#OneWord for 2018

Well, hello 2018! Finding my #OneWord for this year has had me pondering for several weeks. I decided to begin with my words from prior years:

balance - always a struggle to strive for equity in all areas: family, faith, friends, career, me

purpose - reminding myself daily of my WHY

2016: choose - make decisions that I feel confident about

2017: be - to be present (work at work, focus on family at home)

One lesson I've learned from using #OneWord (and also perhaps from being over 40...) is:

WORD.

This year I struggled to find THE word to focus my year. I am such a thinker and over-analyzer that I'm quite certain I have been over thinking THE word for ME. After all, it is not the only thing I will concentrate on, but I like having a word that encompasses all of MY current needs and goals.

After years of practicing one word to focus my year, this year I decided to read the book One Word That Will Change Your Life (plus I actually had the time over the holiday break - celebrate!) The book was helpful and reinforced that I've been selecting my words correctly, but reading it didn't bring my word to me. The book suggests reflecting, spending quiet time thinking, praying, being aware and open to insight into what word will best drive my year. I tried it all. I have a list: worthy, forward, joy, enjoy, peace, courage, hope - but nothing fit like a puzzle piece to me.

I kept reflecting ... recent years have been super busy and so much has happened! The last five years just of my career have each been different:
2013 - taught my tenth year in first grade, my second year in dual language
2014 - taught second grade
2015 - looped to third grade (looping is the BEST experience ever!!) and began grad school
2016 - left the classroom after 17 years and spent an amazing year as an Instructional Coach with Technology
2017 - graduated with my degree in Educational Technology Leadership plus earned my Principals Certification AND accepted an amazing opportunity to be Assistant Principal

I mean... WOW. And that does not include personal, family, house, and other gains and challenges. My boys are growing and parenting changes as your children grow (News Flash: it does NOT get easier, just different... costs, interests, activities, celebrations, and challenges) and marriage continues to evolve (celebrating 15 years). We have also been in the process of remodeling our home very slowly, focusing on one area at a time.

So, all of that to be said... finding a word to push me forward, to remind me that I am worthy of these things, to stay focused on continual growth, while also being present enough to enjoy the blessings I have... has been a challenge.

For a while I almost selected MOXIE. Partially because I finished Jen Hatmaker's book Of Mess and Moxie over the holiday break and I thought 'moxie' might fit. After all, it means "a force of character, determination, or nerve" and I really like the determination part. It made me realize that the things I've been working on and striving for are here. Right on my plate. So, now what do I do with them??

So, after much thought (and viewing 100s of other people's #OneWords) I decided I need to take ACTION. An action is "the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim". You may think: 'well, duh. Of course, you need to act on all you are working toward'. However, sometimes when time starts rolling quickly and you get caught in the whirlwind of marriage, parenting, children's athletic schedules, house care, laundry (All. The. Laundry.), work, and trying to have a social life and not lose all your friends ... AND ... eat well and exercise, while also finding time for yourself, you forget to stay focused on what you have worked so hard to achieve. So, for me, ACTION makes sense:

*ACTION in my marriage means always working toward building a positive, loving relationship that will continue thrive after our children become adults

*ACTION as a parent means being present for my children - really listen when they want to talk, drive them all.over.the.metroplex for sports and fishing and movies and friends because one day they will drive themselves, and soak up these moments and continue to create memories

*ACTION as a sister and daughter, not to neglect my parents and my sister, especially as our family really needs each other now

*ACTION as a learner, to not let the exhaustion of completing a degree turn me off of additional learning, but instead fuel me further

*ACTION as a leader, to instill a passion for learning and leading in others (students and staff) while continuing to prioritize build trusting relationships

*ACTION as a friend means to send a quick text to let someone know I'm thinking of them or call a friend for dinner or coffee (look, we are past the age of caring what our house looks like and if we are in a messy bun and jeans for dinner, THANK GOODNESS) and lean in to each other

*ACTION for myself to eat better, move more, and revisit some of those hobbies I enjoyed BC (before children) now that my boys are becoming more independent, plus focus on fueling my body with better foods and having fun when I exercise

This year for me ACTION is my word. It reminds me to implement the things I've learned and DO SOMETHING with it all.

So... I hope my reflection on 2018 will bring me great happiness by putting in to practice the things I'm learning while keeping my priorities in place!