I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
30 Second Slices
30 seconds at home before school…
I run down the stairs, find my boots, slip them on. Zip them up. But where’s my phone? Find my phone. Grab the coffee. (Thanks, Mr. thought!) Kisses and hugs. And time to move ’em out!
“Did you pack E’s inhaler? Did they load their backpacks?”
Make everyone drink some grape juice (wards off the stomach bug, knock on wood) and it’s “Van time! Come on! Get in! Strap in! Let’s Go! We’re late!”
(Later I will notice that they all forgot their jackets.)
30 seconds in middle school…
Students wave and call my name. Some ignore me. I walk into a mindfulness class with a few students I know, some I don’t. We settle in and the visiting mindfulness teacher tells us that mindfulness is about paying attention. “Ask yourself: What do you notice? What do you need?”
30 seconds in the primary hall…
A girl swings her purple jacket around, she’s dancing a little jig – her jacket hits me, but not hard. I smile, and her teacher scrunches her face in an “I’m sorry.” I assure her that it’s okay, no big deal. We should all dance a few more jigs going down the hall.
A boy walks towards me, says something in the way of a hello, and gives me a great big hug. I don’t know him, and think he might be mistaking me for someone else. . . but when a first grader gives you a hug. . . you just hug them back.
On a Thought 
Your mindfulness class is working. You noticed all of these things (I’m impressed that you remembered them too) in just the first 30 seconds.
Interesting way to post. Interesting way to be present. I am going to have to try this for myself and with the kids. It is always interesting to see the differences in the ability to observe…
Thanks for the ideas and for the post.
That was cool! I love the idea!
Love how you capture these 30 second slices in your day. So much fun to read.
So fun and with a 30 second look at mindfulness as well! Sounds like a happy day! I mean really with a hug from a first grader how can you not have a good day!