My #OneWord for 2016: Well

well

In 2015, if I thought it might help me grow or push my thinking, I was in.

After actually getting engaged in dialogue on Twitter for the first time, I launched a blog and blogged a lot (this is post #74), launched CSISDchat with Jeremy Stewart, attended two EdCamps (EdCampNavasota and EdCampKaty), and engaged and engaged and engaged on Twitter.

This time last year, I didn’t know what Buffer, Nuzzel, and Voxer were. I use them daily now.

And in a lot of ways, it’s been great. So many relationships have started. So many have deepened. I’ve been growing all the time, and it’s really stretched me.

The problem is that it’s really stretched me.

It’s been a lot.

There’s a lot of things I can do that I just don’t have enough time to do or to do well (or not without a significant opportunity cost somewhere else in life).

I could keep up my daily #91winterblogs challenge for the next two months, but I miss the depth that blogging less frequently brought. I’m stopping the challenge to do what’s best for me.

I could jump into three chats a week without blinking an eye (LeadUpChat, TXeduchat, and CSISDchat–which I host). But I really have to be careful about pursuing professional growth while my kids are awake. I’m still going to be engaged, but I have to be even more dedicated to planning time with my family and friends.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

In 2016, I’m going to make the transition from doing “whatever I can” for growth to “growing well” throughout the year. I want to live well with my family and in my other relationships. I want to serve and lead well at school and in my church. It’ll mean I say no to some things.

I’m not going to totally shut it down, but where I’ve done a lot in 2015, 2016 needs to be done well.

Here’s to living well in 2016!

A Good Day

Nothing education related here today.

Why?

Because today I spent the afternoon with my oldest son. Just me and him.

After eating lunch at one of his favorite places in town, he and I left for Best Buy.

There, we did all sorts of rooting around, but he was especially impressed by the 3D printer that was creating an elephant.

After that, we stopped at an outdoors store en route to a Barnes and Noble.

Didn’t buy anything, but how cute does this kid look in this beanie that was far too expensive to buy?


Once we hit Barnes and Noble, we investigated the Star Wars section (of course) where Graham immediately donned the Kylo Ren mask with lightsaber in hand.


Soon enough, I convinced Graham that we could still have fun without wearing the mask, and he asked him if I would read to him. While looking for one of his favorites, Dragons Love Tacos, we stumbled upon this…

And proceeded to read the whole thing. 300 pages of original trilogy glory. Check it out.


Naturally, we followed up that with another Star Wars book (this time we read a book we own a copy of).


We left pretty soon after this, and apparently that’s all he had energy for. Here’s a pic on the way home.

It was a good day!


This blog is post #28 in my 91 day winter blog challenge. I’m posting a blog each day. Check out other posts at #91winterblogs, or subscribe in the top right corner of this blog to receive these blogs as emails. Thanks for reading!