How do you define success and happiness?
Two great posts recently include this from Kate and Maggie and this from Anna Gratz Cockerille.
As a “Slicer”. . .
I want to express my gratitude to the Two Writing Teacher blog and bloggers. After meeting and hearing from five of them at #NCTE14, I am even more impressed with their prolific blogging, slicing, and “regular working lives”. As with everyone, there is the need to be cautious and not burn oneself out in an attempt to do EVERYTHING! I am very grateful for this supportive space to read, write and reflect!
As a “Blogger” . . .
I want to express my gratitude to all those who follow my blog, read my posts, and especially for those who comment. I really appreciate knowing which ideas or words captured your thinking as you read my blog posts. We are all busy so I am very grateful for the extra time that you take to not only read but also to stop and comment!
As a “Tweeter” . . .
I want to express my gratitude to my followers who RT and / or “favorite” my Tweets. Special thanks to those who don’t moan on nights when the Twitter feed fills up during a # #T4Tchat or #TWTchat or a #TCRWP chat. I love learning online and I am so grateful for the brilliant ideas shared!
As a “Reader of Professional Texts” . . .
I want to express my gratitude to the authors (their families), editors and publishers of these great books that were a part of my professional development during 2013-2014. Even more importantly, I thank those who participated in the book chats and freely shared their thoughts and ideas. I am amazed at the new things I learn every day as I read and reread these books, and I am grateful for having met these fabulous authors! (And I am so fortunate that I can “wear” evidence of my PD in the form of an autographed t-shirt!)
As a “Fra-mily” . . .
I want to express my gratitude to those of you who may also be in all the categories above but who have become a part of my friends + family as a result of our personal face-to-face connections (often over a beverage or dinner), Twitter chats, blogs and Slices. You range from Arizona, California, Washington, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland to Virginia, Georgia, and Louisiana. It is an honor and a pleasure to “KNOW” you and I am grateful for the time spent with you sharing online, face-to-face, personally and professionally.
As a member of our “Literacy Team” . . .
I want to express my gratitude for those of you who are part of my regular work team. Together we are better! Sharing resources, information and learning helps us all grow. A growth mindset allows us to be continually improving our own skills. I am grateful for our collaborative nature.
As a “Sister” . . .
I want to express my gratitude to my siblings. It’s been years since we have been under one roof for extended periods of time, but each family event provides many opportunities to share our hopes and dreams. Sometimes we even reminisce about the past and we are at that stage where our memories may have faded but our enthusiasm remains. I am grateful for our time together.
As a “Daughter” . . .
I want to express my gratitude to my parents. Miss you, Dad, but think of you daily with so much love as I continue to appreciate all that I learned from you. Mom, I’ll never master crocheting and quilting, but I love your work and still share hearts as I travel. I especially appreciate your love and support across the years and the miles.
As a “Mom” and soon-t0-be Grandma . . .
I want to express my gratitude to you my readers who have graciously allowed me to share my stories. I am proud of my growing family and can’t wait to share their brilliance with you!
I wish you all a happy, healthy, joyous, and fun-filled holiday season!
What’s your plan for sharing your gratitude?
Tuesday is the day to share a “Slice of Life” with Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here. Thanks to Stacey, Anna, Beth, Tara, Dana and Betsy for creating a place for us to work collaboratively.
Resource - Full 
Fran,
What a great gift to give to all of us who benefit so much from what you share in chats, blogs and real life! It has been such an honor and a pleasure to learn from you and be with you. I know so many others feel the same.
Thanks for everything and this lovely post of gratitude. Giving thanks is an inspirational type of doing. This is a great mentor for others to practice the gift of gratitude any time of the year.
Happy Holidays!
Julieanne
Julieanne,
Right back at you!
I love your willingness to share your learning and your struggles so openly and honestly! You are also a source of inspiration!
Fran
This one made me tear up, Fran. Lovely. Thank you.
Jan,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! This was a fun post to write! And it’s an important one for either ending the old year or EVEN beginning the new year! (I’m currently reading your chapter on “joy.”)
I echo Julieanne’s message. I am so thankful I discovered your blog during the Close Reading posts from Chris Lehman. Even though I don’t always comment, I am an avid reader of your thinking. I say thank you to you! 🙂
Elsie,
I am so glad that you discovered my blog! I love hearing from you. I try to read your slices every week as well even though I don’t always comment!
It’s so great to have such a wide network of friends and thank you for commenting!
I do 30 Days of Thanks every November. It really puts me in the right mindset for the end of the calendar year!
That grand baby is going to be at the top of next year’s list. (Just a hunch!)
Stacey,
I’ve not heard of the 30 Days of Thanks before! That would be building up to a good mindset!
We are having so much fun!
Thanks for stopping by. I always appreciate your comments!
I am grateful that I have the chance to learn from you, Fran. And I am grateful for your friendship. So looking forward to your grandma news!
Tara,
I love your blogs and all that you share from your classroom. You have so much wisdom!
And I so appreciated you traveling in to the city in order to see us last June and July! You have such a knack for making everyone around you feel comfortable and knowledgeable!
You are such a bright spot in my “Fra-mily!”
Wow…love this and have so many things in common…but I think my only word this year needs to be …Twitter…I have no idea why it makes me so nervous, but I have to get on it. xo
Seriously,
You do not have to spend a lot of time on Twitter but just find a few people to follow and a specific chat or two and you will be fine!
Fran, I love reading your posts as I often find myself thinking a bit deeper about things which are important. Your posts help me take a breath and I am grateful for that. It has been great learning from you. Thank you 🙂
Thanks for your comments! I have FUN with my posts although some seem to take a bit longer to come to a clear, concise message than others. My goal is to always share ideas from others or something that I have found valuable.
I’m working on a big reflection for the year and grateful for the extra week to finish my thinking! 😉
We all have many people in our lives should thank but don’t always get around to it. I would say that you have wonderfully covered everyone. As with others, I read your post often, but don’t always comment. I must get better at that.
Thanks for commenting TODAY! I’m fascinated by Stacey’s 30 Days of Thanks in November. It’s such a great way to end the year because it feels like a “gift” to myself! (especially when my sister retweeted the link to this post!)
As for commenting, I also read many more than I comment on. Sometimes I want to think a bit before I write and I just don’t get back to the original post. Time and memory slips away. ❤
I loved Anna’s post, as well as Kate and Maggie’s and now I love yours, too! I am grateful for you, Fran. Your humor, insight, wisdom, and unselfish sharer has made be a better educator. Thank you.
Melanie,
I learn so much from every post of yours as I think about “who” needs to hear your messages (besides me)! You are welcome! It’s comments like this that encourage me to write more and to “up my game” as I always consider “Is this good enough?” and often have to revise several times!
I value our conversations and look forward to many, many more!
Your post makes me smile from ear to ear. You have certainly LIVED your word through all aspects of your life.
Thanks, Anita!
I love the “smile from ear to ear” as I’m often chuckling “aloud” especially when slicing! I believe that if I like my writing, it may appeal to others!
I began this whole blog on the notion that I might have ideas or resources to share. I’m still amazed that it is of value to others . . .
Happiness is reading this post, Fran, and being grateful that, because are part of my PLN, I have the opportunity to be inspired and learn from you! Thank you!
Catherine,
You are such a source of inspiration to me. Your poetry amazes me! Love learning from you so much! ❤
Fran,
I am grateful for you! In fact, my mom and I frequently reflect on how grateful we both are for your wisdom and support. Thank YOU!
Taylor,
You are welcome! It’s a mutual admiration society! There is so much strength from our conversations! 🙂
WOW Fran! What a lovely post. I am so grateful I had the chance to read it. What a joy to connect with you and think with you.
And what is that great image of books with authors’ signatures? A T-shirt? I want one! Thank you for all you do, Fran.
Anna,
I am so glad that you read it because you did such a great job of convincing me of the importance of gratitude. We will also be working on gratitude after the holiday break!
And yes, that is a t-shirt. Those were the Twitter bookchats that several of us were in last year. I decided that “autographs” would be an enhancement! I know I missed a whole bunch of UoS authors including YOU! (That shirt and my “I Love Lucy” shirts were my favorites for the year!) I “wear” evidence of my PD!
Beautiful post, Fran.
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Hi Fran!
I enjoy keeping up with you by reading your SOL posts since I don’t see you in person very often. I am grateful to work with you and agree – collaboration makes us a stronger team.
Thanks, Linda! It’s sometimes scary that we can have so little contact at work! Collaboration becomes an even bigger necessity for strength as a team!