Back in the fall of 2017 I was finishing my Masters program and I also had become more connected on the educational world of Twitter.
As December of 2017 was approaching, I was getting ready to graduate and the thoughts of the future and the hopes and dreams that this degree would bring me kept playing in my mind.
As I would visit Twitter I saw that many were discussing their One Word for the upcoming year. I had never really heard about One Word but I loved the concept. New Year’s resolutions rarely worked for me but I felt the tug on my heart for One Word and I felt that if I focused on a word for the year I might actually be successful.
Two years later I believe that is true. One Word did change my life. The ability to think about my goals for the upcoming year and focus on one word to reach that goal has truly benefited me.
So as I received my Master’s degree at my graduation ,with my family as witnesses, I realized the word for 2018 would be Courage. Courage to step out of my comfort zone. Courage to take risks. Courage to be the person that I have always wanted to be.
That word led me through the year. Those moments when I faced fears, I thought of my word and it seemed to make me focus more on the end goal and not be afraid. I grew so much in that year and I am forever grateful for the ability to focus on the one word that would lead me to this growth.
Then the fall of 2018 came and again, as the year before, I was pondering on what would be my One Word for 2019. I had been on a twitter chat and a quote about gratitude was shared by Meredith Johnson. (#BookCampPD) I took that quote and shared it with my students and something spectacular happened in my classroon. We began to focus on gratitude and it became a part of our morning meetings. As we had a gratitude celebration in November it became clear to me that I needed to make that my focus for 2019. So Gratitude was my word for 2019.
What a year it has been! This word has changed my life and hopefully the lives of others who I have been in contact with.
As I continued to make it a focus in the classroom with my students I also made it a focus for my personal life. I wrote a list of names of people who have impacted my life. I began to write letters to them and share my appreciation, love and gratitude for their impact in my life. This process has opened my eyes to what it important in my life and it has brought me so much joy. The joy that reaches your inner soul. The joy that makes one want to do more and seek more.
I also started a gratitude journal. Every day I sit in quietness and write out ten things that I am grateful for. This helps me focus on all the good around me and the blessings that life has for me. There are so many and if we take the time to recognize them and be present with them then our lives can change.
My OneWord2019 GRATITUDE changed my life.
The amazing thing is the courage from 2018 did not stop. It just increased and my ability to reach for more and step out of my comfort zone has now become part of me.
I know my gratitude mission will not end today- the last day of 2019. It will continue on through the years. I will continue to seek out things to be grateful for and appreciate the blessings around me. I will continue to write letters and show others how grateful I am for them.
That to me is the power of the One Word. The focus during the specific year carries into the next. It just continues to build and get better and better. It continues to help me grow into the person who I want to be.
I was listening to a podcast this morning and the guest asked the question- Where do you want to be when you are 80 or 90? What will be important to you and what won’t?
That pretty much sums it up for me. These past two years the words I have chosen have helped shape me into the person who I want to be and what is important to me. What I want to look back on and be proud of in my life.
The most wonderful thing is that they do not just stop when the year ends. They have become part of me and I will continue being courageous and grateful as 2020 begins!