My OLW for 2016 was present. Part of my rationale for that choice was to not procrastinate. I have gotten better about this, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Another reason I chose present was to be more aware of my surroundings in the moment, to be open to the gifts waiting there.
I have been much more successful with this connotation of the word. Finding “commonplace marvels” and writing #haikuforhealing along with Mary Lee Hahn and other bloggers during the month of December was a perfect way to end the year. But I’ve found that once I started really noticing, marvels were everywhere and being present to them is not something that I could stop.
Although I have a pretty good idea of why my OLW will be for 2017, I haven’t completely decided. In the meantime, here is today’s commonplace marvel, which I found on my windshield this morning.
in dawn’s rosy glow,
a bouquet of frost petals
blooms
© Catherine Flynn, 2017
Thank you to Stacey, Dana, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lisa for creating this community and providing this space for teachers and others to share their stories each Tuesday. Be sure to visit Two Writing Teachers to read more Slice of Life posts.
Reading to the Core 
Since I became more public with casual writing (blog), I’ve found myself being more purposefully “aware of my surroundings in the moment, to be open to the gifts waiting there” and of course, just as you say, “once I started really noticing, marvels were everywhere…” I find that it raises my level of gratitude, of peace, of joy. I love “frost petals.”
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I feel you on the procrastination part ! Present is a great word !
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Catherine, it has been a pleasure seeking joy in #commonplacemarvels with you and our writing friends. This one is a stunning image that has a wonderful pairing of words. I am going to design a winter gallery, #WinterWonder17, and am hoping that you will offer your work as an #imagepoem. Please, let me know if you are interested. Of course, send more as you find new wonders.
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I am always inspired by your noticings that culminate so beautifully in haiku.
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Hi Catherine! I am so glad you added to Mary Lee’s #haikuforhealing with your #Commonplacemarvels. It has been such a daily joy for me to write for them and for the group. Your “frost petals” are just lovely!
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I’ve enjoy reading your haiku poems. I think this one really demonstrated you being present and taking the time to notice. I almost picked present for my OLW for 2017 but I went with mindful. I cannot wait to see what you reveal for 2017.
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beautiful
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I love your word and its potential to reach far outside of your writing life.
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Lovely, Honey!
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I’ve loved reading your #haikuforhealing and so glad you’re still finding poetry in the moment. Love your frost petals.
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