2016: Transformation

As we start off a new year, I will be beginning a new journey in my own personal life.  I really want Cannon's Crafty Curriculum to not only be curriculum for your teacher life but for your personal life as well.  I was praying earlier this week for my one word that I want to describe this year....TRANSFORMATION.

Whatever I had been doing from August-December last year just wasn't working.  In my teaching life, personal life, and spiritual life.  I felt so disconnected with everything and everyone around me.  I kept praying that God would just change my situation or fix the people or situations around me to make my life easier.  WOW!  Was I wrong!  I was so focused on all the chaos around me that I didn't take a look inside to see if something in my needs to grow and transform so that I can take on more chaos in my life.  So of course, the only place I can really go is on my knees.  It's like that Hillsong United song..."I touch the sky, when my knees hit the ground."  And I truly did once I finally fell to my knees asking, "What needs to change in me in order for you to use me to your greatest potential?  Please help me transform my mind, body, and spirit so that I can take the chaos surrounding by the ropes and put it in full control."  I had to surrender it all.  It was as if a giant weight had been lifted from my shoulders.  After the first week back to school, I honestly haven't been this happy most of the school year.  I did have one bad day this week, and to be honest, didn't handle it very well, but where there is grace is also forgiveness.

So to summarize all of this, I wanted to write about my goals that will go with my one word for the 2016 year.
(1) One of my biggest goals is honestly to get healthy again.  I know it cliche at this time of year, but when better to start than NOW.  I have joined the Camp Gladiator world this month in hopes of making myself much stronger than I have been.
(2) Another goal is for me to be able to better balance my personal, teaching, and spiritual life.  I tried to put all of those three as a #1 priority, but the reality is that they have to be in an order of priority.  As teachers, it is so natural for us to put our sweet babies first.  However, at what cost does that come to us as educators if we don't take care of ourselves personally, physically and mentally?  You can be rendered less effective than your potential allows you to be.
(3) I hope to also be able to grow as an influential leader in the positions that I have taken on this year.  Ineffective leaders are not impactful and I wish to be able to impact the people and kids around me on a daily basis in such a positive way that it carries over to them.

All of these goals have to do specifically when some kind of TRANSFORMATION in my life.  I am praying that I am able to have the strength to reach all three of these goals by the end of 2016.  It is going to be a long journey but God willing, He is going to make a path and with his grace and power, will transform me with the renewing of my heart, mind, and soul.  Here is my first sweaty selfie of the new year and I hope that it encourages you in whatever changes you may be seeking for this new year. :)