About two or three years ago, maybe it was when I hit my 30s, I realized something really important that has changed the way I view the passing of time. Every year is the best one ever.
Too often I will hear people around me reminisce about the "good ol' days" of yesteryear. I have been guilty in getting caught up in that, too. I think back to when I was younger, thinner, had more of this supply or that resource. But the thing is that even at that time, I would or could have thought of a better moment earlier in time to be all nostalgic over. The truth is the good ol' days are now. When you get caught up in thinking about what you may have lost or what has passed you by, you miss out on how great things can be in this moment. It is almost the reverse philosophy of the main character in Office Space, who hates his job and explains how every day is the worst day ever. It took me about 30 years of living to figure it out, but now that I do I try to apply that frame of mind to whatever I am doing (whether it is hiking a new trail or trying a new teaching method in my classroom). I cannot promise I will not look through my old scrapbooks and think fondly of the past (because I do that all of the time); I just try and put it into perspective, understanding that right now is pretty dang amazing, too.
In order to make every year the best year ever, here are some key things I try to consider. 1. Green-eyed trolls get you no where. 2. The more lines in the pond, the better chance you have to catch something, 3. Intent is everything.
2014 was amazing. I hiked in Tennessee, Alaska, and around Michigan with my loving husband; I presented in Michigan to Art and general education teachers at five different events and traveled to San Diego to present to Art teachers at the National level; I had students win local, State, and National competitions and brought in over $2500 in extra funding for my classroom; I was named a PBS Digital Innovator and MAEA Middle Level Educator of the Year. I enjoyed countless snuggles with my kitties on the couch. It was a banner year.
But I think 2015 is going to be even better.
Too often I will hear people around me reminisce about the "good ol' days" of yesteryear. I have been guilty in getting caught up in that, too. I think back to when I was younger, thinner, had more of this supply or that resource. But the thing is that even at that time, I would or could have thought of a better moment earlier in time to be all nostalgic over. The truth is the good ol' days are now. When you get caught up in thinking about what you may have lost or what has passed you by, you miss out on how great things can be in this moment. It is almost the reverse philosophy of the main character in Office Space, who hates his job and explains how every day is the worst day ever. It took me about 30 years of living to figure it out, but now that I do I try to apply that frame of mind to whatever I am doing (whether it is hiking a new trail or trying a new teaching method in my classroom). I cannot promise I will not look through my old scrapbooks and think fondly of the past (because I do that all of the time); I just try and put it into perspective, understanding that right now is pretty dang amazing, too.
In order to make every year the best year ever, here are some key things I try to consider. 1. Green-eyed trolls get you no where. 2. The more lines in the pond, the better chance you have to catch something, 3. Intent is everything.
2014 was amazing. I hiked in Tennessee, Alaska, and around Michigan with my loving husband; I presented in Michigan to Art and general education teachers at five different events and traveled to San Diego to present to Art teachers at the National level; I had students win local, State, and National competitions and brought in over $2500 in extra funding for my classroom; I was named a PBS Digital Innovator and MAEA Middle Level Educator of the Year. I enjoyed countless snuggles with my kitties on the couch. It was a banner year.
But I think 2015 is going to be even better.
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