32: One More Day and Then…

Teachers get lovely breaks. Yes, technically we only get paid for contracted days and have our pay spread out over the year to make things easier to balance in the ole checking account. Still, the forced times off usually fall perfectly on a calendar, particularly Winter Break and Summer Break. While Summer Breaks often find me twiddling my thumbs wondering what I could possibly do with minimal money available, Winter Breaks are more like a chase scene in The Fast and the Furious franchise. By the first Monday in January, I’m wondering what the heck just happened over the last two weeks.

Let’s call it what it is: family obligations.

I feel relatively comfortable with my school work load this year, so I won’t be spending much time on classwork. What will take precedence are the family activities, outings, get togethers, and what not. As of now, I am booked on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Week One.

I am lucky to have loved ones who want to see me. Many will be missing special people in their lives, and the holiday season stings worse than I could imagine. I’m not playing the “woe is me” card. I’m simply referring to the frantic pace of Christmas and the anxiety it keeps on a low heat burner.

Now, to my point: writing time. I must be judicial in my spare time. I am not the type of writer who can force themselves to march upstairs, close the door, and write away. My mind craves distractions, and it will create a cacophony of rambling thoughts, long lost playlists, or sudden to-do lists regardless of external stimuli. Honestly, I work best in the buzz of coffee shops. Then the voices in my head have company!

What is my writing expectation this break? I’d say if I can get at least a few words down each morning, then I should be proud of my accomplishment. I count blogs, journal entries, or sloppy drafts. If I can read my work, it works. As for you, dear reader, I hope you have a holiday season filled with family obligations and writing that gives you a cozy, hot cocoa feeling.