My water bottle is covered in stickers. The students love to look at them, and so do I. Each one brings me joy.

Side 1:
- Iris Tattoo and Piercing flower from my third and fourth holes I got in 2023
- A llama from the cultural carnival last year, representing my love of knitting
- A hint of a pink tulips sticker, also from the carnival, for my family friends in Holland
- “invisible string” and “Karma” stickers #Swiftie

Side 2:
- evermore album sticker #Swiftie
- “Forgive Me!” sticker. My college friend/fellow writer, Bob, created a podcast and I got this sticker as a token for supporting their GoFundMe. I believe it was illustrated by his wife!

Side 3:
- Cobscook Institute sticker from where the Quoddy Writing Retreat took place; I also love its LGBTQIA+ flag in the background
- London sticker, also from last year’s cultural carnival, for my London boy
- Leslie Knope sticker — my absolute fave — from my student M.
I was stumped for what to write this morning, and then I looked at my water bottle and saw the Leslie Knope sticker with the quote, “I am super chill all the time!”
It made me laugh as I remembered my PMS-induced outburst on Monday when I was helping some tired and reluctant students (not my best moment). It’s a good reminder to not take myself too seriously.

