Finishing What I Started

I love the thrill of starting a new knitting project- choosing the yarn, matching up the gauge & needles, learning the pattern, watching the texture & shape forming before my eyes. Bliss. But at some point, it just becomes another thing to get done & the thrill is gone. By the time I'm ready for the finishing, it's too easy to put it aside for another day.

Right here in front of me is my husband's blanket that needs all the ends woven in- he won't really need it until the fall, so no hurry. I'm also in the middle of a scarf for myself- about half length right now, but so much longer to go! I don't think I'm alone in enjoying the hunt, but not so much the catch.

I guess that's one thing I love about teaching- the thrill of a new year, working with a new group of students & helping them realize their potential. The enthusiasm & butterflies always hit me (even after almost 15 years) in the beginning of a new school year. But by this time, with 20 some days left, I find my mind wandering away during class. Like my students, I am tired of the paper work. The blustering administrators, hormonal teenagers & whining parents are trying my last nerve- we all seem to be at a dead end & have heard all our stories over & over again.

So for me, finding the motivation to finish strong is the trick. Little games to get me through, little rewards I can earn for completing a task. May not be novel, but it works for me. And it got me through my first ever solo blog post. Later!