Star Chart
Every day I write, I get a gold star.
I got the star chart idea from my friend Dee, when she was toilet-training her daughter. I love my star chart. I’ll do anything to get my star. I have introduced friends to the concept, but no one I know really likes it or needs it. (They are fully trained, I supposed, and not having accidents.)
I am supposed to write every day. It’s good training. I like to have a system. I like to know where I am in the little scheme of things. All this score-keeping…I know it is annoying for some people.
We go sit where we are supposed to sit and do what we are supposed to do. And we get a star. Ten days, at least nine stars, and there’s prizes. Stickers. A new book. Today? The cutest pair of jeans. I will give these jeans a good home.
I think it’s good to treat the writing part of self like a fabulous noisy buoyant child.
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the stars were ultimately one of the most powerful parts of going to weight watchers. when i started losing all that weight, somebody said to me that the stars were super hokey, and I thought to myself “you’re too cool for stars, and you’re still a tub. i’m way into my stars, and i’m looking great.”
i’m NEVER too cool for stars.
I’ve read about the star chart and wondering how you are doing with it. I use a sticker chart with elementary students for my day job. Every 5 stickers and they get to pick from the
“treasure chest”. There are only 25 days left to the academic school year, and my treasures now, do not always impress. Some students work hard to get those stickers, and others turn a woeful eye to those four blank spaces that cannot be filled, because they don’t do their home practice for /s/, or /r/, because they don’t come with their speech folder, because, because… But at the end of the year.. I hold a speech “beach” party. Everyone is invited. Coconut bowling, limbo, and fruit ka-bobs for all. Everyone ends the year on an upbeat, feel- good note, and is ready to start again in the Fall. Another year, another sticker chart, and another chance at the “treasure chest” - hopefully with new and improved treasures for the school year.
My writing is like that, the sticker chart be damned! But then, after some decompressing, and some time with my own private “beach party”, I can motivate myself to begin again. Bottom line, whatever works.. little stars, smiley faces, or the unconditional love of the universe, we all have some thing that makes us try again.
Brian, I love the Weight Watchers comparison. That’s exactly what it is like. If you are going to write a book (which I know you are also doing) you do it every day, you are never not doing it. Melanie! I love your treasure chest! And your point that any system breaks down after awhile, loses its luster and Beach Party is the recharging agent. For us, that would be an Omega class or a writing retreat!! This is great. I am so happy you wrote this delicious little piece. I need to have coconut bowling in my life!
everyone loves getting stickers. that’s why they give “i voted” stickers at the polls and “i saved a life today” stickers at blood drives. the sticker is the reward and it totally works.
a friend of mine was giving out dinosaur stickers to her daughter during, ahem, potty training. i wish there were rolls of stickers in the loo, next to the paper.