2015 OLW: Perspective

It's that time again to choose my OLW for 2015.  In the past, life events had prompted by word.  I typically didn't think very long about which word I was going to choose.  However I have learned the past three years that my OLW definitely becomes a part of who I am almost in a mysterious yet peaceful way.

• 2012 reflection 
• 2013 gratitude
• 2014 choice

Reflection came at a time when I was starting to juggle new learning opportunities for me I was scared to say yes, but I did.  I knew that I never took time to reflect, and I needed to. Still today my 25 minute drive home is about reflecting and a special phone call everyday to our daughter to see how her school day was for her.

Gratitude came from 26 Random Acts of Kindness.  I had to do something that reached out to my world that I touched everyday.  My heart was broken and I needed to heal because I just could not wrap my thinking around the events at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. Gratitude has been my favorite OLW because I was able to extend myself and reach others. 

Choice was last year's word.  Chosen because I needed to feel that I had choices in my busy life. I had not wrapped my head around being an empty nester yet still wanting and needing to parent.  I had several opportunities at work that would require me to "step up" and I wasn't sure which choice I would make. Borrowing from Ruth Ayres reflection, " I can't imagine a better word to teach me what I needed (But didn't even know I needed) to learn."

Finally as I kept a note in my iPhone and collected several words. My criteria boiled down to this question:   Which word would encompass all my other OLW because all three had impacted my life?

Thanks to Google - love the Scrabble letters.
Perfect for me

• Perspective as I continue my journey in teaching facing a variety of issues: state testing, value added evaluations, professional growth including which books to read, conferences to attend, time spent on social media. Reflecting on how all those issues impact me.
• Perspective on time including a wider variety of work outs, making different choices in the evenings, and continuing to establish new habits.
• Perspective on being a quiet listener, making the best choices for me as well as my family, and choosing to continue to focus on gratitude.