Write On

Today I sat in a room for two and half hours monitoring my homeroom as they were administered their writing assessment. All of my students are taking this test this week, and they are, quite honestly, freaking out. My students have written a ton this year, but I honestly haven't spent as much time as I should helping them with the writing process (until recently). Honestly, I just want them to write. Next year, I plan to spend at least one day a week writing. Sometimes, it will be expository writing (like today's assessment) and they will receive really targeted feedback. But other times, they will write letters and poems and stories and anything that comes to mind. I am learning to love the written word.

I am someone who always has something to say. For those of you nodding your heads, don't worry, I annoy myself too. I used to have problems with depression and anxiety, so I have learned how to express what I am feeling verbally. But I know that not everyone is like this. My husband has really shown me the beauty of quiet (sometimes). Other times, I'm not really sure how to react. I know that he has thoughts and feelings, but he's just not in the mood to share them. Last night was one of those nights. We ended up joking about it right before bed, and I told him that I know he loves me even when he doesn't say it. I told him I even had evidence, then pulled this out of my nightstand:

It's the card that he wrote me the day of our wedding. I can guarantee that this will only ever be for my eyes. There is something powerful in looking back on his thoughts about me and our relationship right before I became his wife. It reminds me of how we felt that day, how excited we were to be married, and how much we have grown together since then. That is the power of the written word, my friends. So, even though I am going to spend the next three hours of my life grading samples of my students' writing, it's all worth it to encourage them to use the written word.

Have you written anything lately? You may say "I love you," everyday to your spouse or SigO, but have you written them a love letter? Have you dropped a note to your mom who took care of your sniffly nose even though you're a high-functioning college student? What about some words of encouragement to a co-worker? Try writing something to someone today. You never know, it might be a letter that person keeps forever!