THE WHAT

It’s that time of year again. That time of year where educators try to pick a word – one, single word – that will guide their focus for the next year. I’m not entirely sure that one word can ever describe an entire year. However, I think it is a great way to have a specific goal and focus on a way to improve personally and professionally.

This year, I’ve decided that my #OneWord will be present. My focus is to be present in every day and with the people in it.

THE WHY

Recently, I’ve begun to reflect on the fact that I often tend to live in the past and future more than I live in the present. (And no – I’m not talking about time travel.) It’s not that I am physically living in the past or the future but that I am mentally living in it.

As an A-type personality (with a bad case of perfectionism), I tend to live in the past by dwelling on and/or worrying about the decisions or choices that I have made. I wonder if I have done the right things or taken the right steps, whether personally or professionally. It’s not healthy – I am more than aware of that. However, it is one of my greatest struggles. The ability to simply let go.

On the other hand, I also tend to live in the future by dwelling on and/or worrying about the things that are to come. I wonder about the next steps in my life and whether they are the right ones or the wrong ones. I wonder about my family and if I am helping them to become the people they are meant to be, particularly, if I am raising my daughter to be her best future self. There are a million things that I wonder about the future because I simply want myself and my family to be happy.

As I write these very transparent thoughts, I can tell that the past and future often take hold of my life. By focusing on the past and the future, it is very possible that I am missing the joys of the present. This is something I do not want to do, especially now that I have a child of my own.

THE HOW

If you know me, you know that I am a Christian. Therefore, first and foremost, I will focus on the present by simply trusting God. Be still and trust that the past is the past and that He has the future handled.

Second, I want to adjust my “frame of mind” to be set in the present. While it is completely appropriate to plan for the future, I want to ensure that the times in which I am planning for the future are not disrupting the present. For instance, if I am spending time with my family or working with students, I want to adjust my mind to not be thinking about all of the things that need to be done or the things that I want to do. When it comes to the past, I will also have to adjust my mind to let go and move on.

Finally, I want to be mindful of the amount of technology that I am using when I am with family and friends. Is the technology preventing me from being present with them? Am I missing out on precious moments to check email, social media, etc? As I go forward into this year, I want to be more focused on being present and engaged with the people I love.

What is your #OneWord for 2019? Share in the comments below!