First "3" of March - learning

Last year, I created a few structures to help me Slice, and I'm doing it again this year.

Last year, all dates with a 3 was a "3 things" post.

This year, dates with 3s will be a push to Slice about what I'm learning.

Last night, over 30 of us gathered on Zoom to learn from Maggie Beattie Roberts, leaning into the brilliance that is her new book, Foundational Skills for Writing, co-written with her friend Melanie Meehan, a force in our TWT community. Learn more here and here - you will love this book.

But today, I'm slicing about my own learning. Maggie unpacked what happens to writers in "cognitive overload" and last night, after the call, I went back to photo I took of the slide (above). That triangle on the right with the exclamation mark in the middle and the "warning" flares on both sides. That is me. I am that triangle right now. Sure, sure, my flares aren't always so big, but I feel like my brain is definitely in a prolonged state of cognitive overload, and my heart is in "caring" overload and my body is in "taking action" overload.

My signs are different than those of young writers.

I move into franticness.

My phone takes on more importance.

I buy ingredients to make healthy meals that never get cooked.
I let work follow-throughs overwhelm me, I don't want to chit-chat with anyone (in fact, small talk becomes nails on a chalkboard), and no book can hold my attention. 

I forget to breathe and find steadiness.

And I am absolutely able to state what many of us know: there is good reason to be in overload in these days! The world does not feel (the world is not) steady, so how can I possibly be steady, when I believe in our interconnectedness? 

(For me, today is one of those ⚠ days!) (PS: This emoji is called "warning sign"!)

Thank goodness Maggie created a toolkit for teachers and their writers.

And thank goodness I have some tools, too.

I just set a timer to help me Slice. I love timers!

I will step away from this computer in a few minutes and breathe. Breathing is good!

I will make some cinnamon tea - this tea has been a magical balm this winter, just holding the cup, smelling the herbs, being still with it.

I think I can also use my words, or use the symbol ⚠  to tell myself that cognitive overload has arrived and it's time to use the toolkit. I might just make myself a mini anchor chart (I'm NOT KIDDING!) and post it near my desk (I think I might put a tea bag on it).

I am grateful to have words, and grateful for tools, and grateful for learning.