JANUARY 1ST: JUST ANOTHER DAY
The truth of the matter is, I did not want 2013 to end! Even
after an early evening nap, I gave up and I went to bed at 10:30 p.m. I did not
want it to end with a bang; I just wanted the year to dissolve into the stillness of
the night. I gave my son a big hug (felt fortunate that he was actually home)
and we both declared; “it’s just another day.” However, his last question was:
Do you have any resolutions mom?
2013 A SIGNIFICANT YEAR
So now it is “just another day,” which happens to be January
1st, 2014. 2013 was a year of fun, family and milestones. Why would
I want that to end? The
Isabel-Manosalvas Holiday card summarizing this phenomenal year was never sent,
never even made – for that would have signified closure – closure to a year
that I never wanted to end. So, what was so significant about the year 2013?
- My 1st post-dissertation year! Yes, the first year that I could do what I wanted each and every weekend!
- Charles and Brittany got married!, and it has been a great 7 months so far!
- Ricardo graduated from High School, and has successfully transitioned to College with a solid 1st semester both in the classroom and on the soccer field!
- Ricardo turned 18. There are no “kids” in my family at the moment; we are all adults.
- Hmmm, this is the first in 22 years that one of my children has not been a student in the same school where I am working.
2014 JUST ANOTHER YEAR
After these important milestones and nothing predicted and
planned for 2014, I can say that makes 2014, “just another year.”
Well, there is one small milestone; in a few months I will
enter my 5th decade of life, which leads me to this story and my
resolution for 2014. When Ricardo was in
Kindergarten (yes, I did say he just turned 18), one of his teachers was
hitting this important milestone, and in the midst of a wonderful classroom
birthday celebration between 18, 5 year olds and 2 dedicated teachers, Ricardo
shouts out, “Wow, that means you are half dead.” In his little Kindergarten
mind, a year of counting by tens, and celebrating with 50 and 100 day school
parties, meant we all live to be 100!
So raise up those glasses, here’s to my “half-dead year;”
it’s “just another year.”
WORDS, REFLECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
The last few days have been interesting. Yesterday, the last
day of 2013, I purposefully stayed away from social media; for the past week so
many of the blogs and tweets in my PLN were about professional resolutions for
2014 and reflections of 2013. Among them was the #oneword2014 hashtag. Oh gosh,
I kept thinking, now I have to pick one word; what the heck will it be?! The
first word I thought of was “Grit,” but then I thought, how trendy is that? It is yet another word that has been cruising
around the twitter and blogosphere lately. Yes – I was brushing these “things”
(reflections and resolutions) off as if they were insignificant – my way of
avoiding closure of this significant year. The truth is, these words,
reflections, and resolutions are important; they ground us, focus our
intentions and keep us on track.
During the last month of the year, I was able to share my
professional and personal dream with two of my immediate supervisors. It is a
dream they have been aware of; but having that one-on-one time, getting advice
and support, and most importantly openly articulating the challenges I am facing
in reaching my dream, provided me with a sense of relief and re-commitment. After reflecting that December evening, I was
whole-heartedly committed to PERSISTANTLY persuing my dream. Now, that won’t surprise many that know me. I
never give up, and have always put my heart and soul into achieving my goals,
and many things have not come easily.
That evening, however, I realized, something more
important. My life is not about solely
pursuing that dream. My life is about being PRESENT each and every day,
whatever day that is, a special day or “just another day.” That evening I
recommitted myself to doing the best job that I can at work every day, and
being the best Mom that I can be when at home physically or virtually (yes, I
am a virtual mom – that’s what happens when your “kids” are “adults.”) In sum,
no matter where I am, who I am with or what I am doing, I will be fully PRESENT.
#oneword2014 RESOLUTION
So, Yes, Ricardo, I do have a resolution: As I
enter my “half dead,” year, I will be PERSISTENT in working toward my dream,
while ensuring that I am fully PRESENT each and every day, especially when it
is “just another day.”
If I truly am “half dead,” I am extremely fortunate to even
contemplate that I may have 50 more years of personal growth and physical and
emotional presence in this world with my boys and our
present and future families!
HOLIDAY COLLAGE OF 2013
And now that 2013 is officially over, making the holiday
card is a whole lot easier.
Happy New Year to all, and remember to cherish each and
every ordinary day!
Love, Margo
Post Script 1: I acknowledge this post could use some
editing! It is long, and a bit wordy; sentences are too long; multiple topics
are introduced and not filtered together like a cone; and, it’s emotional.
Cheers to entering my 2nd post-dissertation year, where my writing
can just “be” ! OK – maybe I will work on writing concise blogs in 2014, I know
my readership will grow if I do!
Post Script 2: If you did not notice, I just could not get
it to one word! My words are: PERSISTENT and PRESENT so I will just be
persistent at being present!
