Two weeks into the new year and I am finally getting around to gathering my thoughts and hopes for the new year! (well, sharing them) Upon returning to school from the holiday break, I was asked to write down my hopes for the new year to be posted on a bulletin board in the teacher's lounge. ( I use that term, lounge loosely, teacher's do not "lounge" these days). I have some silent, personal hopes, but I also have some that are worth sharing. First, and always, I hope for health for my family, friends, and myself. To keep this hope alive, Kevin and I joined a running class that meets twice a week. It is organized by the Run for Your Life store in Charlotte, and although it is a trek to get over there, our first meeting last night proved it is well worth the drive. Even though it recently snowed, and there is ice, and the temperatures are well below comfortable to me, running last night was invigorating. I tried to envision where I used to run, along the beach in CA with a running group I used to train with, and that helped keep me moving, and warm. Really, I am a creature who loves to run, but I do so more intensely when pushed by others who love it, or atleast pretend to love it! I am looking forward to next week's run, and getting psyched that I will probably train to run another 1/2 marathon in the near future!
Another hope I have for the new year is to enjoy the little things more, and have faith in things the way they are. I am constantly seeking answers and trying to understand why things are the way they are, but I have a friend who inspires me to question my faith and who reminds me that sometimes answers just aren't there. I want to strengthen this belief this year. Some might believe I have too much time on my hands, or maybe I'm just a curious creature who always asks, WHY? I like to think the latter is true. But I'm going to try to tame that curiousity, only when appropriate of course.
My third hope for the new year is to make family a priority.... Kevin and I made a deal, well, I made him a promise that after the holidays I would NOT take on any extracurricular work. So far, I've turned down 2 people who asked if I was interested in doing "extra" work. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but I did find myself feeling like I needed to explain why I had to say no. Fortunately, my boss and the other individual completely understood my committment to my husband, my family and appreciate what I already do at work! Whew! One thing I think this is teaching me is to find and keep balance. I hope I can share this with my fellow teachers and friends, because I think it is something of an occupational hazard for educators. Needless to say, all of these hopes for the new year are within reach. I don't make resolutions, but I do think having hopes and dreams to be a better person are always reasonable.
Cheers to everyone for whatever you hope for in the new year!
