New Year, New Challenges

The last three years, I've posted my three words for the year.  I use these words to help guide me through the year and while I have new words for the year, I also decided to try a yearly photo challenge.  I've noticed this photo challenge trend the past couple years and thought it was time to try something new.  I did a quick Google search for photo challenges and found one on Capture Your 365 (CY365).  They provide a monthly list with a word or phrase to focus your photo on that day or you can opt to complete a weekly challenge instead.  You can also choose to share your photos through one of the social media venues set-up by CY365.  Finally, you can sign up for a daily prompt reminder and tip for the day.

Now I don't claim to be a photographer, but I do like photography and admire those with an eye for capturing the world through photos.  My goals are to complete each daily challenge, stretch my creativity, and improve my photography skills.  Here is the list for January...

January 2015

I have not shared my photos yet through any of the social media options, but I have looked at several that have been shared each day via Twitter.  I've been using the web tool Tagboard to search for the hashtag and view the posted images.  With Tagboard, I don't have to create a Twitter account, but can still glean information related to a specific hashtag.  I did start posting my photos to my Flickr account, but had to do some learning about Flickr, specifically about the privacy and profile settings.  I have also struggled a little with Flickr because you must create a Yahoo account in order to use this web tool.  I've never been a fan of Yahoo and as I've been working on this blog post my animosity continues to grow.  I had thought about using Picasa, the Google tool for storing and sharing photos, but I know several other educators who use Flickr and decided to give it a try.  This challenge will not only stretch my photography skills, but also my technology skills.


I am still working on the sharing aspect of this challenge and hope to set that up this evening.  My intent is to share my photos via Twitter and Facebook.  Hopefully, this will help me stay accountable to the challenge.  (Since starting this blog post yesterday, I did get my first few days of the photo challenge shared out to Twitter and Facebook.)

As for my new words for the year, I have chosen First, One and Challenge.

First - This one is personal to me, but I read a devotional this past year that addressed all the

things we do when trouble arises or we need help.  For example, worrying internally, talking to friends and asking for advice, but prayer and talking to God seem to be the last options we consider.  So, the word first is a reminder to myself to pray and talk to God first in all things.

One -  I'm using this word to remind myself of several things.

• Focus on one task at a time
• Move every hour - I need to work on this more at work, because I forget to move from my desk sometimes when I get focused on a project.
• Read one chapter in a nonfiction book each day - While I enjoy reading, nonfiction is not my favorite.  I do read blog posts and articles daily, but reading an actual nonfiction book is a challenge for me.  I have purchased and been given several over the years and while they all sound intriguing, I just never make it all the way through the book.  I get the first couple chapters read and then put it aside.  This goal not only seems attainable to myself, but it should help me stay focused; where as reading one nonfiction book a month would be like high school, waiting until the last minute to read my book and stressing over.
• One project at a time - If I'm excited about a project, I want to start it right away, but then I push another project to the side.  As a result, I can have multiple projects going at once and don't make the progress to completion like I desire.

Challenge - I actually just added this word as I started writing this blog post.  As I'm working
on the photo challenge this year, I feel this word is good for me as I progress through this new year.  I've noticed lately that I don't always push or challenge myself to try new things, take risks or venture in new areas of growth.  Hopefully, this word will help me break that mold and venture outside of my box.

What about you?  Do you set new year resolutions for yourself or words of the year?  Are you trying a new challenge this year?  I'd love to hear your goals and challenges for the new year.  Feel free to share them in the comments below.

New Year...My Three Words

For the last couple years, I've stopped making New Year's resolutions and have been focusing on a word or phrase that would guide me throughout the year (2013, 2012).  This shift in thinking came about after reading a blog post by Chris Brogan entitled My Three Words.  He explains the idea behind my three words and how to choose your own three words for the year.  I had been pondering what word or phrase I wanted as my focus for the new year, but hadn't committed to anything.  The new year started and I still hadn't made up my mind.  I happened to be trying out an app called News360 (I've had it on my iPad for months, but never delved into it), when I came across a blog post entitled Lead, Inspire and Transform...#MyThreeWords by Jen Olney.  After reading her post, I checked out Chris Brogan's new words for 2014 and decided it was time to commit to my words for the year.

So here it is -

My Three Words for 2014

Balance - I have had several changes in my life over the past few years and just feel out of whack.  At times I've found myself over committed, which leads to feeling overwhelmed.  When that happens I tend to shutdown and do nothing until I can regroup and get a handle on things.  However, in the past month I've started finding peace in just sitting and enjoying the view from my window or writing in my journal.  Those times of quiet reflection seem to clear my mind and thoughts allowing me to focus on the most important tasks at hand.  So, I'm using this word to remind myself to not only find time for refreshing my mental well being, but all of myself - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  I also want it to remind me to stay balanced between time devoted to work and personal activities.

Seek - This one is faith based first and foremost.  I have a growing desire to seek God on a daily basis.  However, I also see the word seek reminding me to seek time to read things that will help me grow professionally - another area I want to improve and grow throughout the year.

Share - I need to get better at sharing what I know.  Not that I'm a know-it-all, but I have a tendency, especially with technology, to think if I know something everyone else does too.  So I don't always share new tools, resources, tips or ideas.  I also don't volunteer to present at conferences because I don't feel like I know anything people will want to hear about.  I don't know if that's a confidence thing or just that overall assumption that everyone already knows what I know.

There you have it.  Those are my three words for the year.  I love to hear what goals, resolutions or words you've set for yourself this year.  Feel free to share below.

Words for 2013

photo credit: Marwa Morgan via photopin cc

Last year I wrote an article, New Year's Resolution?, discussing the concept of choosing a single word to guide your tasks, goals and decisions throughout the year.  Upon reflection, I find that my word shifted to a phrase for the year - "It is what is it."  Life was in an upheaval with a new position at work and home remodeling that I just had to take the year in stride.  I found many situations and circumstances were out of my control, so I just started saying, "It is what it is."

Over the Christmas break, I began thinking about the upcoming year.  I wanted to do another word for the year, but just didn't know what it would be.  I began brainstorming my list of potential words -

• by yourself
• balance
• dream
• create
• inspire
• imagine
• sacrifice
• let enough be enough - I don't remember where or why this one came to mind

I liked the word create, but I didn't feel like it was enough, so I procrastinated.  The new year started and I was still wordless.  I decided to do what any good wordless wonder would, I searched the internet for inspiration.  I found several sites that focus on a single word for the year like brave, surrender, cherish, ask, capture and open.  In my search, I also stumbled upon a blog post, My 3 Words for 2013, by Chris Brogan, CEO of Human Business Works.  Chris chooses 3 words each year to help him focus on his goals and efforts.  He explains that these three words should, "...sum up what you want to work actionably on changing/improving in the coming year."  Naturally, you want to keep your words positive and they should represent the big picture for the year.  Chris uses either a word or the name of a person that represents his bigger picture for the year.

Photo credit:  http://gutsygirls.net/gygsns2/pages/c-and-v-page

After a little more reflection on my search results and the article by Chris, I found the words create and push coming to the top of my list.  I like create because I have technology and craft items I want to create throughout the upcoming year.  I also like create because you have to think and imagine to produce the product you are creating.  However, I also have some projects I started creating last year that I really would like to complete or at least get polished.  So, the word push came to mind.  At first I didn't like that word push because it reminded me of woman giving birth and the doctor telling her to push.  Not a great image for my mind.  But the more I thought about these 2 words, create and push, I decided they really do belong together.  As you begin the process of creating, you experience joy and excitement in the possibilities of this new creation.  However, as you continue in the creation process, you get worn out and tired.  You are just ready for it to be finished.  For some, myself included, it is easier to just stop and not finish the work on your creation.  That is where the push comes in to play.  You do have to push yourself to make it to the finish and sometimes that can be a stressful and painful process.  So, despite my visual image associated with the word push, I have decided to Create and Push through this year.

photo credit:  Melodi2 via Morgue Files

What about you?  If you had to select a word (or 2 or 3) to "...sum up what you want to work actionably on changing/improving in the coming year", what would you choose?

New Year Resolutions?

Today starts a new year with the prospect of new adventures, discoveries and insights.  The year will pose new questions and reflections.  Many of us will start the year with resolutions mimicking those declared by Ebenezer Scrooge; resolutions of becoming a better person and improving yourself.  Some will have a lengthy list, like a "To Do" list, of all the goals you intend to accomplish before the end of the year.  Sadly, the truth will only see those resolutions lasting a few months, if even that long, before they are dropped by the weigh side.  These resolutions will become too unattainable for most and they will soon be making a list of things they are going to give up for lent.

Last year, I read blog which spoke of forgetting the resolution list and focusing on one word for the year.  That word would help guide and direct the goals, priorities and accomplishments of the year.  It wouldn't dictate everything, but it would help you keep a simple focus for the year.  Being a list person myself (and the one who never made it the end of January with my resolutions), I decided to try that new approach last year and chose the word "Stretch."  At this point, I must warn you to take care in choosing a word for the year.  I had no clue how much a little word like "Stretch" could impact my year.  I stretched beyond my comfort level when I accepted the nomination for KASL president-elect.  Since winning the election, I've often thought, "What the heck was I thinking!"  After accepting a technology position, I asked the same question.  These were experiences and changes that wouldn't have occurred from a new year's list because I would have never put them on my list.  But when these opportunities came my way, I thought of word "Stretch" and knew I needed to step out and take a chance.  So yesterday, I started thinking about my word for 2012.  I made of list of potentials and after much thought came up with my word for 2012 - "Strive."  Of course, my grandmother pointed out that "Strive" sounds too hard.  I'm a picture person, so I ran it through Visuwords online graphical dictionary.  After looking at the synonyms (take pains, overexert oneself, struggle) I'm beginning to agree with her, but regardless I will be spending 2012 Striving.