One Little Word 2019 #SOL19

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Two Writing Teachers

Today I did a little inventory on my One Little Words that I have chosen over the years:

finish - listen - thrive - hope - spark - peace.

When I first started picking an OLW in 2011, I picked words that would encourage me to improve. (I have a hard time finishing projects; I tend to talk more than listen). Then I went through a job change and watched my daughters graduate high school and make life decisions (thrive was really survive; hope was for a new job). Spark represented all the new ideas I brought to my new school, and peace was my big goal for myself and the world.

Today I see myself as someone who juggles flaws and fabulous ideas. Someone who can spark a smile in someone who isn't feeling great. Someone who is trying to figure out how to parent young adults (so different!) while getting back to hobbies and habits I had before my husband and I became parents.

After many visits to an online thesaurus, I have decided my word of 2019 is ....

cultivate

(v) to plant, to educate, to encourage

My goals for 2019 include:

• read lots of books to cultivate my knowledge of current kid lit
• help my students find books they can & will read and cultivate their love of reading
• encourage my colleagues to refine their craft by cultivating positive relationships and learning alongside them
• cultivate new hobbies (lettering, bullet journaling) and revisit former hobbies (playing violin, knitting)
• Figure out how to cultivate an interest in exercising and continue to eat well

Sounds easy enough, right?  Happy New Year!

One little word

It's hard to choose a word, especially my One Little Word.  I usually take a while, but it's nearly the end of March!

This year I'm looking to make slight changes (ok, I also need to lose a boatload of weight, as if...)

How can I put into words that I'm doing ok with food, exercise, stress, work and relationships.  I just want to choose better food, exercise more often, keep my stress level down at work, and continue to nurture my relationships.

Better?  I'm not doing too badly.  Improve?  I've already been trying.

Next stop?  The thesaurus.

I try many different words on for size:  grow, thrive, rise, persist, uplift.  Nothing fits right.

I click synonyms, avoid antonyms... until I find it.  The word I need right now.

peace

I'm always looking to find peaceful moments to calm my spinning brain.
I strive for my family to get along and be kind and calm.
I hope the world will work together to reduce violence towards one another.
I want to give myself peaceful grace for doing my best and being enough.

There. I found my word.  Now I get to work towards achieving it.

Click here for more information at Two Writing Teachers and here for info from Alli Edwards 
about One Little Word (OLW).

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mother_teresa_107846?src=t_peace

One Little Word? Not yet. #SOL17

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Two Writing Teachers

2017 started yesterday, right?  Yeesh - I'm 38 days late to that party!  Whooosh - this new year is already flying by.  Lots of excuses and reasons I haven't written on the blog or read a lot of books:

• grad school AGAIN (ESL endorsement 84% complete)
• new principal ('nuff said)
• second year at new school
• too much paperwork I keep putting off
• lots of political tweets and news and events to follow
• everything else has bumped writing out of the way

This year I'm trying something new (because I'm refining and trying strategies every day) of stopping and thinking before I jump in to:  answer for someone else, raise my hand to volunteer or help a child or adult do something that they are capable of doing themselves.

So that leaves me with the question... what IS my One Little Word for 2017??

Is it...

• stop
• pause
• mindful
• reflect
• choose

Calling all readers ... do you have some advice?  I tend to talk about being intentional with my fellow teachers, but I'm too impulsive for that one.

Thanks for listening.  It was good to write and get this out of my head.  

One Little Word 2016

Last week, I had it.  I knew it.  My One Little Word would reflect how I wanted everyone else to see me.

Steady

I wanted to be off the roller coaster of last year.  I wanted to be someone my daughters, husband, coworkers and friends could count on to be calm, collected and stable.  Someone who they could get advice from and always be there for them.  Not talking over them.  Listening.

I made a poster.  I made another poster.  I read a bit today.  I listened to music.

I realized I needed to find a different word.  I want to be calm and collected.  But steady didn't fit.

I listened again to Rachel Platten's Fight Song.  I especially like the power of it.  You can't help but raise a fist in the air as you sing along.  My favorite verse of this song is:

I might only have one match, but I can start an explosion. 

 It's been an exciting school year at a new school.  There's a lot of great ideas and people and students.  I've tried to be more of an observer and less of a talker.  It's mostly working, but to be perfectly honest with myself, I love to talk out ideas and collaborate with others.

I really like to help others figure out the idea that works for them.  I decided on a different OLW.

Spark

A spark is the beginning of a fire.  An explosion of ideas.  Something small that turns into something big and meaningful, or something that is extinguished when it doesn't get enough air.

When I talk with my coworkers, my family and my friends, I will be a great listener.  I will ask questions.  I will see if a conversation leads to research and more questions and ideas.  I will keep an open mind and open heart.  If a spark doesn't lead to an idea, I'll let it fizzle out.

My thanks to Rachel Platten for her awesome song lyrics.

Created with Vanilla Pen app.

 I might only have one match, but I can start an explosion. 

One Little Word

The message was received this winter, or maybe it was in the spring.

I think hope is a wonderful choice for your One Little Word**.  Hope floats.

Then my friend sent me the graphic.  Aha!

I have been clinging to the string of the balloon, keeping my chin up, continuing to push forward and follow my passions.

The balloon and my attitude kept rising up, up, up.

This summer has already been busy and I continue to be hopeful.

Hopeful for the present and the future.

Hopeful that I can do what I'm wired to do.

Hope is a wonderful choice for my one little word of 2015.
Even if it's nearly July.

Everyone needs hope.

**For more information on One Little Word, see this link:

OLW at TWT

OLW update: Thrive

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Two Writing Teachers

Last week Stacey at TWT inquired about our OLWs, our One Little Word that we've chosen for the year as our mantra, instead of a full-out resolution.

My family's OLW for 2013 is thrive (here is the story of how we picked this word as a family).  We are two adults and two teenagers, and 2012-2013 has had its share of bumps in the road.  Nothing devastating, but challenging.

My husband, Jeff, had the challenge of heart surgery in May to correct a congenital defect.  He was doing great until a minor setback during his last week of leave.  His recovery was pretty easy (from my perspective - the one who didn't have surgery!), and it was tough to see him in pain the week before he returned to work.  Thankfully that issue resolved itself and he went back to work.  Jeff starts cardiac rehab later this week.  He's looking forward to redesigning his nutrition and fitness plan.  He's a man with a plan, and I know he will reach his goals and thrive.

My oldest daughter, Lindsey, is entering her senior year. (I will not cry. I will not cry.) It's a time of tough decisions (college!) and fun (fun!) and a full class load (no time for senioritis!)  I know she can balance all the school work, sports, activities, college apps and fun now that junior year is behind her.  I've offered to coach more and nag less in order to give her space to thrive.

My youngest daughter, Allison, will be a sophomore this fall.  She has her driver's permit (she's SUPER excited - like Mo Willem's pigeon).  We're hoping she can build her homework stamina and see school as more than a social scene.  She's got all the tools to thrive - she just needs to use them.

I am trying to walk and eat my way to a healthier body as well as organize my books, coach my girls (without nagging) and be my husband's number one fan.  I'm happy that I walked or biked over 50 miles in June (hooray!) and I'm eating more veggies and fruit.  I still spend a bit too much time nagging (old habits die hard) and I love surfing the 'net instead of exercising, but I'm not beating myself up about it.  I'm trying to thrive by living each day to the fullest - appreciating my good health, great books, the beauty of nature and all the positive people in my life.

Here's hoping you're doing your best to thrive as well!

OLW: Thrive

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Two Writing Teachers

We just returned from a 4-day trip to northern Michigan.  I'm trying to feel like we didn't drag my two teenagers away from their friends (the hotel did have WiFi!), but no one complained when we decided to head home today.  <sigh>

Since there was a great base of snow (unlike here in Illinois where the snow is seriously lacking!), the girls tried snowboarding for the first time.  It was tricky for both, but they even attempted a run down the main hill.  Another day I joined the girls for an hour of tubing.  I loved being towed up the hill (scenic and relaxing) then whoooshing down the hill at breakneck speeds.  The trip gave us the taste of winter that we craved.

At our New Year's Eve dinner, I brought up One Little Word.  The Two Writing Teachers encourage people to choose one word instead of lengthy resolutions (read more here: OLW blog archive).  For the past two years, I've chosen finish and listen.  My kids and husband are familiar with the idea, but they were surprised that I asked them to think about what their little word would be.

My 14yo daughter immediately called out her word, "Single!" and started laughing.  She's a cute freshman girl who thinks everyone should have a boy following you around, carrying your books.  She's had quite the following since school started, and she recently decided that boys are better as friends (yes!).

Both girls exclaimed ideas for my husband.  He's spent nearly 200 days on the road this year, and stress has given him a few health issues and a short temper.  Ideas for dad included healthy, unstressed, fresh, hunt.  (can you tell they want him to find a new job?) He made a knowing face and said he needed time to think.

My 16yo daughter chimed in with a word for herself:  survive.  "Survive what?" I asked.
"Junior year, trigonometry, the ACT, college talk," she replied.  We thought about it for a second.
"Survive means you're barely making it.  What about thrive instead?" I suggested.

Thrive (from Merriam-Webster.com)
1  : to grow vigorously : flourish

2

: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper

3

: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances

I like it! I'm thinking that thrive could be our family's OLW.  We don't need to worry about definition #2 (we have enough stuff) but I really like definition #3.

I'm hoping that each of us thrives in our work, academics and social lives.  I reminded both of my daughters that I expect them to thrive during finals week and that they are to absolutely ask if they need any kind of help in order to be successful.  My husband likes to remind them, "High school is for working really hard in your classes and having fun while you're doing it."

Here's hoping you thrive at whatever goal you choose to reach in 2013.
Happy New Year!