OLW 2017

Joy. What better day to reflect on my One Little Word for 2017, my first OLW. The hour after Christmas has ended, awoken with round two of the stomach bug with my middle child.

Who knew where this word would take me? I chose joy in January and then started a blog all about it in March. I set out to find joy, questioning if it existed.

What I found was that it is always there. Hidden among the hard and challenging, I know that joy exists if I’m willing to see. Some days the seeing is harder than others, but this journey has forced me to notice the small treasures in a day. The bright sides, beautiful skies, and the conversations overheard.

I’ve experienced big joy this year. The birth of my third baby girl and all the happiness that a baby brings to a home. New relationships and bonds. Watching everyone settle into their roles. All the milestones to celebrate-the heartwarming smiles you get for just walking into a room. The way the whole day could be going wrong, but when I hold that baby close and we sway back and forth, slow dance style, nothing else in the world matters.

I’ve spread joy and been the recipient countless times. We started a # at school (#seshasjoy), we have an unofficial joy squad who gathers and share moments of joy via photos in our weekly newsletter for our staff. People take time to share their joy with me through hallway stories, text messages long after the school day has ended, and even in emails. Ideas that were tested out. Books that kids loved. Feelings of pride for planning and executing small group instruction.

My One Little Word turned out to be pretty big. I actually can’t imagine choosing another OLW, although I’ve been tossing a few options for sidekick words around. Who knows?

What I do know… there is joy all around us.