A Teacher's Ruminations

My One Little Word (OWL) for 2015...drum roll, please...is..." confident "! I came about this word fairly quickly during the last two weeks of 2014. I started by making a list. The first word on that list was "confident". Then, came a stream of words and short phrases - assertive, confidence, be myself, just do it!, health, communication, exercise, and change. My methodical but slow search for the perfect OLW for 2015, made me realize that the word "confident" addressed or subsumed all the other words on my list quite nicely. In order to be assertive and stand up for myself, I need to be confident in my professional abilities and expertise. That way I can speak eloquently for whatever I want to accomplish in my job. In order to focus on my health during 2015, such as exercising more, I need to be confident that I can develop a daily 30 minute exercise routine, whatever shape or form that happens to take. In order to be myself, I need the confid...

My little word for 2014 is brave. So, every day I try to do something brave.  I put myself out on a limb but I am firm.  I assert my professional knowledge and expertise. There have been some memorable moments  when I didn't give up  even though insanity prevailed.  In the end, my arguments were valid. I was right to fight for my students.    Sometimes, I've been less than courageous.  I've hesitated to take action that would have benefited students.  Because I have made myself vulnerable when maybe I shouldn't have, I've been burned. It's at these times when fear can take over.  But, I am learning that fear is the enemy of courage. So, I renounce fear. And, I recommit to being courageous,  a little bit every day. Cross posted to March Slice of Life Challenge #10 .    

Brave. Strong. The two words floating around in my head for 2014. To be brave I need to be strong. Being strong is an act of bravery. Interconnected, one with the other. Finally, taking a chance on myself. Letting go. Making space for what's important. Brave. Strong. I'm ready. Cross posted to Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life