One Little Word

It is incredibly hard for me to even attempt to choose one word to focus on for this year. It's in my nature to want to take on as much as possible to become a better teacher, girlfriend, daughter, sister... person in general. As I'm sure many teachers (and driven minds) can relate, I want to choose several little words that can help me become a more well-rounded person: simple, positive, reliable, courage, peace, consistency... BUT I have thought for the last week about where I'm at and where I want to go in 2016, and have decided on my One Little Word.

ENJOY

One thing that I have found over the course of the last 365 days is that I often think too much and get inside of my own head. This causes me to be placed in a state of mind that is not healthy for myself or my relationships. The perfectionist in me is often disappointed when things aren't exactly how I imagined them. The planner in me is often displeased when things don't go the way I feel they should.

My hope and wish for 2016 is that no matter what I am doing, who I am with, or what I am trying to achieve, I will ENJOY the process and the outcome regardless of what happens. I also hope to focus on this word throughout my blog entries this coming year to help hold myself accountable and share all the joy with you!

What is your One Little Word? Was it difficult for you to pick just one?

TpT Seller Challenge Week 2: Dare to Dream

Week 2 of the TpT Seller Challenge is all about our dreams. This morning, I sat down and had some quiet time to reflect on where I am at in my life, both personally and professionally. Writing down these dreams and reflecting on them over time will surely set me up for success!

With all of the stresses of the world and real life, it is so important for me to have some absolute quiet time to reflect and think. I pray often, as well as read the Bible, but it is not often enough. The Bible app has some great reading plans... that I have started... but never followed through with. This is a huge goal for me, especially when the school year starts in August.

This is another dream that I do really well at starting, but then fall off the wagon a few weeks in. Since I have moved to Mississippi, I have not been where I want to be health wise. I'm sure some of you can relate... during the school day, sometimes all I need is that Diet Coke to get me through the afternoon! I'm hoping that this summer I can quick start eating better and exercising several times a week, which will hopefully follow suit into the school year.

Remember what teaching is all about. This one is so near and dear to my heart. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a teacher. How unfortunate for my younger brothers and sister! When I first started teaching, I was motivated, encouraged, and satisfied. This past year, my fifth year of teaching, I experienced several days where I wanted to leave the profession. Having these feelings was (is?) heartbreaking to me, considering that teaching has been my lifelong dream. Don't get me wrong... I never have these feelings from 7:30am-2:45pm when I am with my students and get to watch them learn and grow. My hope and dream for next school year is to constantly remember why I'm a teacher, and why I could never leave the profession. It is all about the kids. I do it for them. 

There isn't much to say about this last one; it is pretty simple! I am ready to lay down my roots, wherever that may be, and do some DIY! There are so many things I want to do in our 4b/2b rental, but it just doesn't make sense to spend that money until we have a home of our own. I'm ready to see what else life has in store for us. 

What about you? What are your dreams? If you are not in the TpT Seller Challenge, or aren't even a teacher, I highly recommend you take a few minutes today to reflect on where you're at and what direction you want to go.