One word for 2020

I've thought a lot lately about new year's resolutions and just how many things there are that I want to get better at in 2020, but tackling all of them just isn't realistic.  So instead of actual new year's resolutions I decided to choose one word to try to infuse into all things.  I've seen this idea several times over the years and actually did it with my students last year, but didn't truly embrace my own word.  This year I'm making a conscious effort to change that and made wooden signs (for both the hubs and I) with my word and posted it where I will have a daily reminder.

My word for 2020 is PRESENT.  I want to be present in alllll the aspects of life.  In this day and age its too easy to just "zone out" and relax with a phone or T.V. on and hours pass without actually accomplishing anything.  I want to be present in my everyday life, actively participate and reach goals.

At home I want to take advantage of the time I have with my daughter and husband before we add the craziness of a newborn to our life and our next season of life begins.  I want my daughter to know the importance of play and conversation, not playing on a device or watching T.V.  I want to make efforts to connect with my husband when she goes to bed, with no T.V., no phones, no tablet.  He works several nights very late but there needs to be a conscious effort to keep out connection alive, other than just the "I need you to do" conversations we have way too often.  I want to play games together, to challenge each other and to share more about our daily lives.  I'm not kidding myself into thinking there won't be phone/movie/TV time because I do love to browse FB and Insta and I can't miss A Million Little Things or This Is Us, but I don't want this time to pass us by when we do have a toddler that goes to bed at 7:30 and have time for us a couple.

At work/school I want to be present with my students.  I want to ask (and remember) what is going on in their lives, and make those personal connections.  I want to be available for help and remember to purposefully check in with the ones that might be more reluctant to ask for help.  I want to make the time to pull small groups and be present and have uninterrupted time to guide their learning.  I want to be present with my coworkers and ask how things are going for them, and follow up with them when there are family or work things that they talked to me about.  I want to be present on campus to make a positive impact where I can and to spread positivity.

Outside of my relationships I want to be present to work on my blogging and crafting.  I have such a sense of fulfillment when people tell me they made a recipe I shared, or they got ideas from my blog.  Sometimes I feel silly sharing yet another post about what I'm doing in life....because why would anyone care what I ate for dinner.  But then someone reaches out and tells me they made something I shared and they loved it, or they ask a question because they want to make it to and it feels good to know that people might actually read what I post.

All this to say, 2020 I'm excited for you and the many changes and challenges you are going to bring and I want to be PRESENT for every single one of them.