My One Word- Resolute (366)

Resolute is digging in- steadfast anchor. Determination wrapped up in a blanket of perseverance and optimism. It is looking at the world with curiosity and wonder- all the while keeping ones head out of the clouds and more stationary in the here and now. Imagination lit up, whimsy and excitement surrounding- but a level of grounding. This root system is the branches of resoluteness.

This network of belief, confidence, dare devil enthusiasm. This is what keeps me moving forward. There is no up, down, left or right. There is no east, west, south or north. There is only momentum and avoidance of inertia. There is only a focus, deep seeded within the tunnels and pathways of hope and follow-through.

My sentinels are in place. My field clear. My vision open. I am embarking not on something entirely new. I am not rebuilding. I am not purchasing new materials or tools. I am merely recycling and shuffling my old materials around a bit. For great ideas when forgotten do not lose their ingenuity or creativity. They simply need a resurfacing. A recognition.

So my year is about minimalism and engineering. Not tossing out the old but repurposing it. Being resolute to me is accepting what I let go as a purposeful. The tools I found useless can be altered to give new insight. So resolute for me is my word. To anticipate, acknowledge and accept. Then to do something about it. Actively seek change. Actively seek purpose. Actively seek transformation.

2021 is not a year for big changes - sweeping epic changes. It may be relocation. It may be publishing. It may be a few big, audacious alterations. But for the most part- I am focusing on the incremental. The beginning with an end in sight. The middle, well that is the exciting part. That is what makes everything worth it. The flexibility to find life awesome.

2021 I am resolute. I am flexible. I am imagining the best.

Rider and Elephant (365)

I read everyday. Social Science books, Psychology books, Education books. I edge in some fiction too, I absolutely love Ernest Cline. I have a lot of books, shelves and shelves of books, and the count is growing daily. I buy more before I have read the last batch. I guess it is an obsession- because I like them as a reference. I like to learn new things and then I try to see if any of them are purposeful and relevant to my classroom.

Some aren't. They are broad and theory based. Some are based on mindfulness or self-reflection. This helps me in my quest for awareness and growth, but not fully in my classroom design. But they all help me realize things. They help me see the complex world as just that- complex. Not cruel outright. Not pitted against me. Not easy or designed to make my life purposeful- that is me.

I am reading a book about a Rider and an Elephant. More details to come in my future writings but for today, I will share the basic idea. We all have a rider- the part of our minds that steer us, guide us, see the big picture. The one who can make rational choices if given time and reasoning. But we also sit a top an elephant. Gentle and beautiful and generally compliant with our riders decisions.

But the elephant is full of emotion. Full of, at times, frustration and withdrawal. But also full of kindness, empathy and generosity. We often live our lives with our elephants willingly taking us where we need to go. It is our emotional side. But it can lead us astray just as fast. It can suffer from choice paralysis, it can run away from opportunity because of ambiguity. We need our elephant and rider on the same page. But we do not always achieve this.

In 2021 I am going to write. Write a lot. Not to blog them out necessarily, but to write chapters of books I need to finish. I will also write my blog but focus less on daily posts. 366 this year, I must say was a bit daunting. I wrote then forgot to post some days. But I wrote every day a blog post and one got posted for every day in 2020. 

But instead of #EduBlogYear my new # is #2021Write52. This means weekly so less constricted. I already feel the weight being lifted. My elephant tends to win- when I say I will do something- if it is up to me, if it is possible and in my hands, I do it.

So in 2021 my focus is on my rider and my elephant. Making things less ambiguous and more focused. Using my energy to improve, gain knowledge and apply. To share specifics rather than generalities. By using these last 5 months of the school year to continue to help my students be self-thinkers, self-actualizers, self-healers and self-go-getters. 

In 2021 I am not going to set goals or achievements- but script a doable plan. A flexible and structured plan. A self-paced map I can choose my own roads and climbs on a daily basis. Set a beginning and an end and make sure the middle is unscripted because the middle is bound to change- I have no control over that. 

But if I have a scripted plan,  I can start on my journey strong. I can keep my intentions clear, so my elephant and rider know where we are going. I need to eliminate the ambiguity of my own actions. Life is full of unpredictability- but my intentions need to be free of ambiguity. Flexible and adjustable but clear and concise. Too many choices can lead to action paralysis. 

After my script is written (daily, weekly, monthly) depending on need- I will relax and enjoy the scenery because man is there going to be a lot of beautiful scenery. This is my 'big picture moment' the rest, the details- those will unfold and I will accept my path. I will write about it. I will share my ideas to anyone who will listen. This is the way as any Mandalorian will tell you. This is the way. 

Find your way. Find your balance and the rider and elephant will make sure you reach it. All you need to do is trust yourself. Minimalize distractions and start your journey.

Seeing Patterns (363)

Our minds are mysterious. None alike. Each with a different lens, a different processor, a unique perspective. We all crave something, we have habits, rituals, routines. We have preferences. Some of us can curb a craving. Some of us bend it its will. We find things funny, sad or exhilarating- while the same things are dull to others. 

The awareness we have of our minds, how they work- is also unique. Some reflect, meditate and seek moments of epiphany that lead them to a new awakening. Others fight the urge to change and grow because changing and growing is difficult. Determining we are not perfect and need to alter course is hard for a lot of people. For when you do- you can never go back.

We are trained to see patterns. To get into a rhythm of push, pull. Stretch, rebound. We begin to notice when we are exhausted. When we are ready to try something new. We begin to pay attention in times when things are going great. How did we get here? What can I do to stay here- in this euphoria? But it vanishes sometimes just as quickly as it arrived. We have more distractions bouncing off our shields, then we have moments to reflect.

We are human and humans crave immediate response, immediate reward, immediate satisfaction. And so we continue often in a pattern of our making. One where we only see the flashing lights, hear the band as it trumpets out a march. We often move from parade to parade so the cadence never stops. But the end of the parade is inevitable. There is always the discarded streamers and popped balloons that need to be collected.

This is the season of parades, glimmering lights and shiny streamers. This is the moment where we let our guard down and simply celebrate. And we should. We earned it. This has been a hard year, to say the least. But after the disco ball descends, we must hunker down and again look for different patterns. Patterns long designed and implemented by our students, our families and our goals and aspirations.

Intentions. Actionable progress. Growth and a little bit of organized chaos. Lean in and look around. The rubble left by 2020 needs to be reassembled. We need to construct new foundations. Your one word, your goals, your hopes- let them flow. Then grab one- just one and roll with it. Too many goals is a distraction. Lessen your distractions- eliminate ambiguity. 

See the edges, sharpen your focus and grab one- and make it happen. Then grab another and make it happen. One by one the march- the parade, the band of trumpets, trombones and the rat tat tat of the drums- let your goals unfold. For when we see the pattern, slow down our cadence- we will be able to reach them all with confidence and conciseness. 

Namaste (361)

Today is boxing day....the first day of Kwanzaa. The day after Christmas. Less than 7 days before the New Year begins. And it is just that... a day where I am only writing my sentence, my word and my mantra for these upcoming 365.

Namaste- find peace. Embrace the breathing and quiet moments. The focus on your body and mind. It is the way to your sanctuary. 

Word: Momentum

Sentence: I will write, I will publish. I will write more.

Mantra: Never take more than you give- it throws you spirit out of balance. Give more, every day give something positive to the world and your spirit will balance and your mindfulness will thrive.

Acceptable (358)

Acceptable, another word used frequently. But to me this has more quantifiable evidence supporting whether something is considered acceptable or not. Like a 70 is acceptable as a passing grade. 2 days is an acceptable arrival time for a package from Amazon. I suppose it is of course based on a standard not always fixed. But it does tend to have a bar- a level- a number or range.

I find a lot of behavior unacceptable, yet I tend to keep it to myself. As I do not want to appear unacceptable myself. I just tend to steer clear of it. I find words and actions, of those who are unwilling to listen to alternate points of view, unacceptable. It doesn't take anything but strength, grace and humility to listen to someone else. Their ideas might offend, but maybe if we listened a little bit more, we could bridge the divide between the corners.

The corners we are backing ourselves into by standing behind such a firm line in the sand. A line our sticks drew as we gathered the stones and branches to defend our ideals. There is so much room for acceptable behavior. For acceptable speech. For acceptable action - we need action to be based on benevolence. Not misunderstanding and blind faith.

These days in the tumultuous times we live in- it is even more important to be acceptable. Accept others opinions as their own- rather than dismissing them, because they are different- from our own. Being acceptable means being open-minded, being generous and patient. It takes time for alignment to take place. For a middle ground to be forged. Recently there has been little hope for the conjunction of compromise.

But being reasonable and acceptable is on the approach. People are still rude and self-centered. Many are following a misplaced ideal of one is better and thus one is all that matters. There are many acceptable voices, reasonable voices- and together reasonable and acceptable means crossing the border towards a center- a commonality, an alignment. I for one find this reasonable and acceptable.

Reasonable (357)

I hear this word a lot these days. Reasonable action. Reasonable expectations. Be reasonable. This person or that person is unreasonable. Reasonale is a vague word. What does it mean to be reasonable? To many it means being fair and equitable. Again, not clear. The word lends itself to ambiguity. Conciseness of reasonability is impossible, unless you have very specific expectations. Even then interpetation is personal.

I think reasonable in most cases, means simply to be adequate. Make sure everyone is getting what they need. Make moves towards something better. But doing so, in such a way, as to not cause unreasonable consequences. Right? The word can mean so many things. What I deem reasonable, you may consider down right unreasonable.

It is specifics and clarity that helps guide reasonability. Having expectations is only part of the picture. If you are vague on your options, routines or actions- is this unreasonable. Often someone who might be considered unreasonable is just living by a different set of parameters than you. Often it is pure exhaustion, pure frustration- that leads to unreasonableness. 

Whatever unreasonable action befalls your path- I guess the important thing to remember is why you consider it unreasonable? What situations do you consider reasonable? Are you reasonable when it comes to living a reasonable life? Talking in circles like this, using the word in an imprecise, nebulous, obscure manner, am I being unreasonable?

Using the right word at the right time is not always possible. For we speak out of turn, we speak before we think, we speak with our emotions, rather than our logic at times. So we are often incapable of being reasonable. Within the framework of what others see as reasonable anyway. I guess what I am trying to say is - treat yourself with a level of reasonableness you expect from others. Whatever your ideal reasonableness is that is.

If others do not find you reasonable- they might need to learn some reasonableness. So judge not your action, on what others require to fit their defintiion of reasonable. Be kind, be graceful, be forgiving, be generous and mindful- and hopefully these qualities fall within the reasonable- for those around you. This my friends is what being reasonable is all about.

Seeing, feeling, experiencing beyond expectations of others and living a joyful, loving, responsible life. For that is reasonable. And we are all reasonable when we stop to define the term to ourselves. When we consider the situation, listen to the sounds of behavior and look at the data- data we collect- we become more reasonable than we ever expected. Because honestly- reasonability is not finite, nor is it universal.

Reasonability is flexible- it is fluid and it encompasses all aspects of our lives. So be reasonable. See reasonability as a gift only you can bestow upon yourself and others. Then reasonability becomes something very reasonable. Right?

Every Note, A Warble, Every Strum, A Synergy (355)

Reflection day. 355 days of writing. I forget sometimes to post live, but I write every day. I write creatively, purposefully, reflectively. Sometimes it comes out metaphorically or thematically. Others straight forward and precise. Each day, I get out of the way and just write. Some days lots of edits, others it just flows out like cooling lava- creating new land. Creating a new landscape for my thoughts.

I can't believe that we are nearing the end of 2020. I do not plan on not writing every day in 2021. I just won't be so thoughtful in posting a daily narrative. I will start focusing on my books. I have ideas circulating, forming, adhering to my mind. They are unfolding. They have a solid hum going. The warble echo of dreams colliding with phrases landing upon my wave of sound.

It takes time to believe in yourself. To trust your voice for a longer piece of prose. I write blogs after all- what makes me think I can write a book, or two. I finally have added a contribution to other peoples books. I guess that means I am published. But I have to get my name on the cover. I need to share my experience. I have had great classrooms, horrible administrations. I have had horrible classrooms and supportive teams. 

Yet, as Green Day says "I am still breathing." I am still forging ahead willingly into the arena of education on a daily basis. Lucky enough to be able to do so in person and virtually. I have always felt like I have been in a sprint- but recently I have settled into a marathon. But one with out a ribbon to cross or cheering fans. I just know that the endurance I have built up over these last twenty years- is enough.

Now I can share my knowledge. And for this I am hopeful, excited, and down right scared to death. But, without leap does not come fall. Without fall does not come landing safely into the water- a plunge into such a vast ocean of opportunity. Without the dive- the plunge- there is only ripple and sometimes- sometimes we need the wave to carry us. We need the tide to rise and ebb, we need the sea grass to tickle our feet so we swim to the surface.

This is the warble and wobble of my existence. The constant switch between breath stroke and sink. But as of late- it is the float. Arms extended, letting the sunlight bathe me in optimism and strength. My legs on the edge, the precipice of water and depth- and together these actions of succumb, this lack of motion- has allowed me to find my air. Coming up for air. My book.