How #MyOneWord2020 Influenced My Space

 

The year 2020 was an historic year. For generations, scholars will write about the events of the year of the pandemic known as COVID19 or the Coronavirus, and because of the social injustices we have seen in the United States of America. This year also marked my seventh year of my #100BookJourney. And my selection of #MyOneWord to begin that journey has absolutely transformed the way I will choose to remember this horrible, chaotic, challenging, scary....and, yet, WONDERFUL year. 

When most of our country (and much of the world) was placed in lockdown in late February or early March, I thought achieving the #100BookGoal would be easy. Movie theaters were closed, professional and collegiate sports leagues were shut down and restaurants were limited to carry-out -- all of which should have created a surplus of time.

But the reality -- for me -- was that "escaping" or "making time to read" was more of a challenge than ever. Instead, I filled my time reading epistemological reports and tracking COVID data and cases around the world. I became addicted to social media accounts from leaders like Ohio governor @GovMikeDeWine and tools including a dashboard created by Johns Hopkins University to track virus spread and to identify emerging trends. Keeping up with the "urgent" began to take priority because these "urgent" topics also were the "important" topics.

Additionally, the social-emotional health of my children became one of my priorities as so many of their outlets for social interaction and growth had also closed. I was concerned that they did not have enough life experience to cope with everything the pandemic was throwing at them. Schools in Ohio were given the unprecedented directive to close on March 16 and did not reopen until August. Children lost almost half of their year of academics! Plus, with the cancellation of high school sports seasons, #prom2020 and access to their friends and other social outlets, I could NOT prioritize the opportunity to "escape" into a good book over making sure my children continued to grow. Instead we played board games, put together puzzles, watched movie marathons (of movies we have seen before since there production on new movies had stopped) and took walks together. To be honest, I relished this time with my children, viewing it as a gift that parents, up until this point, had never gotten to spend with their teenagers!

Paying more attention to internet articles and the reprioritizing #FamilyTime, coupled with the advent of the #WorkFromHome culture and #VirtualMeetings on a platform called ZOOM as a #NewNormal, made my life busier than ever! Really, busier than ever! It was so important to me to be accountable for my time because I have a job that I absolutely love, work with brilliant colleagues and wanted to help our company be successful in these perilous and unprecedented times. I was able to stay connected with @ColonTLewis and @mnicholson_Mike through morning calls and even connected with @HansMeeder for a fun podcast. Friendships with @McLane_Ryan and Joe Arnold were kept alive through occasional calls during foorball games. But reading books and escaping suddenly became a personal luxury that seemed superfluous. 

For these reasons, and so many others, my #100BookJourney resulted in an anemic 39 total books. I initially started tracking my reading in 2017 when I read 25 total books. I then set my sights on and accomplished reading of #100Books2018 and followed that with 71 in 2019. This year, there were only 39! Nonetheless, I am proud to have also started my year --the same way I have for seven years-- with the book My One Word by @MikeAshcraft and @RachelOlsen. This journey has provided a frame and perspective that has grounded me in my life and which I truly appreciate. Little did I know what lessons I would learn through the effort of prayerfully selecting ONE WORD for such a year. 

During the month of January, I try to remain open to what I believe to be the Holy Spirit guiding me and teaching me or educating me on different words or themes. After starting the month with the same book, I listen to sermons, read additional books or poems and even listen to songs as different lyrics infiltrate my life. This year, I really thought about the importance of "boundaries," after reading Boundaries: When to Say YES, When to say NO, To take Control of Your Life. However, the word seemed too harsh or too limiting. I was concerned that should I focus on "boundaries" I would leave out something God may want me to learn.

That is when I encountered Yoga with Adriene! I had never done yoga before and, at the recommendation of my friend and colleague, Mrs. Erica Siddle, I found this sensation on YouTube. As I have been on a wellness journey for some time, Erica suggested a 30-day challenge on Adriene's site and I LOVED IT!  OMG. I really, really enjoyed learning to practice (I am not good, but I am learning to give myself grace). And it seemed in each video, the yogi was asking the participant to "make space" by stretching and "breathing into various muscle groups. Make "space" for everything important. That was it! I had my word for 2020 -- it was "SPACE"!

This year I learned to GUARD SPACE for my priorities; to CREATE SPACE for new things or learnings; to GIVE SPACE so that others might learn and share their journeys; and to ACCEPT SPACE with grace and dignity in what others might share with me. These ideas related to #MyOneWord2020 #Space helped me move from the chaotic, frenzied, ever-changing demands of a pandemic world and accept the beauty of the transcendent impact of this trip around the sun.    

The #MyOneWord efforts and inspirations over the last seven years-

MyOneWord2014- Harmony

This word was inspired by my first job change in many years. I was nervous about leaving a job I loved and believed I was really good at as a high school principal and transitioning to a promotion in another neighboring school district. I was incredibly nervous and unsettled in making the move and selected this word in an effort to maybe find HARMONY!  

MyOneWord2015- Light

This was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” This word came to me as my daughter was going through middle school. I had been a middle school principal and know all too well how mean and spiteful kids at this age can be.I found myself resisting the urge to coach her in tactics that would lead her to retaliate against anyoneI perceived to be slighting her. I realized my hopes and dreams for her were much larger than any current issue or situation. I stumbled across some of Dr. King's teachings and wanted to guide her to be the light that others may need. My hope was that such a lesson would better prepare her to be the woman she was intended to become. 

MyOneWord2016- Intentional

This word was inspired by my professional life. The previous year, we had created an enduring vision for our students in an attempt to define for ourselves, our schools and our city what we wanted to see in our graduates. We called our effort our "Portrait of a Graduate.” The term for my year was an attempt to align my professional practices toward the goal of building systemic supports for our broader, more locally defined vision. I found a lot of power in transferring this word into my personal life as well.  

MyOneWord2017- Rise

Inspired by Isaiah 60:1- "Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." As such, I wanted to live 2017 and all the years after knowing that the light of the Lord had risen upon me. In this same year, I came to love the Marianne Williamson poem, “Our Deepest Fear,” and that we should not shrink...or play small...or be insecure. Instead,

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

 MyOneWord2018- "Prosper"

Prosper was inspired by Jeremiah 29.11- "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you an dnot to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I began to wonder somewhere in during the year whether the word was selected out of a hope for additional wealth. Instead, I believe that learned TRUST through this word and acceptance for where I felt called for me and my family.  

MyOneWord2019- "Lift"

Inspired by Isaiah 60:4- “Lift your eyes and look about you.” I understood this word as a calling to be vigilant and aware. I also wanted to use this word to lift those around me in a conscious call to be positive and an asset to others. 

MyOneWord2020- "Space"

MyOneWord2021- TBD!

I will be patient. I will listen. I will reflect and try to be open to anything that guides me into the future.....I just hope that a global pandemic will NOT be necessary for me to learn from my next word! I will work to GUARD, CREATE, GIVE and ACCEPT space this year. I will keep it in my mind as I welcome all the gifts and joys ahead in 2021.

My challenge for you as we prepare for the calendar to turn from 2020-2021 is to consider those ideas and people for whom you are making space. What will your #OneWord2021 be as we welcome a new day?  Best wishes to you for health, happiness and prosperiety in 2021. And as Eleanor Roosevelt said, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their own dreams"!  Dream Big, Friends!!