First, I love the AI option here at WordPress! It will create a “feature picture” based on my writing, which I won’t know until I’m done, but I can only imagine what will be here!
Another thing, I wrote 38,000 words last week according to Grammerly.
#whattheheckdidyoudo
Ummmm…I don’t know! There were a lot of emails, but 38,000 words? That’s a lot of words going through this little computer! I didn’t know I had it in me! Grammarly said that I was in the 89th percentile for number of words written! That’s pretty cool! Now, how many do I need to write to be in the 95th percentile??
#youdonotwanttoknow
You are probably right!
Now, to the “scheduled writing” *insert eyeroll here*. Last week, I just plain forgot. I had something in mind, but it was the second day of basketball practice and I fell alseep standing up.
Ok, not really, but it’s been a long week and a half.
So when I saw the prompt, asking “what does it mean to be a kid at heart”, I knew I had to bite!
#ofcourseyoudid
Hush.
What does it mean? For me, it means finding those ways of staying young while I grow older. One thing I do is keep moving. I keep reading about how excercise keeps you young. We bike, we walk, we hike, we are in constant motion because we love it. it all keeps us young and young at heart, because we look around and don’t see many people who look like us.
This blog helps me keep young at heart. I’m writing about the things I know: family, teaching, basketball. Each one of them keeps me going and keeps me young at heart. I love writing about those feelings that I get when each topic pops up in my head.
Honestly, the biggest thing that keeps me young and heart: 6777777777
#NOOOOOOOOOOOO
Ok, no, that’s aged me A LOT over the last few weeks! No, the best thing for keeping me young at heart us teaching. It’s been 32 years since my first classroom in Alaska. Back then, it was learning about the natives who were with us in our village, ice fishing with them, playing king of the mountain, and riding on snow mobiles. Today, it’s knowing the music they listen to, not freaking out when they say 67, and playing FIFA Soccer. I’ve not been outside to play with them yet, but I need to make it. I love it when I can do that as well.
What does it mean to keep yourself young at heart? I’d love to hear what you do in the comments!
And if you made it this far, thank you! You reads mean a lot to me!
The Life of a Conflicted Teacher 
October 29, 2025 at 8:33 am
It is quite amazing how we think of ourselves as… say, 30 years younger than we are… until we look in the mirror or we do some physical activity or we attempt a meaningful conversation with a “younger.” Hmmm, you asked what made me feel younger, and I’m written about what makes me feel older. It’s all in the mindset. Enjoyed your form. Well-done!