Goal setting, mind-setting: 2017 will rock

As a new year approaches, I like to begin setting goals and getting my mind focused for the year ahead. The last two years, I created a mantra for myself and set my sights on BE. LIVE. BELIEVE. That's still a large part of who I am and will remain a focus. I have to be careful to avoid being so busy making our lives great that I lose sight of enjoying living life. Each and every single day is a blessing and for that I am grateful.

Going into the celebration of the New Year, I thought a lot about m 40X40 list and various goals. I examined where I was in relation to where I hoped to be at this point in my life. I set that list of 40 things to accomplish by age 40 back in 2013. On one hand, it feels like just yesterday, on the other, I wonder how suddenly it is so long ago...a distant memory. I am not the same person I was in 2013. I have continued to get Bekah back and I have continued to grow as a person. I have shifted priorities.

I had not yet set specific goals for this year. I had not given myself something to strive to achieve. Until tonight.

Tonight, I attended the Successful Women of the Central Valley monthly mixer. Last year, My Chico and I attended the January meeting and "Name Your Year" was the topic. I went into the mixer a year ago knowing and wholeheartedly believing that 2016 would continue BE~LIVE~BELIEVE. And so, naming my year was easy. This year, I knew I had some ideas floating around my brain but I hesitated to put a "theme" to the thoughts. I really felt unsure about how exactly I would "name my year," but alas, I would return to the SWCV mixer and perhaps come out with something.

And I did.

Then I drove home and realized that it would change. It had to change.

A common thread in much of my note writing revolved around organizing chaos, searching for and spreading peace and love, and bringing harmony to the world at home, at work, in my community, and in the world. I sat with the woman leading the exercises and we discussed what I had written. She asked me for a song to summarize what I had written. I searched for one, mentally singing different lines from different songs. Finally, in all of the concert hall sound that was my brain at the time, I settled on one.

"Perhaps this is going to sound cliche," I said. "But, I think it's Hallelujah."

I have two versions of the song on my iPod, one of which is Leonard Cohen's. My favorite, though, if the recently shared Pentatonix version. (Have you heard it yet?)
I was guided through all of this and led to naming my year "My Hallelujah Year." I wasn't 100% sold on the idea, but felt it put me on the right track, so I made a note of it and decided to consider it. Later, I adopted it and nurtured it and made it mine.

And then, I got in the car to drive home. I planned to listen to Hallelujah on the drive home, but got sidetracked by the Broadway station (XM station 72). A song was finishing and it was one I was familiar with, so I decided to just let it be. The next song to come on was from "Hamilton." Something about "It's Quiet Uptown" struck me and it caused a huge AH-Ha moment for me. I started thinking about "My Shot" and what it meant to me, too. I thought about how much I love music, how much fear needs to go allowing peace and love to prevail.  I started thinking about how I I felt so unsettled about what I had named my year and how much I wanted to take what I knew, break from convention, and make it something completely of my own that embodied some of the thoughts I had.

This year ahead is going to be huge for me and that is in large part because I plan to make it huge. Huge for me, for my children, and for everyone who is a part of our lives. I can see where in December I may scream "Hallelujah" from a high mountaintop. I can also see where that was just a piece of today's puzzle to get me where I really needed to be. Other songs on the drive solidified what I was feeling, thinking, and ready to share.

2017 for me will be a beautiful thing. Peace and Love will spread like a wildfire even in the tiniest of ways. I will do my part. And this year for me shall be named:
Fearless Fabulous 40

I will be fearless.I will be fabulous.I will be 40.

And it is going to rock!















Songs from the drive home included: "It's Quiet Uptown," "Hallelujah," and "Here's to Us." Songs in my head this evening included "Give Peace a Chance," "Imagine," and "My Shot."

Continuing our adventures in 2017

First and foremost:
Happy New Year!

2017 will be an amazing year. Many, including myself at times, have blamed 2016 for loss. But, the reality is 2016 was a year. Just a year during which many things, good and bad happened. the impactful deaths we experienced were many. And said. And difficult. When Carrie Fisher died just after Christmas, I felt so sad about yet another loss to my childhood. But a year did not take people from us. And, honestly, these are not people who were taken from us, but pieces of our lives and experiences.

When my granddad died in September 2014, I experienced real loss. The kind of loss that hurts. Deeply and forever. He was old. He had heart disease. We knew one day it would come. And it hurt, so deeply, so badly. And, honestly, it still hurts. I miss him so much. I look at times during which he would be greatly proud of me and wonder what he would say. But, I also step back and give thanks for the time we had.

My return to work after his memorial in November 2014 was the beginning of a transition for me. I knew it because I saw it almost immediately. I continued to love, nurture, and teach my students. I continued to grow as an educator and as a human being. But I saw what was happening in my life and I knew change was coming. That shift continued for abut 18 months. Then it solidified.

The last time I was with my brother and both of my cousins at our family ranch was for granddad's memorial. Then, we were all together on a post-Christmas trip. And it was amazing. Life was good. We were good. And, we were together. For that. I am thankful, so very thankful.

In 2016, I traveled both with and without my children. I had my #EdTechRoadtrip to Southern Alabama in February. I flew into New Orleans, drove to Alabama. I visited schools and ate great food, and met educators, and met an old college friend, and did things completely on my own that scared me and inspired me. It was amazing!

My daughter won an award at her school science fair. We camped, we attended baseball games, we checked out Cons and festivals and fairs. We spent time with family and friends. We lived.

We lived.

I have looked over my 40x40 list and I have seen what it holds. Some things I handled easily while others are being left in the dust. I may not have received a Pulitzer for my writing, but I was among finalists for Outstanding Educator within CUE. That's rad! I may not have published books, but I presented at education conferences, sat as a part of a panel discussion at a Women's Center fundraiser, and presented to a local Lions Club. I may not be a largely accomplished runner, but I have earned medals at two small, local runs. I have taken my kids to Giants games, Nuts games, shows, concerts, and on grand adventures. I am thankful. Why? Because we lived. We lived each and every day to the fullist.

As we prepare for them to return to school and as a sometimes feel thankful fr=or that, I also look ahead to what our next adventure may bring. I see hiking, camping, exploring, living, adventuring, and being in our future. I see traditions being solidied and memories being made.

I am not remarried. I am not even dating. Thaat's ok. I live each day to the fullest. I am open to anything that will expand our adventures. I am planning trips and look forward to more time with friends and family. 2016 was awesome. I hope to make 2017 awesomER!

What are your hopes and goals for the year ahead?