2014 was the year I gave up making resolutions. Thanks to the book, One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, and various friends around the blogosphere who were doing the same, I chose just one little word as my guiding mantra for 2014 -- FORWARD.
As 2014 draws to a close, I reflect on my OLW and how much it has helped me move forward.
Here are some ways I moved forward in 2014:
* I moved my writing forward. I wrote on a more regular basis which, while it's not yet where I want it to be, is farther than it's ever been.
* I moved my teaching forward. My classroom is now a place where questions are asked, mistakes are made, and risks are taken. We embrace a growth mindset and find power in the word YET. This teaching style is so foreign to me, yet so fun! I'm excited to see where it takes us.
* I moved my learning forward. Whether it be learning about Genius Hour, the growth mindset, or improving my reading and writing instruction, I learned a lot this year! Twitter has really helped with this too.
* I moved my health forward. I began exercising on a (somewhat) regular basis.
* I took steps out of my comfort zone. Attending All Write 14 in Indiana all by myself, driving four hours alone, knowing no one, was a big step for me. It was worth it and I am looking forward to going back again (but this time I won't be alone because of all the wonderful people I met there).
2014 was a wonderful year!
Your last sentence is the best one to finish a year with. Your OLW has been an inspiring companion to you. I have discovered that even when we choose new words the previous ones keep having an influence. You'll always be moving forward. Happy 2015!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you took the time to reflect on the word 'forward'. It is something we all need to strive for. I love that you took a step to move your writing forward. xo
ReplyDeleteAmazing how one word can have so much power in living a full life! I'm glad you took that step forward to Indiana. See you next year?
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent choice for 2014! I like how FORWARD is a positive action, though not a verb. You are helping me find my OLW for 2015.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you went to All Write. It reminded me of opportunities in which I chose to go to PD opportunities I was really looking forward to but that were out of my comfort zone because I was going alone. This is good encouragement to continue doing so.
ReplyDeleteI will look into the book you mentioned, as I had not heard of it before.
If you are not familiar with Ali Edwards, you might be interested in her work related to OLW. She just did a podcast yesterday with Elise Blaha Cripe: Episode 038 http://elisejoy.com/podcast
Here is the link on her own blog talking about One Little Word and a class she offers. I did OLW two years before starting to take her class and noticed a significant difference based on having a monthly prompt to help me to reflect and process, or "keep my word alive" all year long (Ali's words).
http://aliedwards.com/projects/one-little-word
What a wonderful celebration!
ReplyDeleteKeep moving forward in 2015 - and keep us posted about your journey. Happy New Year!
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