My #OneWord for 2017 is Joy. This one word definitely represents everything about this year. Live joyfully, experience joy, and share joy with the world.
This morning I was tagged on a tweet by Jennifer Williams reminding her PLN about the #OneWord campaign. It was a mid-year check-in. Her tweet included her blog post from the beginning of the year sharing her story of her word - intentional. It was such a wonderful tweet, blog post, and reminder for everyone in her PLN to reflect on their #OneWord.
How have I been doing with JOY? There are indeed so many reasons this year of 2017 is characterized as Joy. Here's my pie chart (as inspired by Jen's post). My pie chart will detail how I am living with joy in terms of fitness, work, relationships, and personally.
Work: I recently wrote a post about this incredibly joyful journey I'm on in education. After 10+ years of teaching first, second, and fifth grades, I have had the privilege and pleasure of serving as a Math & STEAM Coach for PAUSD's Elementary Education Department. It has been such an honor to partner with, support, and, as my boss always emphasizes, influence and impact the work that teachers, administrators, and district personnel do on a daily basis. I absolutely love the work I engage in with teachers collaboratively and collectively assisting children in their discovery and development of their interests and passions. JOY
Relationships: The joy I've experienced in the area of relationships is by slowing down, being aware, reflecting, being mindful, and experiencing everything my relationships bring. Sitting with a friend, going on walk and talks with a colleague, sending a tweet to my PLN, connecting with the #TOSAchat tribe, phoning family and friends, writing a card to celebrate someone's special day, and more are all ways I've experienced the joy in relationships. In addition, I accept and thank others for their compliments and feedback, receive gifts with gratitude, listen to stories without distractions, and more. Joy in relationships definitely isn't just about the positives. I experience all the frustrations, confusion, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings. Those uncomfortable feelings are indeed part of the pie in any relationship and I know the importance of not only experiencing them but working through them in order to maintain/grow the relationship. JOY
Personally: Joy in my personal life is hearing, seeing, and holding my baby boy as my wife and I welcomed him into the world on June 22nd. He is in fact laying on me as I write this post on my iPhone. He is my JOY.
JOY is my #OneWord for 2017 and I have so many incredible reasons to live joyfully, experience joy, and share joy with the world. [Thank you Jen for your tweet and inspiration to do a mid-year check.]