YOU are Always Enough: A Reminder for Educators Who Feel the Pressure to Do More

This post was originally written when Twitter played a central role in educator conversations online. While platforms have changed, the message remains just as relevant today.

Twitter is amazing.

No, really. It is.

So many posts have been shared over the past few days about the new year - #oneword and #my3words. They have been heartfelt and simply awesome. Energy and motivation is high, and it's easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm as we start 2018.

But what happens as the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months? Will our motivation still be as strong?

My 3 Words for 2018

I always look forward to the holidays to celebrate Christmas and spend time with family and friends. As an educator, it's very rewarding personally to have time off between Christmas and New Year's because it gives me time to reflect on the previous year and make plans for the new year. Putting together a list of the top 10 posts from the year and connecting with my PLN in Voxer groups and on twitter all help me look forward as I continue to grow as a person and educator. 

This will be my fifth year to follow Chris Brogan's lead and choose 3 words to guide my year. No more resolutions or lists of things to stop doing. These are the words that will guide my actions throughout the year. This year, in addition to creating a visual for my office, I'm going to do something new with them. I'm going to create a recurring monthly event in my calendar so that I can do a "check in" with myself throughout the year. 

Best of 2017: Top Ten Blog Posts

On this last day of 2017, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who have read, commented, and shared blog posts this year. I continue to learn from all of you, and this blog is a huge part of my accountability, learning, and growth. 

I believe in reflection as a tool for growth, and this time of the year it is important to reflect on the year as we prepare for the new one. Going back through the posts from the year is an awesome way to look for patterns, new learning, and opportunities for goal-setting. I always look forward to re-reading and sharing the top ten posts with my readers. I hope you enjoy!

Break out of your snow globe in 2018

One of my favorite movies is Lean on Me, in which Morgan Freeman played inner city high school principal Joe Clark. Do you remember this line from one of the students... "Mr. Clark don't play!" ??

I thought of this line as I read one of Dave Burgess' recent blog posts.