#OLW 2020

Seven years. Seven one little words- though I can only recall five including my word for 2020. I guess that other one must have been a dud.

In 2014 I chose bend. My life had taken a great big turn. And I needed to lean into the curves and bumps.

My 2015 word was notice. By 2015 I needed to look beyond my own path. It was time to pay more attention to the world around me. I wanted to sharpen my skills as an observer, to live like a writer, and to tune into my people and immediate surroundings.

Brave was my word in 2016 and for some strange reason the post I wrote about that is no longer available. Here- on my blog- it has disappeared. I have no idea where it went. Maybe it got scared.

And as if that wasn’t odd enough, I have no evidence whatsoever of my 2017 word. No recollection. No post. No nothing.

My one little word (choice and writing) got back on track in 2018 when I decided on shine as my word for the year.

Last year joy was my much needed word. It served me well. 2019 included many joyful moments, from traveling to a country I’ve long wanted to explore to countless happy moments in favorite places with family and friends.

This morning we welcomed students back to school after a two week winter break. And at the beginning of the day our whole Lower School community gathered and I shared my one little word for this year. My 2020 word is balance. I explained to the children why I chose it, what my hopes and dreams are for my word and me, and I invited them to chose their own words. It was a magical morning. Students all over our Lower School spent time thinking, drawing, talking, writing and sharing about their own one little words. I wandered from classroom to classroom looking and listening and loving what I saw. We all had lots to do, old friends to catch up with, new books to share, expectations to revisit, new material to learn and teach. But we paused and chose words. I heard kindergartners declare one little words like friend and kindness and calm and try. And second graders decided on words like think and continue and read and believe. A fourth grader told me his word is going to be flexible. Another told me he was thinking about persevere.

There were all sorts of things I could and should have been doing this morning. And I chose to BALANCE my time between my to-do list on my desk and the want-to-connect moments that were right there in front of me.