One Little Word 2021

Happy New Year 2021! I hope this post finds you safe and healthy. I hope this post finds you with patience for the all things a global pandemic brings. Teaching is not easy right now in any format.

Instead of creating a New Years Resolution and always wanting to have many I've chosen to participate in the One Little Word project and ideas from scrapbooker/storyteller Ali Edwards.  If you haven't read anything by Ali, I highly recommend you stop by her blog.  The past seven years I have chosen enjoy, aware, discover, change, create, embrace, nourish, story, hope, light, and habit.

My word for 2021 has been percolating for the last month and I'm really excited about it.

BECOMING.

As in I have changes to embrace.  
I can discover changes.  
I can make changes.

Personally 2021 is full changes. My oldest will finish graduate school and pursue a job in occupational therapy with a willingness to move. My middle daughter is packing right this moment for a semester abroad in Paris during a global pandemic and our youngest will graduate from high school and start college. I'm looking for a phrase other than empty nester. Please share any ideas!

I've been embracing changes in teaching for 9 months. It's challenging and rewarding. Some fo the changes are really hard and out of my control. Some of the changes have stretched my work and thinking helping me grow. I think this year will bring twists and turns still where becoming will help guide my decisions and choices.

Becoming is defined as any process of change. I love the word process and think embracing and being part of the process will help the actual changes feel better. Synonyms for belonging had some obvious words;welcome and fitting.  I enjoyed discovering enhancing, acceptable, agreeable, effective, well-chosen, and graceful.  

I found this quote to reflect on this month - 

"There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. 

This season is about becoming."

Shauna Niequist

Thank you for joining me on this journey and hopefully cheering me along the way.  I know I'm enjoying reading other posts and thinking behind One Little Word decisions.

One Little Word 2020

I spent today getting to know my one little word and solidifying my thinking for 2020.  Habit is a noun and dictionary.com helped me think about it's definition.  I collected these tidbits to help me think about it's definition; an acquired behavior, a customary practice or use, particular practice custom or usage, and a regular disposition - leaning  towards mindset thinking.

I then clicked over to thesaurus.com and enjoyed finding synonyms to frame my initial thinking.  There were some obvious words; pattern, routine, and way.  I enjoyed discovering quirk, groove, thing, and style.  

As I thought about the definition and synonyms I made a list of the invitations the word habit is going to offer me.  I found I didn't want my list to be specific actions.  I've done this before and had the feelings of less when I can't keep up to over zealous goals.  I think habit will offer me; wellness, variety, well rounded moments and feelings, wholeness, and connected.  Not only connections with others - connected with myself.

I've enjoyed revisiting Ali Edwards course for One Little Word and collecting my thoughts in a scrapbooking fashion - documenting fashion.  

Light {One Little Word}

Light is my one little word for 2019 and I've been exploring what it means for me which means I went to dictionary.com for some grounding.  As a noun, LIGHT is something that makes things visible.  As a verb, several phrases for LIGHT called to me; to kindle, ignite, to turn on, to give light to, to cause/brighten, especially with joy.  I always enjoy finding synonyms for my one little word to help me through the year and this year I found; shiny, rich, clear, glowing, bright, sunny, vivid, brilliant, included, and aglow.  

I signed up for one of Ali Edwards classes in 2016 that guides monthly thinking about your one little word and I'm hoping to use that each month to help me stay the course with my one little word thinking.  I just finished reading Die Empty by Todd Henry and there were so many tidbits to ponder and guidance for some things I want to change.  I think 2018 brought new challenges that I embraced and at the same time some of me went into autopilot mode - maybe I drifted for a bit.  I don't like drifting.  I found drifting had feelings of being lost.  I need to reconnect, create, and work on my own wellness.

I've chosen light and hope it becomes a part of each day; physically or emotionally.  I want to take actions/steps to help myself feel and think lighter.  I want to support those I love and spend time with.  Maybe that's making things lighter for them or bringing them some light.    

When I pick a one little word it often has some intentions which help foster the purpose and connection to my one little word.  Ali Edwards had us look at five areas and I'll share just a sneak peak for each one here.

Creative/Work - I want to use what I have.  I am a collector of books and projects.  I need to act and do.  I want to write and share again professionally and personally.

Emotional - recognize, accept, and ride the wave of emotions I have and others close to me.  

Physical - exercise regularly again and try new recipes.  I want to physically reduce and use what we have while taking steps to help save the Earth.

Relationships - embrace, accept, guide gently, and listen.  Spend time in person with others and hold back judgements.  Connect with others in current communities and maybe join some new communities.

Spiritual - This can be summed up quite simply - reconnect and find help navigating day to day life.

Thank you for being part of my journey with LIGHT this year.
Thank you Two Writing Teachers for fostering this writing community.

One Little Word 2016

Happy New Year 2016!  I hope everyone has had a relaxing break filled with family, friends, and time for yourself.  I've enjoyed my time away at home focusing on things that make us happy and resting.

Instead of creating a New Years Resolution and always wanting to have many I've chosen to participate in the One Little Word project and ideas from scrapbooker/storyteller Ali Edwards.  If you haven't read anything by Ali, I highly recommend you stop by her blog.  The past seven years I have chosen enjoy, aware, discover, change, create, embrace, and nurture.

My word for 2016 has been percolating for the last month and I'm really excited about it.

STORY.

As in I have stories to tell.  
I have stories to capture.  
I have stories to remember.

So, this upcoming year - 

I want to notice stories.  As I thought about the word story I realized much of life is made up of stories.  Sometimes stories involve people, sometimes stories involves the thinking behind an object, event, or action.  

I want to document stories.  I want to document our stories, my stories, their stories.  I want to document things in our family life and in my classroom.  I use to scrapbook regularly a long long long time ago.  I look back at those pages and see stories that fill my heart.  If you know anyone who likes to create/craft we tend to collect things.  I have the tools to document, I just need to do it.  My classroom record keeping is something I have found hard to keep up with and try to remember in my head. My students deserve better documentation of their learning and this can only help me plan and be a better teacher.  I need to share our classroom learning with families better.  I tried to use a new tool this fall and neither I or the parents are thrilled with it so I'm returning to what I love. I also want to document my stories professionally with more consistency.

I want to create stories.  I realized over break when I chose to sew or make things there's a story behind why or how or what I am using.  These are stories to share.  I also want to think create stories by spending time with people and doing things with people by choice not because of an obligation or a to do list.  I want to have stories happen within our home, locally, and hopefully as trips.  When I think about trips though they can be day trips and don't have to be grand.

I want to foster stories.  This one really surprised me as I discovered it.  I have three beautiful teenage daughters.  I want to help them foster stories for themselves and think intentionally about what they do and how they spend their time.  I want to foster stories for my students to rush home and share with their families.  I want to be intentional in fostering my own stories.  As I thought about fostering stories I realized not all stories are pretty or happy and those have a place in our journey.  They help us grow and shouldn't be overlooked or not documented in some way, sometimes.

I want to have story variety.  These are areas in my life I want stories to be present; fitness, food, family, classroom, friends, and surprises.

Thank you for joining me on this journey and hopefully cheering me along the way.  I know I'm enjoying reading other posts and thinking behind One Little Word decisions.  

One Little Word 2016

Happy New Year 2016!  I hope everyone has had a relaxing break filled with family, friends, and time for yourself.  I've enjoyed my time away at home focusing on things that make us happy and resting.

Instead of creating a New Years Resolution and always wanting to have many I've chosen to participate in the One Little Word project and ideas from scrapbooker/storyteller Ali Edwards.  If you haven't read anything by Ali, I highly recommend you stop by her blog.  The past seven years I have chosen enjoy, aware, discover, change, create, embrace, and nurture.

My word for 2016 has been percolating for the last month and I'm really excited about it.

STORY.

As in I have stories to tell.  
I have stories to capture.  
I have stories to remember.

So, this upcoming year - 

I want to notice stories.  As I thought about the word story I realized much of life is made up of stories.  Sometimes stories involve people, sometimes stories involves the thinking behind an object, event, or action.  

I want to document stories.  I want to document our stories, my stories, their stories.  I want to document things in our family life and in my classroom.  I use to scrapbook regularly a long long long time ago.  I look back at those pages and see stories that fill my heart.  If you know anyone who likes to create/craft we tend to collect things.  I have the tools to document, I just need to do it.  My classroom record keeping is something I have found hard to keep up with and try to remember in my head. My students deserve better documentation of their learning and this can only help me plan and be a better teacher.  I need to share our classroom learning with families better.  I tried to use a new tool this fall and neither I or the parents are thrilled with it so I'm returning to what I love. I also want to document my stories professionally with more consistency.

I want to create stories.  I realized over break when I chose to sew or make things there's a story behind why or how or what I am using.  These are stories to share.  I also want to think create stories by spending time with people and doing things with people by choice not because of an obligation or a to do list.  I want to have stories happen within our home, locally, and hopefully as trips.  When I think about trips though they can be day trips and don't have to be grand.

I want to foster stories.  This one really surprised me as I discovered it.  I have three beautiful teenage daughters.  I want to help them foster stories for themselves and think intentionally about what they do and how they spend their time.  I want to foster stories for my students to rush home and share with their families.  I want to be intentional in fostering my own stories.  As I thought about fostering stories I realized not all stories are pretty or happy and those have a place in our journey.  They help us grow and shouldn't be overlooked or not documented in some way, sometimes.

I want to have story variety.  These are areas in my life I want stories to be present; fitness, food, family, classroom, friends, and surprises.

Thank you for joining me on this journey and hopefully cheering me along the way.  I know I'm enjoying reading other posts and thinking behind One Little Word decisions.  

OLW - foreshadow

I had a thought the other day.  I think my word change was brewing in my life before I realized it.  In the past three weeks I've done two things to be an advocate for change.  I didn't pick change to be an advocate but then there are surprises in life.  My district offered a full day K option this year as a pilot in an attempt to meet full day K requirements that have been lifted from Ohio districts.  We are not offering this option next year and I felt it was time to share some frustrations, observations, and thinking with our top administrators.  Not only do we need to think about returning these full time teachers and classes back to multiple buildings, we need to look at our K attendance schedule (which has been 5 days within two weeks), the Common Core, and how we can make young learners more of a priority.  I did get a response.  There is timeline to discuss the future of K and I should look for an email.  Yea.

Then next week our school is hosting our first Blood Drive.  Tomorrow I will share a piece of writing my mother wrote for our local newspaper 30 years ago reflecting on her own days of donating blood and then her experiences of needing donated blood with our entire school community.  Again, hoping to change people's minds and increase the number of pints being donated.  I am personally making a change and donating blood for the first time myself and I've had this on my to do list for quite some time.  

I didn't expect to be advocating for change when I chose this word.  I wonder if you have any unexpected surprises with your One Little Word.

OLW - just right

In picking OLW - one little word, each year I've found there is a time when something happens and it confirms my word choice.  This year change felt right late one night.  My second daughter is in middle school and has begun the phase of hibernating with a book and reading for long periods of time.  I decided to "visit" her before bed time and read my own book on my Kindle Fire.  However, I wasn't really reading at times.  My mind wandered and I thought this feels right.  We were physically close and it felt good just being next to her.  I reflected to having infants and how comforting it was to just hold them.  It just seemed to bring a deep sense of being.  I also thought, if she will allow me to lay or sit near her and do my own reading then I need to accept this.    It's a change in how we usually spend time but she is going to be making many changes and I will need to change with her.  Then I have to pat myself on the back for these thoughts and confirm I am so much smarter the second time around raising a middle school daughter.  What was your just right moment in selecting your OLW?

OLW - invitation

"A year from now, you will wish you started today."   - Karen Lamb

In my email from Ali Edwards she prompted OLW users to think of their word as an invitation and list what their word is hoping to bring forth.  I created this list;  storytelling, better health, writing, creativity, balance, joy, and worship.  All things that could get really big but remember my changes are to be on the smaller side in life.  Let me explain a bit more.

Storytelling -  I know I am missing stories each day as they happen here with three girls.  I want to be more thoughtful in capturing those.  I enjoy scrapbooking but have not made much time for it in the past and sometimes it seems way too overwhelming to begin.  However, stories don't just  happen at home.  They happen in the classroom and I think it's important for our children to tell and write their own stories.  I also think it's important to share with parents stories of their children.  

Better health  - I've said for a while now I am going to run a 5K.  I practice and increase my stamina.  I get close and then things get in the way.  But I also think better health includes being outside, gardening, and eating.  

Writing - I want to grow more as a writer this year here within my blog and also write more outside this forum.  This may be personal and professionally.  

Creativity - In my classroom and out of my classroom.  I know I am happier when I make things.  I am more happier when my students are making things and they are too.  There is excitement and enthusiasm.  We all should be doing to learn and show learning.  I have several hobbies I want to dabble more in or just make a little bit of time for more consciously.

Balance - I'm hoping with small changes my inner core will feel more balance.  I tend to work a lot, as all teachers do.  However, the poem NOW by Regie Routman is staying with me this year.

Joy - which really could be part of my blog title, Enjoy.  Life gets busy.  I just need to realize I am enjoying everything right now.  My grandmother would often comment and seem to admire how I do all that I do and would advise me this would all end quicker than I think - when things were good and when things may not be so good.

Worship - I attend church once in a while, it does seem to be the one thing I let slide working full time.  However, I do enjoy and feel better inside when I take an hour out of a week to sit and listen to the message being shared.  I just hope to go more.

I hope you might think about what your word is inviting you to do.  Invitations are exciting.  I know it's exciting to gather with others and I'm excited to gather myself around this thinking I've shared with you.  

OLW - My word means...

As my friend Cathy quickly pointed out in yesterday's comments CHANGE is a BIG word.  Yes it is and I was worried about how big change seems.  In my initial thinking I didn't want change to suggest the intention of those huge changes  life; new house, car, remodeling projects that redesign a house, baby, divorce, new career and so on.  I'm taking a class, One Little Word at Big Picture Scrapbooking where Ali Edwards guides participants with monthly emails which helps us keep our word present during the year with reflection, photography, and writing.  

This month we are spending time getting to know our word.  Change can be a noun.  As a noun it means something made different, alteration.  I inferred this could be big, small or somewhere in the middle.  I really did like these synonyms I found using a thesaurus;  adjustment, break, refinement, novelty, switch, turn, shift, transformation, revision, variety, conversion, diversification, difference and variation.  

While the definition I found for change is a noun I'm also treating it like a verb to help guide positive changes.  The words I collected from the thesaurus confirmed any of my changes can have varying levels.  I purposefully chose the word break for guidance in saying no or not doing something for a while.  Thanks for joining my journey.

Happy New Year and One Little Word

Photo via Flicker & Cangaroojack

Happy New Year 2012 and I wanted to share with you my One Little Word for 2012.  Instead of creating a New Years Resolution and always wanting to have many I've chosen to participate in the One Little Word project and ideas from scrapbooker/storyteller Ali Edwards.  The past four years I have chosen enjoy, aware, nuture, and discover.  They have helped me do a lot of thinking as the year begins and as life gets back to normal I try my best to continue thinking about them.  This year as I thought about my previous choices I don't know if I really feel any constant follow through.  I'm great at creating plans and organizing things.  Little truth be known my family makes jokes all the time about my "overuse" of the alphabet system.  However, I still haven't run my 5K.  I dabble in lots of things so I went searching for a word that would maybe be more present, causing a difference in my life.

I am welcoming the word - CHANGE for 2012.  Stay tuned for more thinking this week.