to write. Sometimes inspiration is close at hand; other times not! I got lucky today! Let me know how it works out with your students.
LikeLiked by 1 person