I am kicking off the remainder of 2010 under a new name: 2010.20 or, Ten-oh-two. I am claiming Labor Day as my 2nd New Year celebration this year. To me, the beginning of the school year is more significant than the beginning of a calendar year anyway. More importantly, the old 2010 was not such a good year for me. It started with a troubling mammogram, followed by the loss of my dear old best dog Ringo. These events happened in the first days of January. They were followed by cancer diagnosis, surgery and radiation, which kept me occupied through June. Then in July my dad had a heart attack and we very nearly lost him. Along the way there was a badly sprained ankle, some particularly trying work challenges and a few other unwelcome distractions. Frankly the old 2010 was not much fun and I was getting tired feeling like Joe Btfspik, the Lil’ Abner character who used to go around with a rain cloud hovering above his head. (Here is his bio in case you don’t remember him):
http://www.lil-abner.com/familyalbum2.html
So I decided to retool and reboot the year, or what is left of it, and cast poor old 2010 in a more favorable light. I am shortening it to the affectionate nickname of Ten-oh-two. Tenny actually started up for me in mid-August. Once summer graduation was over I vowed to lower my stress level and learn to work smarter and relax harder. I even made resolutions:
• Take some time every day to read for pleasure
• Check email just three times a day instead of letting messages rule my day. My new goal is to check and respond first thing in the morning, again around lunch, and last at day’s end. Letting popup messages interrupt my other work is a bad habit.
• Increase positive online interactions such as messages of support to students, positive comments via social media.
• Step up my exercise routine. My dog Son and I have been hitting the track in late evenings.
• Curtail evening TV in favor of reading, listening to Pandora, communicating in a RELAXING manner online. I find social networking a positive because it allows me to visit with people I seldom see but enjoy “seeing” in cyberspace.
I am going to ask around and see if anybody else has some ten-oh-two resolutions. If so, I will post them here. Happy New Year!
Hi Dr. Bell,
ReplyDeleteSounds like some wonderful and positive resolutions you've set for yourself. I agree with you that we should take time everyday and read for pleasure instead of watching TV so much. I think I would like to try to do that also. I'm glad things are looking up for you. Take Care and God Bless!
Warm Regards,
Dawn Moreno
Hi Dr. Bell, I too ad a terrible start to 2010. I lost my sister to ovarian cancer on Valentine's Day and my father July 29th. I would like a fresh start of the year as well. I am planning spend more time and give more effort to reading/book promotion activities in my library. I plan to implement some of the ideas that I spend so much time reading about in professional emails, blogs, and journals. Thanks for encouraging us to put these goals in writing. It is a step toward accomplishing them.
ReplyDeleteHi Dr. Bell, I have had more than one of those years from hell but I think they make us stronger. I certainly stop to reflect and find ways to make lemonade. My mantra started this year when budget cuts took away our LMS in the 2 libraries I work; it is what it is. I contiue to be proactive but no longer let roadblocks get me all worked up. At the end of the day I am happier. I didn't like the negative synical person I was becoming. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHello Dr. Bell,
ReplyDeleteMy resolution is to make every effort to set up a technology committee in the high school where I work. There is some great teaching going on in the classrooms and many of the teachers are integrating technology into their lessons. I think that the technology committee will be able to share and inspire their experiences with others and move us all forward. This is my New Year's resolution.
Thanks for your comments...I will be posting another entry because I am getting some via email also. And here is a wonderful link to a video that fits in perfectly with this theme. It was shared by Sally Kelly Johns just now via Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1498874761939
ReplyDeleteMary Ann,
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that you have been going through all these struggles. I am so thankful that you are doing better and have decided to start 2010.02. I haven't had the struggles that you have had, but I love the idea of starting a new year. I'm praying that you will be showered with blessings in 2010.02.
The Jewish New year starts Wednesday night. You may as well wait a few days. A Gut v'g'benscht yor (Yiddish for good a blessed year).
ReplyDeleteDr. Bell,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your issues especially the illness and Ringo...I'm sending positive thoughts your way.
Reading is always better than TV especially those reality tv shows.
Hi Dr. Bell. Sounds like your 2010 beginning was awful...which means there's only one way to go...UP! Your New New Year's Resolutions are a great idea! I decided to join your club. My school year resolutions are: to use some of the new technology and websites I've learned about in my first grade classroom; to bring balance to my life by putting one day per week aside to socialize. (I have a tendency to retreat "into my shell" when life becomes stressful); and to focus on achieving my goal of becoming a school librarian. Thank you for your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteMary Ann,
ReplyDeleteI like all of these ideas. I should have read this blog when you first posted the email on LM_NET. I have been reading more watching TV less but still struggling with school and its politics and demands. Trying to keep myself in tune with all the new stuff while still dragging some teachers into the technology world kicking and screaming.... I am working very hard to leave school at school.