#oneword2017 - PURPOSE

This year I am answering the call for the #oneword2017 challenge. At first, the one word that could sum up my hopes for the year was elusive. What one word would help drive me personally, professionally, and individually? Some #oneword entries from colleagues and friends provided some great inspiration: Esmeralda Sanchez Moseley: Health, Liz Garden: Create, Adam Welcome: Suffer

After running through a number of strong contenders, my #oneword became clear: PURPOSE.

Purpose is defined: the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. Purpose is the why. 

Thinking about the big categories of my life, my purpose or reason is pretty clear. Professionally: to put the students of my school and town first. Personally: to share love with my family and friends.   Individually: to live joyfully by making the most out of every day. It is the day to day details where things get tough. Those purposes are lost or found in the little choices I make every day. So my one word is about putting purpose into my day to day.

Professionally: A few ways I plan to put students first.

1. Spend more time with students. In order to put students first, it is important to be with students in classrooms and on the playground. Since classrooms are always there, it is easy to put visits off when someone else's emergency comes up. My goal will be to honor those visits. 
2. Ask questions. I have come up with two questions that I think will help me in my work. When I am faced with a choice, I like to ask the question, "What is best for our students?" I need to remember to ask this question often. When I need to prioritize my work, I might ask the question, "Why is this important?" I think I often take things on without considering if they are the most important work I could be doing. I hope these might help keep things in perspective.

Personally: 

My personal life is my family. I have a lovely wife and four great kids. Our life, like many, is full and busy. It is wonderful, but exhausting. I find that it is easy to lose focus on what is important and how to show my family I love them. I have two ideas in this area.

1. Compliment my children every day. This should be easy, but I bet I am worse than I think. The big idea is reminding myself how much I love them and how special they are. Every day I want to find something nice to say to each of my kids about how special they are.
2. Do something special for my wife. It often feels like we parent by text. "Can you pick up this?" "Did you remember that?" In all the hustle, it is easy to take your partner for granted. Whether it is a date night, a note, or something else, I will try to do something special and unexpected each week. 

Individually:

This one for me is simple. I have ambitious plans every single day that often get sidetracked by distractions. Even now I am thinking about that next episode I want to watch on TV. How many chapters, exercise routines, walks with the dog, or hours of sleep have been hijacked by time poorly spent? This will be my biggest challenge. Can I put purpose into how I spend my time?

1. Read. I have a huge book list. Goal: get at it at least every other night.
2. Exercise. Running, cycling, soccer, swimming. I love it all. Goal: work out 5 days/week.
3. Memories. My kids love going through our photos and movies. Goal: organize our photos and finish up the movies of our special events so the family can enjoy them.

Don't Underestimate the Real World #cuerockstar

I love technology in my life. I spent this weekend at Skywalker Ranch and met principals for the first time that I have been talking to for months on Voxer and Twitter. I started on Voxer last summer, and my professional network literally exploded. I have spent the last year getting to know people across the country, asking them for advice, sharing ideas. It's been great.

But it is easy to forget the power of a personal real connection.

This video strikes me because the very devices that connect us can also keep us from the people we are with. My own kids have taught me about this. This weekend I traveled to Skywalker Ranch and got to connect with my online friends in real time. I got the chance to:

• Learned with Todd Nesloney. 
• Sat on the patio and enjoyed the sun with Jenn Kloczko. 
• Shared a hug and catching up with Catina Haugen. 
• Commiserated with Todd Schmidt. 
• Resurrect this blog by prompting from Adam Welcome. 

All this happened because I showed up and connected with real people. The most memorable connection will be the walk I took with my people around the Skywalker Lake. In this beautiful setting, I had a real-live conversation with Shayna Peeff. We've been talking on Voxer for months, but walking a trail in the hills above the Ranch was something else. In the end, however you make the connections, make them.

Asher's Recipe

This video was from Asher's "How to ..." book report.

Let the Manipulation Begin

Stefanie has started work again at the hospital, so today the kids and I were on our own. We had a nice day of movies, books, outside play, and we even made some cookies. Kate and I were sitting in the kitchen. I was finishing up cookies, and she was supposed to be finishing up her lunch.
"Dadda, cookie." {Dad, can I please have a cookie?}
"Finish your apples first Kate."
"Dadda, cookie." {No, I mean I want a cookie right now}
"Kate, finish your apples, and you can have a cookie."
Kate now starts to cry and whine.
"Dadda, coooo-kieee."
"Kate, what do you need to do if you want a cookie?"
"Eat apples." Sniffle, sniffle.
"That's right. Eat your apples sweetheart."
"Dadda." (She now points to her cheeks) "Tears." {Look jerko, you're making me cry with your callouse disregard for my cookie desires}
"Alright, Kate. Have a cookie."

Actually, I didn't give in, but I felt like a schmuck for towing the line. How do they learn to do that so young? Brutal.

First Bike Ride

One of the many nice things about the holiday break was a chance to go biking with Asher at Annadel in Santa Rosa. We went downhill biking in Pinecrest, but this was his first real ride with climbs as well as downhill. He got a new mountain bike for his birthday, so he was excited to give it a try.

We decided to ride up a hill called canyon. This is a broad fire road with a lot of rocks. A few portions are steep and challenging. As we road through the park to the start of the trail, Asher had a bit of excitement and worry mixed together. The first hill we hit was wet, rocky, and steep. Asher made it 50 feet up and then had to walk. I had a feeling we were doomed. I figured that one more hill to walk, and he will have had enough "fun." The next one was not as steep, but still rocky and challenging. He powered through and made it to the top. His confidence went up, and he charged the rest of the way to the top of the trail. We stopped at the lake on top, then we made it down the other side.



2.5 hours later, we pedaled through the parking lot to our car and made our way to get some burgers and onion rings. Final verdict on first ride? Big success.

Soccer Practice begins

Soccer practice started a while ago for Asher. He has made the select team, so they started early and practice long. However, we now have Ella and Marley in soccer too, so we have practice all the time.

Tomorrow is opening day, so we should be at the field from sun-up to sun-down. Ella's pictures are at 8, game at 9, Marley's pictures at 11, game at 12, Asher practice at 9 and pictures at 2:30. Should be a sunny day.

It's all in the details.

Kitchen Home Stretch from Jason Sutter on Vimeo.