2016 is nearly over and I made it. Happy, joyful, changed, purposeful and holding onto my integrity with great care.
As I wrote in my last post, moments do not define me, what defines me is my integrity.
‘This thing that I am doing that is bringing me into my own.
Living in a way that is being true to me.’
Integrity
Man I have had a few moments this year and each one has helped me get closer to my integrity more than ever. I feel pretty darn lucky actually and I am oh so grateful for my year. I have had a few challenges and most of these have been with my work. I am a teacher, this does not challenge me, it makes me feel great, it is like going home. What challenges me is difficult, confusing and bloody frustrating. I understand it a bit more this year and maybe next year the challenges will be less. It all falls around my role as management.
My word of the year ‘Integrity’ has definitely helped me get through those moments that rose to challenge me. Being true to myself has helped me burrow through those moments that challenge my essence.
Thank you Integrity.
Thank you 2016.
Thank you truth.
Next year my word will be Allow, I am going to Allow myself to do those thing that bring me closer to my truth. Creativity is my thing, it makes my heart sing and colours my world with much joy. This is why I love my work as a teacher, I love the creativity. I discovered this treasure, when after 3 years of not having my own classroom, I am finally starting the year with my own class of Year 2’s and I feel so excited by it. That change has helped me better understand my role as a leader in education. I started my current job three years ago and the thing that got me the job, a leading teacher, I haven’t been doing in my own classroom. I missed it so much and I didn’t realise how much until I decided to return to my own classroom again.

This year I will:
Allow myself to make art
Allow myself to develop my creativity in my teaching work
Allow myself to plan daily
Allow myself to doodle in my art books
Allow myself to print my art and give it to the people I love.
Allow myself to print my art and sell it in my shop.
Allow myself to develop my lettering
Hello Allow
Hello Creativity
Hello Teacher
Hello New Classroom
Hello Art Shop
Goodbye 2016 and Welcome to you 2017
Top Tip 4: Allow yourself to discover a word to live your year by. A word that is close to what you need the most. Plan, reflect and set goals by it throughout the year.
Hi Brey
I have never experienced bloggers burnout, yet, I have had burnout with my work. When this happens I spend less time working and more time on something that makes my heart sing – my art. Actually it is my art that had me start blogging. For you I recommend taking some time out, find a guest blogger to fill in your timeout. Interview a blogger about this or something else and put that up as a post. All these things could give you some time away to rebuild, refuel and help you find your groove again. At times like these – the pit – I know that great things are around the corner. Hold tight and you will find on the other side a blessing you never thought possible.