Thankful for “Do-Overs” (New Beginnings)
It occurred to me this morning as my brain was busy just before I woke, that for the first time in thirty-five years, I will not be immersed in a school setting at the beginning of the school year. No more welcome back teacher celebrations announcing our theme for the year…no more meet the students and parents to celebrate all that will be in store for them…I will instead be blogging about this celebratory time and attempting to inspire from afar.
Most of my educator colleagues and friends will be beginning their new journey this week. For educators everywhere, the start of a new school year is approaching and it is exciting! There is anticipation as they wonder, “What will the year hold? What type of students will I have?” “Will I have what it takes to meet the expectations of my school, the students and parents that I serve and to meet the highest expectations – those of my own to be great and make a difference. The thoughts of their leader are slightly different, wondering how in the world do I inspire them to welcome the challenges that will surely come?
For the non-educator, you should know that the start of a new school year is much like New Year’s Eve – embraced with celebration and anticipation for what is yet to come. We all are allowed to have a “Do-Over”, a chance at a new beginning. The student that did not have a good year last year in school is given a blank slate and a new opportunity to begin again. The teacher that didn’t’ quite get that lesson right, gets a chance to re-work it and make it better so that it will excite and solidify learning for the student. How awesome and amazing it is that we get new beginnings and “do-overs” in life!
One of my favorite quotes on my wall of quotes is, “It’s never too late to become what you might have been.” It doesn’t matter your age, or the path that you have taken up to this point. You still have the opportunity to change your direction. As you read this, I hope that you will remember what an awesome opportunity you have each day and each year to inspire those around you and become just who it is that you want to be. You might choose to do that by selecting an adjective to personify the year. Will you strive to be joyful, hopeful, engaging, helpful, diligent, trusting, inspiring, or perhaps encouraging…in the coming year no matter what life throws your way? Each day, you get to choose. I think I will choose JOY! Embrace and enjoy the time that you have. We each get one today – make it a great one!