Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Then and now

Tuesdays (and all of March!) at Two Writing Teachers!

Then

I was a perpetual motion machine

Churning out work until dark,
constantly striving for perfection,
one of the last cars in the parking lot.

Then

there was never enough time.

Rigid neck, tense shoulders, tight back.
Ruled by self-imposed schedules and checklists.
Analyzing, re-adjusting, overthinking.

Then



I couldn't turn off my brain

Worries bounced around my head,
clattering like pinballs, 

piling up until I was trapped.

Then

I couldn't see anything different.

How could I 
leave school earlier?
work out? 
relax (not just collapse)?
Still write, read, and do band?
With a baby?
How could I still be me?

But now

I walk out into afternoon sunlight,
humming, with light steps and clear eyes.
What's done is done, and the rest can wait.

Now

I work even more intensely
not just to be a better teacher, 
but also a better me.

Now

I close the lid on the worries
and flip a switch: 
Mommy!

Now

I breathe deeply and ponder possibilities:
the park? Read and play? Shopping? 
Snuggles?

Now

I live in wide smiles and sparkling eyes,
Wiggles, waves, giggles, and glee.
So much joy.

Now

There's somehow more of me in everything I do:
more energy, 
more peace, 
more strength
more love.



8 comments:

  1. What a wonderful juxtaposition of then and now! I enjoyed your phrasing 'breathe deeply and ponder possibilities'. Enjoy your now!

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  2. What a wonderful juxtaposition of then and now! I enjoyed your phrasing 'breathe deeply and ponder possibilities'. Enjoy your now!

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  3. Then was the preparation for the now you live. You worked through the hard parts, but now you know better how to schedule/plan. Now is the time to relish because time goes so fast. I love the way you set this up.

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  4. Beautiful reflection, wise teacher, wonderful mom. It all works out, and I'm happy that you think so, Jennifer. Enjoy that baby!

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  5. It's a lot about choices. You are making wise ones to take care of your family and yourself.

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  6. This is lovely, Jenn. Isn't it amazing what a baby does? She's beautiful, by the way--I enjoy the facebook pictures!

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  7. I love the Then, Now format to illustrate the beautiful and positive change in your life! I am so happy for you and the joy that the baby brings all of us.

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  8. Love this! Being a mom has moved school down the priority ladder for me, and I'm better for it. No more lying awake obsessing about my days. (I'm too tired for that!)

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