All Together Now

To my fellow Slice of Life bloggers, ready or not, March is here. March means Spring Break is just around the corner (woohoo!), Spring Training baseball games are in full swing (FINALLY!), and it's time to blog for 31 days (yikes!). I'll be honest, I've started typing and deleted my thoughts more times than I can count. While blogging in general makes me nervous, I find the first post to be the most difficult. It's an introduction to my month of writing, and like I teach my students, introductions should hook the reader... No pressure.

Also, like last year, I'm nervous about allowing other people (you!) into my head space. I'm afraid of making mistakes whether that mean accidentally spelling something wrong or using improper grammar. I'm terrified that my post might not be worth your time to read. In my first ever blog post, Here Goes Nothin', I confessed that I compare myself to others and that hasn't changed. Yet once again, here I am, challenging myself and doing what intimidates me, because through blogging last year I learned something. I learned that I'm not alone. So this year, I'm going to steal the St. Louis Cardinals 2017 season motto as my blog mantra.

Now contrary to popular belief, I am well aware of the fact that the St. Louis Cardinals struggled last season. The Red Birds found some quite unique and interesting ways to lose games. Before anyone starts questioning why I would choose a struggling team's motto, you should know I don't define a great season by their end record. As with any sport, or even life in general, there are moments of greatness and fond memories made during times of difficulty, if you choose to see them.

Around the beginning of August, the Cardinal veterans decided they needed a players-only, come to Jesus meeting, and from that the whole team developed a new motto, "all together now." From then on, anytime a player made it on base he would clasp his hands over his head, first to the dugout, then the bullpen, to symbolize an accomplishment for the entire team, not just an individual success.

While ultimately the team didn't make it to Post Season, they could be proud of the fact that they started to resemble a unified team once again. They weren't playing for individual satisfaction or glory. They were playing for the love of the game and with passion. They had re-ignited their spark and played like a team fans have become accustomed to seeing in St. Louis. The players' desire to be "all together now" and be in control of how they played day-to-day became my favorite thing to transpire from the rough 2017 season.

So what does "all together now" have to do with Slice of Life blogging? Just like the Cardinals last year, I know I'm going to make mistakes. It's inevitable. I know there might be days my blogs are rushed, because life happens. However, this year I know that's okay, because my fellow slicers are in this with me. Some of my fears are also some of yours and we are all together now in this Slice of Life. While you are most likely not as passionate about the St. Louis Cardinals as I am, therefore your interest in reading some of my posts might not equate to the joy I find in reminiscing on old games. I also know my interest level in cats, Psych, podcasts, etc. doesn't match some of your love for those things. BUT you write with passion just like I do, and that's something I enjoy reading, whether or not I fully understand it.

During this month of March, as Spring Break approaches, and I eagerly await the Cardinals 2018 season to begin, I am also looking forward to learning about you, my fellow blogger. I am excited to read about your quirky interests, your dislikes, your fears, your travels, your "mild" obsessions. Because ready or not, here we go, all together now.