THRIVE

It’s been a minute since I’ve blogged.  I have gotten caught up with the start of the school year fun with students and staff. In addition to all my personal life fun (attending weddings, exploring new places, hanging out with friends and family, preparing for upcoming PD presentations, and church). At first thought, I began to panic thinking I’ve been failing because I haven’t been sticking to blogging each day or every other week. However, as I stopped, paused, breathed, and reflected, I realized I am capturing, creating, and living in the moments…I am THRIVING.

As the pastor of the church I attend put it so eloquently in a sermon, “Thriving doesn’t choose us; we choose it.”  We all face challenges in our lives, rather it be professional or personal.  These challenges can be rather overwhelming and in the process it can cause us to have self-doubt or pity.  However, we have a choice. We can choose to just sit around, wait and hope things happen or we can THRIVE.

So, what does this have to do with education? I’ll try to stop rambling and get to the point.  In the world of education there are always: 

• Different initiatives being thrown at all stakeholders
• Times when you want to move forward but feel as if you are getting held back
• Times where you feel like your giving your all but feel inadequate

I’ll be transparent here.  I’ve experienced all three and then some.  I have been in that position were I feel like I’m drowning and can’t keep up (well it really hasn’t changed :-), I’ve been turned down for opportunities, and I have felt like I’m not good enough.  However, instead of sitting, waiting, and hoping that the solution(s) magically jumped in my lap, I chose to THRIVE. Did I go through my moments of self-pity and have the woe is me moments? Yep! You betcha!  However, as I reflect, every time I made it a point to continue to move forward and THRIVE. I also put my faith and worries into the hands of the greater power that I believe in to help me THRIVE. I didn’t wait for it to choose me, I chose it!  Is it easy, to THRIVE? No! However, in the end it is worth it if you choose to put in the work to choose to THRIVE. 

As we continue to dive deeper into the school year and fourth quarter of 2018, we will continue to face ups and downs.  However, our choices determine our pathway and how we move forward. Are you going to just sit and wait for a new year, new quarter, or will you choose to THRIVE?

PS: This blog post was inspired by Pastor Josh Petersen of Immanuel Church in Gurnee.  Click on this link to watch his full sermon on Thrive: Life Beyond Just Getting By.  Thank you Pastor Josh for your wonderful inspirational words and sermons.  Also, a special thank you to one of my friends Rian Boyce Bogdala for bringing my #oneword2018 of #faith come alive.  Thank you for inviting me to your church home to restore my #faith!