Declare It Day - One Month into 2021

How's your momentum going so far this year?   How much thought do you give to momentum?  A few weeks ago, Mel from Fellow Flowers wrote about momentum and a conversation that she had with her daughter Alexis when they were finishing up their run coming down a hill.   Now I know that I am not a science teacher (Kudos to any of you that are.  I had a super awesome science teacher in high school - Mr. Etnyre.  I am always fascinated by science but could never teach it.), but I do love what momentum can represent - ENERGY!  I have been thinking about this whole idea of momentum/energy since the year began.  I want to increase the things that move me forward and decrease the things that are holding me back.  Sounds simple, right?   I wish it were.  

Here's one of the ways to get momentum going in my life:  set a powerful goal.   That's what Declare It Day is all about.  It was so awesome to be participating in my 5th DID with Fellow Flowers. 

This was definitely different though.  I wasn't able to go meet up with the crew and run any miles like in the past.  Instead it was a Zoom meet up last night - different but still so fulfilling.

When the new year began, I chose BELIEVE as my word for the year and it really is going to help me build and keep my momentum going to reach my 2021 Declare It Day Goal. A second step in maintaining momentum in life has to do with getting and staying motivated.  I've been working on that with book clubs.  My current book club is Get Out Of Your Head by Jennie Allen. While in the book, she talks about it as spiraling and not momentum, I feel like it's really similar.  Creating that new normal where we are operating in our purpose...sounds like momentum to me.  Jennie Allen talks about how if we don't believe (yes - she used that word) our minds will spin and spin looking for a place to land.  Much of this is about thoughts and positive thinking.  I am determined this year to use my BELIEF in myself to keep motivated and fixated on my declaration.

As I looked back on my declarations from year's past, I saw a pretty common thread of good habits and improving myself. Last year my declaration was to simplify-- get out of the mindset and thinking of more is better.  I'm not really straying from that tremendously this year.  This year I will believe in my faith, my journey, my own strength, and my abilities to overcome.  So much of what holds me back is in my own head.  

I've been working with Kate to prepare for her ACT test in March and one of the key things we keep reading is how important mental preparation and confidence is.  Many things we have been reading are about developing a positive mental attitude and simply believing that YOU WILL DO WELL!  Intend to do your best and believe it.  That's my big declaration for this year.  I'm going to stop believing the lies in my head and really do the things in my heart.  

This will be my year of doing more than just going through the motions.  That may seem like momentum but it's not.  In that sense it's an illusion.  That is more like drudgery than anything positive.  

I am going to live this year with momentum that is filled with meaning!

I promise that it wasn't a typo in the word abilities...just didn't have enough space for all my words...

Here's to new beginnings EVERY day:  365 chances to get better each and every year.  Use your momentum and move toward the life you want and can make happen!

Added just for a little motivation:

Will I Am

One Word for 2021

 Since as far back as January 2016 I have chosen a word for each year.  That first year I chose Courage.  It was a word I relied on and drew strength from in many areas of my life.  In 2020 I chose the word Simplify.  It was very meaningful and powerful for me as I lived through a pandemic and navigated uncharted territory.  

This year I have really struggled to settle in on my word.

You can read about the basis of Jon Gordon's work with One Word HERE.

My original thoughts about my word was that I was going to choose trust.  Much of it having to do with trusting myself.   Then I switched my thinking to using TRUTH.  As I prayed over those 2 possibilities last week, I knew they weren't right for me.   I switched my thinking to the word HOPE.  

I really thought that was going to be my word.  I started to focus in on my 2021 intentions.  I began asking myself questions about my goals for the year and what qualities in myself I was really going to grow and improve on.  I began thinking about how I wanted to grow in 2021 - personally, professionally, as a parent.  GROW started to stick out to me as an important word.  BUILD was a word that resonated with me.  

On the shortest day of the year (December 21 - Winter solstice) I had thought my word was going to be LIGHT.  I read an article in the Telegraph Herald during December that talked about how important the balance of light and dark was.  It talked about how our eyes adjust to the darkness and the shadows that go deep.  Light really seemed like a great word because I associated it with being the happy parts of things, welcoming, sunshine through clouds.  I'm trying so hard to left go of feelings that drag me into the darkness:  resentment and anger.  Light and grace and gratitude were possible words.   

As I was reading more and more as the new year approached, more and more words were swimming around in my mind.  I wasn't narrowing things down at all.  The words were growing and now I had so many choices that I was feeling choice paralysis.  

Thinking about my goals, both short term and long term, helped me to rule out a few words but then more words would come to my mind.  On January 1 I started some writing and I made a few different lists with some of the words I was thinking about.  This was such a strange feeling for me because ever since I had started this One Word Process in 2016, my word always seemed to choose me.   

Social media had to play a little part in the process, too....A former neighbor shared this image:

My first 4 words were change, breakthrough, purpose, and lessons.  

As I was doing some things on January 1, I was really stuck on the butterfly.  I still didn't have a word but I liked the symbolism of the butterfly.  

When the facebook Nametests showed up with the above answer, I was settled on the symbol of a butterfly but not a word yet.  There were so many reasons I love the butterfly.  One reason I love butterflies is that they remind me of a play that my dad and brother were in during the summer of 1984:  Bullfrogs and Butterflies.  Here's a link to the song from that musical.  It seemed like I was leaning toward the word grow or evolve.  Even HOPE was still a connection to the butterfly.  Transform, change, potential, joy and courage popped up as I was thinking and praying over my word.  The list was growing instead of shrinking.

My focus with in 2021 was to grow and become stronger and more confident.  It also meant letting go of the things that I cannot control.  

Now it came time to think of stories and connections that could help me find the right word.  I thought of the word BECOME to go along with GROW. I was listening to something Matthew West was sharing on Instagram when he talked about Paul and how he was the real deal.  Matthew West quoted from 1 Timothy 1:15.  This made me think TRUTH might be the word.  

At this point you can probably tell that I could not narrow things down.  Words kept being added to my list of possibilities.

Have you read The Velveteen Rabbit?  There was a part in that story that kept resonating with me especially asIt's such a memorable story line:

Now I was feeling like this       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ was what I was thinking and feeling.  I wanted my word to be REAL and for me and to include all the parts of my story.  

Last week in our #movewithmel coaching call, Mel said, "You don't have to love all of your story but you have to take it all/acknowledge it all."  That hit me HARD.  I try to ignore the parts of my story that I don't like or feel don't make me "look" good.  In all honesty, social media makes that possible for so many of us.  If you are still with me in my process of finding my word - thank you.  I was getting closer to finding my word.  

I knew I wanted to be REAL and relate somehow to the butterfly symbol.  

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty – Maya Angelou

These creatures are teachers in disguise!  I may have spent the last couple of year's stuck and not moving forward but this is the year I BREAKTHROUGH.  My word is BELIEVE!!!  I will believe in my faith, believe in my journey, believe in my role as a mom, believe in my own strength, believe in my ability to overcome.  I will believe that I am growing even when I cannot feel it or see it.  I will believe that change is okay (and even GOOD).  I will use those buterfly wings to fly forward with confidence.   BELIEVE!

End of the November Reflection

 If you had to rate your November on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, what would you rate it?   I would give my month a 9.  It was a GOOD month for many reasons.  I worked toward a few small goals and am proud of the work I did with those.  School remained in person and we got a surprise snow day so both of those things made me feel good about November.  There weren't any huge, earth shattering memory making moments in November but we were able to have a few family game nights again.  Thanksgiving was very different from our usual celebration but it was really enjoyable.  

The week of Thanksgiving I shared the book Balloons Over Broadway with my students and I loved digging into the life of puppeteer Tony Sarg and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  

It made watching the parade on Thanksgiving Day have a little more purpose.  Did you watch?  I loved hearing from students today about things they saw and loved in the parade.

My goals at the beginning of November had to do with really stepping up my activity.  My goal was to hit my Garmin Step goal 25 out of 30 days.   I am happy to report that I exceeded that with 26/30 or 87%.

I hope to keep the momentum going in December.  I really do think anything over 80% is good and since December has 31 days, even 25 days would be 81% so my goal is to meet the Garmin step goal for 25 days.  

My eating was pretty dialed in for the first 3 weeks of the month.  I have been doing protein shakes for breakfast and broccoli for lunch each week day and I plan to continue those habits.  Dinner varies but I have been able to limit my snacking and have really enjoyed the smooth cottage cheese for my after school snack. 

It's time for the Fellow Flowers Holiday Challenge and that always helps me keep my exercise consistent from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.  Today was Day 5 and I am loving seeing all the amazing ladies just killin' it for 30 minutes every day.

Now let's set make December the best month of the year!

Goals-  shakes for breakfast, veggies for lunch, protein for snack, and a reasonable dinner each day.

Keep logging what I eat with MyFitnessPal.

Meet my step goal at least 25 days this month.

Do some other fun workouts...maybe lift a few weights or add 8 Minute Abs back into my routine.

I really enjoyed my gratitude miles each week on November so I am going to find a way to continue to reflect on gratitude during my runs, too.  

If you've read this far, THANKS!  Here's to a DAZZLING December.

Thanksgiving Week - Gratitude Miles

It’s Thanksgiving Week!  Our family plans have changed numerous times and it looks like we are staying home and celebrating with just the 4 of us.  No big Turkey Trot race but the kids have agreed to run with me on Thanksgiving morning.  Will says we can run 5 miles but Kate is trying to convince us to stick to a 5K.   I vote a 5 mile in the morning and a 5K in the evening.

 Today’s run was a  combo of run/walk miles.  I would run a song and then walk a song. I attempted to switch to running 2 songs, walk 1 but just wasn’t feeling it. 

Mile 1 - Health

All 4 of us in the house have stayed healthy this fall and that is something I am thankful for.  Even more thankful is that my mom has been well.  This week she texted and said that we couldn’t come to her house for Thanksgiving.  I was really sad but then I realized that keeping everyone healthy is most important.  I am healthy enough to run and move each day.

Mile 2 - Happiness (I promise this is different from my mile 2 - Hope/Optimism from last week)

I love seeing my kids happy.  This weekend WIll has been hunting and Kate had a couple of basketball things.  I don’t really understand either of those things but I know that both of my kiddos are happy.  Mile 2 was all about how happiness leads to action.  I need my running and walking miles to show my kids how to chase their own dreams and find their own happiness.

Mile 3 - Family

With this being a holiday week, I keep thinking about many of the family memories from Thanksgiving's past.  We won’t be seeing family this year but I spent this mile thinking about my family in Illinois, Indiana, California, and Virginia.  Hoping that we can connect virtually with some this week and make plans for in person celebrations in 2021.

Mile 4 - Night and Day

I definitely did not get up early enough to see the sunrise today and I am glad that I didn’t.  Sleeping in is something that I rarely do but today it was nice to have no alarms set.  As I was out on City Limits Road I heard the words by Macklemore, “I made it through the darkest part of night, and now I see the sunrise.  Now I feel glorious, glorious.  I feel glorious, glorious.”  

Last night we turned on our outside Christmas lights. One of these days we will run at night again and enjoy the lights all through town.  

I love that EVERY day I get to go through the light and then the dark.  It’s such a great reminder to me that everything is temporary.  Life feels hard lately but I know that it won’t feel like this forever.  I’m trying to take things one day at a time and today the morning sun was truly GLORIOUS.

Mile 5 - Inspiration from Others

One of my dear inspirational friends had surgery last week.  I’ve been praying for her and as I was running mile 5 today I thought about how inspirational my friend and fitness crew really is. Even when we cannot be together to get our miles in, I am inspired by Donna, Michelle, Michelle, Jackie, Lisa, Steena, Rosa - I miss seeing you in person.

Stacy - thanks for all the motivation and guidance you have provided me.

Kaiti - you inspire me daily and I am so grateful for your running plans.

I am so lucky to have an inspirational #ffcrew and #zoomarunclub, too.  

Mile 6 (and .2) - MOMENTS for ME

I had many moments during my run where I thought about just walking but I had walked yesterday.  Today I needed to push myself.  I need this running time just for me - to make me stronger, happier, and complete. When I feel tired, it would be easy not to run or walk but I always feel better when I get out there. I get more done at home once I put in the work with my miles.

If you are looking for some motivation to get miles (or any exercise) in from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, follow @fellowflowers to join their #ffholidaychallenge.  

Middle of the Month Miles of Gratitude

 

Here we are, halfway through November.  I got in a few (5 to be exact) gratitude miles this weekend.  They were a combo of run/walk miles.  I would run a song and then walk a song.  

Mile 1 - Smiles

I love smiles and I miss being able to see them regularly.  I thought about how this past year has been an experience for me and my smile with my clear correct.  I want people to see my smile….it’s finally relatively straight after 15 years of having a crazy crooked bottom row.  I know people say that you can see the smiles in the eyes, but I miss seeing the teeth!  I often smile during the school day.  I think I teach better with a smile and it’s something that makes me - me - My big ol’ toothy, gummy smile.  Mile 1 was a celebration of smiles.

Mile 2 - Hope/Optimism

I tend to think positively most of the time.  Each week that I get to teach in person I get more and more excited about how things are going so well.  I tend to be one of those people who is always believing in the bright side of things.  Mile 2 was all about thinking about how the challenges of the past week and what may happen in the next few weeks as opportunities.  What could I do if…. And It would be really fun to try…..  Hope for what will be.

Mile 3 - Travel

Mile 3’s songs were Hunter Hayes songs and those always take me back to our most recent trip (April 2018) to Nashville.  It’s pretty safe to say that I am a homebody but I am thankful for the travel that we have been able to do.  While I don’t know where or when we will get to go places again, I am thankful for the travel we have done.   This mile tied right into mile 4.

Mile 4 - Memories

Oh what memories I have from vacations with my family growing up to even the Disney Cruise to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.  I appreciate experiences and need to focus on those memories.  I tried to decide what my favorite memory is and I decided that it’s always the next one that we are going to make.

Mile 5 - Strength

This mile wasn’t about my own strength.  As I was coming up pool hill I was grateful for the strength that both of my kids display daily.  I watch them navigate the tough world of teenagers and I am amazed at their strength.  They inspire me daily with their ability to be themselves.

If you are looking for some motivation to get miles (or any exercise) in from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, follow @fellowflowers to join their #ffholidaychallenge. 

photo from Findingjoy.net

Miles of Gratitude

 Gratitude Miles Today - Nov 8

6.2 Miles

Mile 1 - Health 

I am so thankful that my body allows me to run (mostly walk lately). I am happier when I get miles in.  This mile turned in to gratitude for healthcare workers as I ran past Grant Regional Hospital.  I cannot imagine what life has been like for those on the front lines working so hard to help people stay well.  Thank you to all those that I never see but who are working so hard for the health of all of us right now.

Mile 2 - School and Education

Mile 2 was around the elementary school where I teach.  I reflected on many of my own school experiences.  I am thankful that school has always been something I have loved.  What a privilege it is that I have been able to advance my education past a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and more.  No one can take away the things we “know” but I also love that I am always learning new things and working to improve.

Mile 3 - Music

Music definitely helps me get my miles in. Sometimes I choose pop music while other times I choose country music.  Today I chose Matthew West Radio on Spotify and I was truly touched by the words in the song “Confidence” by Sanctus Real.  These words spoke to me and I know that they will be part of my prayers moving forward:  “Give me faith like Daniel in the lion’s den. Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness. Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense. So I can face my giants with confidence.”  I am grateful for the talent of artists who create music that speaks to my heart.

Mile 4 - Challenges

I thought about quitting early.  I set out for a 10K (6.2) but when I got to City Limits Road, I thought about heading home.  That’s no way to get better.  I am grateful for the challenges that help me improve.  There are many challenges but the ability to persevere is a gift that I hope my kids see in me.  When things get hard, I don’t want to quit.  It’s the hard things that will make me better.  I am grateful for challenges.

Mile 5 - Beauty

The sun was coming up out toward Hwy 129 - absolutely stunning. The fields and the soft glow were beautiful.  As I was back in the residential area, I loved noticing the decorations in yards and even different ways that  houses were decorated. There is so much beauty in nature, too. Noticing and acknowledging things that were different helps us see the beauty even in the ordinary.  I am grateful for the opportunity to find beauty in every day.

Mile 6 - Food

By my 6th mile I really just kept thinking about what I was going to eat for breakfast when I got home.  That one doesn’t quite fit with all the others but it’s just what helped me get the miles in.  I thought about how I would eat a bowl of cereal today. Thank goodness for the food that fuels me daily to heave the energy to do all the things I want to and need to.  I am grateful for food.

During this month of Thanksgiving, I am enjoying the deeper reflection on what I am thankful for.  I love taking the time to count my blessings.  They truly are growing as I name them!

October Reflection and November Goals

 

What a perfect day for a Gratitude 10K!  I am so thankful to kick off November with 6.2 miles in the sunshine!

I didn't want to begin my October reflection without a HAPPY HALLOWEEN from my awesomely spooky crew :-)

It seems like today was the perfect combination of things to allow for a little extra reflection.  With the time change, a Sunday, and the first day of a new month, I am thinking back and planning ahead.  

When October began, I looked back at September and saw how inactive I had been (according to my Garmin).  I felt like I would feel better and be more productive overall if I worked on getting in more exercise for the month of October.  I needed a way to "measure" that so I set a measurable goal of getting more days in that met my step goal.  

In September I only met my goal 15 of the days (50%).  My goal for October was to hit 75%.  I met the goal 24/31 days for 77%!!!!!   WooHoo!  Proud of that.  Now I am going to improve on that same goal for November.  If I can meet my step goal 25 out of the 30 days in November, I will be at 83%.  I will work toward that number one day at a time.

I spent quite a few hours at the soccer fields during October and I am so thankful that I got to!!!  When the school year began there were many unknowns and sports (specifically soccer) were one of those things that we just weren't sure about.  Thankfully, Kate got 6 games (one is coming up on Saturday) and I am so glad that she did!  

In the classroom I got to share The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Ghost With Red Hair with the 5th graders and those 2 stories are so much fun for me.  I hope they enjoyed them as much as I did!

I enjoyed time with a friend a couple of times for miles and smiles.

While social gatherings are not happening like they used to, I am always reminded that we are not meant to go through struggles alone.  So thankful for family and friends that stick by me even during my quiet moments.

October was a good month and I am confident that November will be even better!

Set some goals for November and do the work to make yourself proud!