New Year, New Start.
New Year, New Me.
New Year, New ….
The wonderful thing about familiar, overworn phrases like these is that they can be so true, and even helpful. That’s why they’re overused and become cliches. Because our words have power, and when we recognize that power we are harnessing our futures, instead of our futures racing without bridle or direction, dispersing like mini M&Ms through a colander.
The power of words, but not as you might expect
I ran a 5k on January 4th this year. Not because of willpower, or motivation, but because of words. I set my intention through the genre of form completion, I typed in my credit card details, and I (apparently persuasively) texted my running friends to join me. And because of this, I showed up and I ran. Having been practically housebound with post-operative pain throughout October and November, even crawling for 5k would have been a win for me. And I wasn’t the fastest by any means, but I beat my own (very slow) personal best; I’m taking it.
Sure, I sacrificed some lie-ins, as the preparation required for several runs a week. And 5ks are early, like 5am wake-up early. But the elation from not only completing but succeeding in my goal, and the knowledge that I can do more as a result, is, as Mastercard would say, priceless.
Summer Institute–sacrifice or gain?
Last summer, for our inaugural Invitation Summer Institute, we all sacrificed a few weeks of lie-ins, some time at the beach, and several hours of serotonin. But we also gained so much in return. One teacher gained a whole new unit that she had been wanting to write all year, another returned to the book he had been writing, and a teacher-PhD candidate was able to spend focused time on her upcoming conference presentation with helpful feedback from all of us. We learned, we connected, and we grew.
We also enjoyed a lot of yummy lunches, courtesy of funding from Nova’s Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts–thank you, @DCMA!–and some British afternoon tea treats from yours truly. And we were fed in other ways too, in the ways that get missed off from district or departmental training, like working on our own writing, discovering–or recovering–our identities as educators, as writers, as wonderful, valuable, indispensable human beings.
Set your intention today
How is your balance sheet today? I know that we spend all year pouring our energy into others, sacrificing our Sunday evenings, and letting go of our lunch breaks to listen to that student who just really needs to talk to someone. How about you take some time for you? Take some time for your practice, for your writing, for your identity.
You can start by writing. Just fill out this form and upload your statement to be considered for the second annual Invitational Summer Institute.
The whole three-week Institute is free to attend, and we’re accredited for 60 in-service points for both Broward and Palm Beach County schools.
We can’t wait to meet you.