My one little word for 2020 is MOMENTS. As the most recent Two Writing Teachers co-author, this will be my first time participating in the annual #OneLittleWord series. Selecting a word to guide my next year was not an easy feat. In my search, I considered where I needed and wanted to grow and wondered if that just right word, tasked with guiding my year, even existed. I explored many possibilities, but much like anything meant to be, the word MOMENTS continued finding its way back into my consciousness. The word MOMENTS pulled my attention for many reasons. When I began to contemplate the times I found it to be important in my life, it became more and more clear. I began to think about how one moment can change the very core of your being. One simple moment is all it takes. It took just a moment for me to decide to go back to school and become a teacher, a moment to hold my breath and hit "publish" on my laptop for the first time, and just a moment to hold my son for the first time and experience love, fear, and hope all wrapped up into one... just one moment. Time is our most precious resource. We have one life. Entrepreneur and author, Gary Vaynerchuk, often shares that “the biggest poison in us is regret.” I can’t think of anything more significant than regretting a moment missed. It is a simple truth we can easily forget. I’ll be the first to admit that I have at times allowed the busyness of life shuffle me into rushed frenzies or pull me into places of meaningless conflict. When we become too busy with life, it seems that many of us tend to forget to live our moments fully. There are moments in our lives that are forced upon us and bring us to a grinding halt. They change us down to our core, whether we are ready or not. However, most of our moments come as continuous open opportunities to steer our lives in the direction we want to move. And, so, for the next year, I plan to focus on living fully my MOMENTS, those I at least decide for myself. In 2020, I will practice purposeful moments to: 1. Breathe outside, because according to author, Austin Kleon, “demons hate fresh air.” 2. Laugh, often. 3. Unplug every once in a while, because according to writer, Anne Lamott, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes―including you.” 4. Gift myself grace. The learning process can be messy. 5. Create authentic and memorable learning experiences for my students, often. 6. Find quiet. Quiet is good for my soul. 7. Love what I do. It’s one way to teach others to love what they do. We are the sum of our experiences, our MOMENTS. The moments I will work to create will matter these next months as much as they will matter when I am old and grey. Every moment I can this next year and after, I will practice stepping into my skin with purpose, living fully, and finding comfort in my process.
18 Comments
Katina
12/31/2019 03:54:51 pm
Love your word! A moment is indeed just long enough to make something happen, to take a leap of faith and change.
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1/2/2020 08:31:48 am
“take a leap of faith and change.” I really like that.
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Kristin Dungan
12/31/2019 04:44:52 pm
Living in the moment us such a great reminder.
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1/2/2020 08:34:55 am
Living each moment fully is what I’ll be working to remember. I hope your word finds you soon.
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1/1/2020 07:49:04 am
Yes! Your word is perfect. After my father's passing I have fondly reflected on so many "moments". To me they seem so huge and vivid, but truly only a moment in the time of our life. I, too, want to be sure to create those moments with my children that transcends a lifetime and can become fond memories.
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1/2/2020 08:57:04 am
I can’t agree with you more, Cyndi. Those moments with people we love are priceless. I’m sorry about the passing of your father. Those times in our lives can be so hard. Memories of our moments with those we love are sometimes the best things we get to keep.
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Glenda Funk
1/1/2020 09:11:03 am
We live in a rushed world in which it’s so easy to let moments slip by w/out fully experiencing them. This happens for me when I travel, and 2019 was a big travel year. I spent 76 nights away from home and took three international trips. Often my travels feel surreal, more like a dream than a moment I experienced. I totally understand your desire to live in the moment and “suck the marrow” of life from each one.
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1/1/2020 04:13:29 pm
I love that you said "the moments I will work to create." I tend to forget that moments don't just happen - you can create them intentionally. Happy New Year!
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1/2/2020 09:07:18 am
I sometimes forget that too. So much around us can definitely cause us distraction. I’ll be working on that this year.
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1/3/2020 10:44:59 pm
Yes, that #OLW of mine sure does inspire choice. Happy New Year to you and may your year also be blessed with lots of great moments. Thank you for reading, Amy!
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1/2/2020 07:15:15 pm
Your post reminds me of Slice of Life and reading the world like a writer. It takes the mindset you describe to notice and celebrate those moments we want to remember on purpose. Excellent word!
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1/3/2020 10:51:03 pm
I really do hope to continue "...reading the world like a writer." I love the way you worded this.
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1/3/2020 10:15:40 am
Living presently inside moments can be a very reflective process. May you find the best in each one! Happy New Year!
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1/3/2020 10:53:05 pm
"Living presently." It can be hard to do sometimes, but I will work on it. Thank you for reading, Betsy.
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Melanie Meehan
1/3/2020 02:40:19 pm
In some ways, moments reminds me of my 2019 word, joy, and my 2020 word, wow. We live in such a rush that sometimes we don't stop and say wow, feel the joy, celebrate the moments. Love your word for the year!
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1/3/2020 11:04:26 pm
I completely agree, Melanie. Moments certainly does feel a bit like your words joy and wow. We do tend to live in a rush. It's easy sometimes to get pulled in many directions and then rush through it all. We need to practice stopping for our moments of joy and wows.
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Stacey
1/6/2020 11:36:32 am
A moment can be truly life-changing.
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AuthorMarina Rodriguez (@mrodz308) is a California native, dual language teacher, National Writing Project, Heart of Texas Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Kidblog Ambassador, and co-author of Two Writing Teachers. Archives
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