This week is the week my co-authors, and I announce our One Little Word (OLW). The idea of choosing OLW to guide the year is one I welcome wholeheartedly. I know myself well, and I have found making a new year’s resolution left me feeling sub-par at best. The problem was I almost always lost sight or obedience to the goal. So, a few years back, I made one final new years resolution, no more resolutions! This resolution stuck and I welcomed the transition from a resolution to OLW. A word serves more as a coach on the side than a self-imposed mandate.
The quest of choosing OLW to guide my thinking, my work, and my reflections is never easy. As a matter of fact, last year’s word, “bombas” haunted me until I admitted to myself this was the word for me. While it isn’t easy to find my word, once the word finds me (which is most often the case), it sticks with me. My word brings me comfort. I see, hear, and feel my word in my actions, conversations, lessons, and my writing.
Previous OLW’s
I have experienced a couple of big changes in my life over this last year. Both have brought new opportunities and give reason to celebrate, but I have struggled to take hold of these changes completely. My husband and I have become empty nesters. Both of our daughters living and studying in various states. My new position as an instructional technology coach has changed my daily routine, my professional responsibilities, how I plan, how I support students, and how I view myself in the world of education.
Watching my daughters live out their dreams and work toward life goals has been inspiring. As I watch them, I notice a pang of nostalgia for the days when everything was new, and the possibilities ahead were endless. This pang of new opportunities is what brought my OLW for 2018 to me. Here I am in a new place in my professional career; the possibilities are infinite if I open myself up and embrace all it has to offer.
My new position has been a significant transition. I am learning about myself, how to support adults, and how to work with students who aren’t my students. Often, I am asked how I like my new role. This question is a difficult one to answer. My heart is in the classroom, and yet I see great potential in the opportunity of working as an instructional technology coach. Supporting teachers and their students is an honor. I want to teach and learn with the teachers and students in a way that best fits the needs of their community.
About a month ago I was finishing the novel Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. The author’s words struck me at my core
Each scene has its own music, and the music is created for the scene. Woven into it in ways we do not understand no matter how we may love the melody of a bygone day or imagine the song of a future one; we must dance to the music of today. If not we will be stumbling around in something that doesn’t fit the moment.
Listening to these words I realized I am stumbling around in something that doesn’t fit the scene. I will always miss the community of a classroom of my own, and I will continuously envision the day I return to the classroom, but now is the time to embrace my new role or I will have missed out on today.
I am embracing the opportunities, the learning, the struggles, and the growth of my new position just as my girls are embracing their new lives.
Our OLW has a way of finding us in the most unexpected ways.
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:
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This giveaway is for Ali Edwards’ One Little Word® 2018 Workshop. Many thanks to Ali Edwards Design Inc. for donating this workshop.
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For a chance to win this copy of the One Little Word® 2018 Workshop, please leave a comment on any (or all) of our team members OLW blog posts by Sunday, January 7th, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will use a random number generator to pick the winner, whose names I will announce on the Two Writing Teachers Facebook page by Tuesday, January 9th.
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Please be sure to leave a valid e-mail address when you post your comment so I can contact you to obtain your mailing address if you win. From there, our contact at Ali Edwards Design Inc. will provide you with a code for the One Little Word® 2018 Workshop. (NOTE: Your e-mail address will not be published online if you leave it in the e-mail field only.)
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If you are the winner of this workshop, I will email you with the subject line of TWO WRITING TEACHERS – OLW. Please respond to my e-mail with your mailing address within five days of receipt. Unfortunately, a new winner will be chosen if a response isn’t received within five days of the giveaway announcement.
That’s a great word! I started in a new, out of the classroom position last year, and this (school) year’s resolution for me has been to “lean in” to the things that I like about the position instead of thinking about all of the things I miss about the classroom. Maybe embrace should be in the running for my word this year!
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Your word- embrace- has been at the top of my list nearly every year. It is a good one to guide you through these big changes at home and school. Good luck Deb. Happy New Year.
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This will be my third year with a OLW and it has been such a growing experience. I shared OLW with my middle school students this year and loved to see what words they selected. My OLW for 2018 is Joy!
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OLW has worked so well for me! I introduced my middle school students to OLW as well, it is neat to see what words they select. My OLW for 2018 is Joy!
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Your post resonated with me. One of the lines you shared seemed to shout “Hear Me.'” The line is “we must dance to the music of today”. Choosing OLW is always challenging for me.
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Giving life a big hug is a great way to look at what’s before you. Love your word. I saw those bracelets (in the image) and thought about getting one with my word on it too.
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Such a great word that fits the changes in your life. Considering all the possibilities to grow and learn will allow you to truly embrace your life. It would be so amazing to be able to work with you as a coach!!! 🙂
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“Before We Were Yours” is up next on my Audible list for my commute every day. Thanks for sharing your word. Your Bombas post was my favorite last year. I shared your post with our staff as we encouraged everyone to choose a OLW. We are diving in again as part of our staff meeting on Monday. Thanks for inspiring!
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I’m still trying to get my “embrace beginnings” down to just one word, so I may have to follow your lead!
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Embracing what you have sounds like the right way to frame things as you settle into all of these changes!
Btw: I ordered a bracelet — like yours — with my word. Hoping to have it next week!
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I love the bling!
Embrace can cover so much!
Thanks for sharing
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