I'm not sure the origin of the #oneword challenge. Educators and non-educators alike approach a new year and reflect on a commitment to a 'word' that will drive their vision for living for the upcoming year. 'Resolutions' can be long and cumbersome and often unattainable, but what about a 'word' - a single word that will drive how we act in the new year?
The word I am choosing for 2016 is "care." Think about that word. It's powerful. If every single person in the world woke up in 2016 and committed to caring about their loved ones, their neighbors, strangers, and even... their enemies, the impact would be incredible! It's kind of the Golden Rule rolled up into one word. If we truly care for others we will treat them like we want to be treated. Care is a different word than love. We won't always love everyone we meet, but we can certainly care for them as human beings.
I have reflected on the past years. I have watched my students raise money for kids with cancer, collect money for children with craniofacial differences, collect used toys for sick children at the hospital. I have read aloud countless books to the students with themes of kindness, compassion, and empathy for others and had countless conversations with kids about the importance of these traits. What if we all committed to taking care of ourselves, each other, and our world? I know I plan to. How about you?
The word I am choosing for 2016 is "care." Think about that word. It's powerful. If every single person in the world woke up in 2016 and committed to caring about their loved ones, their neighbors, strangers, and even... their enemies, the impact would be incredible! It's kind of the Golden Rule rolled up into one word. If we truly care for others we will treat them like we want to be treated. Care is a different word than love. We won't always love everyone we meet, but we can certainly care for them as human beings.
I have reflected on the past years. I have watched my students raise money for kids with cancer, collect money for children with craniofacial differences, collect used toys for sick children at the hospital. I have read aloud countless books to the students with themes of kindness, compassion, and empathy for others and had countless conversations with kids about the importance of these traits. What if we all committed to taking care of ourselves, each other, and our world? I know I plan to. How about you?