It’s the first day, and my first year, of Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge 2021. While blogging every single day in March seems like a daunting task, I’m excited to join the writing community!! To those who have participated in the challenge for years – thank you for your guidance. To those who are joining for the first time, too – we got this!
I recently shared with the Time to Write workshop group that as a planner, it feels overwhelming to attempt to crank out something new every day. For 31 days. I think my main fear is publishing “imperfect” words that I’m not sure I will later agree with because writing is so often my wonderings, my figuring out.
This reminded me of writer and theologian Kat Armas’s Instagram post caption from January in which she shares,
I realize that one of the hardest parts about putting your words on a page – fixed and static – is that it gives off the illusion that my ideas and my thoughts about God and life aren’t constantly in motion, shifting like the waves and the sand with every book I read and conversation I have and person I meet and prayer I pray.
As my blog name suggests, I pride myself in being “multifaceted.” Until recently, I thought that only referred to my identities, but it’s more than that. I am constantly seeking ideas that might confirm or challenge my thinking. I want to grow. I want to change for the better. My ideas and my thoughts, like Kat writes, often shift daily because of a new experience or enlightening conversation. However, I know I am resistant to the discomfort that comes with change.
Change. There is a tension in me: I want to change, yet others must believe I am steadfast. Even as I type it, it sounds silly that not wanting to be viewed as someone who changes her mind would be synonymous with being a woman who lacks courage.
Kat Armas concedes that her book does “nothing more than name the journey.”
And I hope that when I look back at it – in ten, fifteen, twenty years – if I no longer agree with the things I once wrote down, I’ll be reminded of the bigness of God. I hope that it’ll be a testament to divine mystery: how much there is to learn and to grow. And like the ocean that is both constant and ever changing, I’ll know the divine was and is present, offering newness and restoration every step of the way.
Ultimately, this is what I want. I am not God. My words, my thoughts, my ideas are not the solid rock. And during this month, I am going to seek to rejoice in this fact.
britt escribe 
If it is any consolation as a pantser it feels overwhelming to commit to 31 days of slicing (and this is year 7 for me), so I am thinking you’ve got this (because knowing you, you may already have some ideas up your sleeve or have inspiration living with you!). Glad to see you here!
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You are so kind, thank you for saying that!! I’m super excited and hope to remain open minded regarding my self-imposed “guidelines.” Ha!
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So glad you are taking this 31 day challenge. This is my 8th year and believe me if I worried about every post being perfect I would never publish anything. Have fun and enjoy the ride. You’ve got this.
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Thank you so much for the encouragement!!
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Welcome!! I really loved how you put this together, circling around and including the thoughts from Kat Armas (who I am unfamiliar with but am adding to my list of “things to know”!). I especially love that you end with the knowledge that this, too, is tenuous.
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I recently discovered her, and I’m very excited about her book release later this year! 🙂 Thank you so much for your encouragement and kind words.
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It’s important that we recognize the reality of change–our attitudes, opinions, and beliefs change as we grow and experience new things (well, they should). Fortunately for me, writing personal narratives (slices of life) don’t reflect a lot of beliefs and opinions; I’m just telling people what happened to me. That’s my style, and it works for me. I’m looking forward to the challenge of the month, even if it seems overwhelming at times. It’s good to have you here!
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Tim, how true that slices really are personal narratives that may not reflect beliefs and opinions. Maybe I’m like my grandmother and mother who cannot tell a story without feeling there must be a “lesson learned” at the end. Ha! Thanks for reading, friend!
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You write with powerful conviction and acceptance – there are simply divine mysteries that we cannot know, but that we can mull and marvel over; how else might we ever be swept away by awe? Growth and remaining open are keys to life, and that is what I take away from your words. Welcome to the Challenge! I am delighted you’re here on this adventure of discovery (for that is how I’ve come to view it!).
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Fran, your words are consistently such a grace for me. You say I write with powerful conviction and acceptance, but it is YOUR words I read that way! I want to be a writer like you. Thank you for the gift of sharing your words, as well as reading my words in return. ❤
Happy slicing!
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I have often said that when I grow up, I want to be a writer like Fran. She is amazing!
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Wow! What a great first post. I so agree with some of the others. Perfection is not in this game. And Tim is right, writing personal narratives helps you to avoid some of those pitfalls of putting words out that you end up wishing you hadn’t. But you will do great!! I know you have a wonderful support system. 🙂 Now I want to check out that book.
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> I think my main fear is publishing “imperfect” words that I’m not sure I will later agree with because writing is so often my wonderings, my figuring out.<
First, welcome to your Challenge! This is an amazing group (as you've seen with the comments all ready) who are ready to help if you need it!
I like to find a line that speaks to me in a blog, and this one did just that, spoke volumes! 🙂 I feel like I'm almost too blunt in my writing, I share too much. Yet, we are allowed to change, we are allowed that opportunity to see different perspectives, ideas, and come back to our writing, saying, "Maybe I need to rethink this thought."
And that's ok.
Thank you for this thoughtful first slice! I cannot wait to see where this month (and beyond) takes you! 🙂
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Darin, what an encouraging comment! Thank you, thank you for reading and for cheering me on. I look forward to slicing alongside this wonderful community!!
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My first thought was that I love all your “m” identity words at the top of your blog! When I read your post, I loved it too! As a perfectionist, your line about putting imperfect words down really resonated with me, but the quote you shared at the end was my very favorite part. When we change, it is truly a testament to God working in us, and that is a beautiful and powerful idea to remember! ❤
Welcome to the slicing community! So glad you're here!
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Jennifer, thank you for appreciating all the M’s 😉 You’re so right – change truly has nothing to do with us huh? It’s all a testament to God’s work – I LOVE how you worded that! Thank you so much for reading 🙂
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Thank you for sharing Kat Armas with me. I just looked her up on insta. We recently moved (during a pandemic– yikes!) and I’ve found it so hard to find a faith community. Part of it is being in a new place, but part of it is an unpacking of what I believe and why. I feel like I’ve come totally unraveled at times! I found this older song by Nicole Nordeman called The Unmaking and some of the words were for this time of life for me. “This is the unmaking, beauty in the breaking, had to lose myself to find out who you are” is on repeat in my head. I think it’s a good sign of growth when you are open to change. It’s also scary!!
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Jackie, I hear you! Honestly? We haven’t even moved, but plugging into a faith community has been so difficult. We made the decision last summer to stop going to a church we’d been attending for a few months, but due to covid, it’s felt impossible to search for a new one – which so often leads to apathy, you know?
I’m going to look up that song!
Change is so scary indeed, but it almost always turns out for the best! Those growing pains 🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting.
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This is lovely, Britt. I hear your voice in your writing. And visually, your blog is so attractive!
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You’re so kind, Marilyn. Thank you for reading!!
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I am glad that you are slicing with all of us Britt. May your journey lead you on to find many new relationships and avenues for your writing. I look forward to communicating with you.
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I’ve only sliced three days, and I already feel so welcomed into the community. Thank you so, so much! 🙂
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