Intentions- A Month Overdue

At yoga, I was reminded today is February 1, 2014. The year of the Wood Horse.

 A month into the New Year and I never wrote out my intentions for 2014.

August 13, 2013-Febraury 1, 2014. 

It is like I took one breath and the months flew by.

So here are my “Intentions for 2014:”

1. Breathe. I can get a pretty, deep, loud, breath on my mat. However, I need to learn to breathe throughout my days, take in the beauty and just breathe. When I just breathe, I have the best outcomes. Look for the beauty, in everything. Always peek back at the journey. See how far I have come. Make time for friends. Old and new. I grow the most when surrounded with friends. 

2. Time. There is never enough time. I watch the clock. All day. Leave for work. Early. Earlier. Greet the students. Shuffle them to specials. Bathroom break. Morning Work. Math. UGH, math took too long. Lunch. Reading. Writing. Centers. More reading. No time for my own family. No time. Always racing. I need to let the clock go. I am sure every teacher feels this clock. Hovering over them. Ticking. Repeat intention number one.

3.Write more. A friend texted me,” I love your posts. You are such a great writer.” One of my papers on spelling words and how to teach spelling effectively is going to print in September in a journal. (I HATE Spelling Words and tests for the record.) I can write. Both for pleasure and for educational purposes. I started writing stories for my first graders. It was fun. Make time to write! 

(And there is that word again. TIME.)

4. “I am kind of Hippy Dippy.” I heard myself say to my team lead and she relied, “ I kind of figured that out.” There is nothing wrong with Hippy Dippy. Embrace I do not watch the news. I bathe in lavender and lather myself with eucalyptus. I use essential oils and love soybeans. I drink green tea and avoid caffeine. I believe in a connection to the divine and meditate daily. Hippy Dippy is fine. Embrace it! Which leads to...

5. Live Out Loud. I hid myself on Facebook. I did not want the people at my work to see me. I cowered in the hallways and hid in my room. A teacher at my school found me a couple of weeks ago and then another. Be myself. Choose to be seen. If they like me or not, i
t does not matter. I am Hippy Dippy anyways.

6. Continue to work on my relationship with Steven. It is time to get married. I am safe. He loves me. Life is so good right now. Continue the work on our relationship, which feels stronger than ever.

7. Family. I will never get mother of the year. Maybe I should embrace that part of my life too. I have done my best. I am not perfect. I love my children but I am always competing for their time, attention, etc. Let it go. I will never win. 

8. Continue to work out. I love to run. I can quiet my racing mind and refill my soul. I love yoga. I turn to it for growth and lets face it, a good straddle stretch can unwind a horrid day.

9 & 10. There is one student, which tries my patience every day, and can make me cringe. Learn to embrace those students who need me most. See the good in the situation and smile more. This intention is so great and my struggle is so deep, it deserves two intentions. 

So here they are, in print, for me to refer to all year long. I hope you do the same.

Choose Joy.