Phew! It's finally time to say goodbye to 2020. It brought so many curve balls. It was exhausting and yet, there were gifts as well. It was amazing to see the incredible passion and inspiration from early childhood educators worldwide as they had to pivot their teaching practice.
I have created this free masterclass series to take you through my yearly process of beginning the new year. The new year is an exciting and potent time. This year there is definitely more to reflect on. I am so ready to bid 2020 good bye and move into fresh possibilities. I know for myself – I didn't want to step over looking back.
There are three steps to my process:
You can jump to downloading the journal as it will walk you through the steps. If anything seems unclear or you do not understand the question or reflection – I have created videos walking you through the process step by step. Enjoy!
STEP ONE: Every year I take time to reflect on the last 12 months. As a reflective educator, it helps me to take an eagle’s view. This year, more than ever, it felt important to take a look back.
STEP TWO: Next, after looking back, I turn and look forward. What is calling me? What’s next? Where do I want to spend my time? I lean into the possibilities for the next year. In this video I guide you through a process of unpacking what’s next.
STEP THREE: I have given up the practice of New Year Resolutions. Instead, I choose a word-of-the-year. I have been doing this for over a decade and it is a profound process. In this video I guide you through my process.
DOWNLOAD the journal with all of the prompts and more! Click here!
Let me know your word-of-the-year below in the comments!
Advance
Looking Forward
Yes! Defined – moving onward so as to make progress! Love it! ??
Self-care
Looking forward
Looking forward
Looking forward
Progress
Yes! I love that. Advance has such power. Defined from dictionary: move forwards in a purposeful way and a forward movement. ??
My word for 2021: wellness
2020 reinforced for me the centrality of health broadly – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, financial and social health.
Thank you so much for this inspiring, meaningful masterclass!
Positivety
Positivity
Joy!
In the words of Loris Malaguzzi, “Nothing without JOY”.
The word that comes to mind is Change
Bloom
GRACE…May I spread it inside and outside of myself 🙂
Love
My word is TRUST…trust that everything will be ok, trust my abilities, my patience, my health, my family, my partner…
Challenges
Transform
Gratitude
Such a powerful word! Defined it is the quality of being thankful.Love it!
Commitment
Another amazing word. Defined: quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
Positivity
Grateful
Powerhouse word! Defined: feeling or showing an appreciation and experienced with gratitude. Yes!
Improve is my word.Improve my self care,my relationships and my knowledge.
Grateful
What a powerful word! Dictionary definition includes:make a marked change in the form, nature, or appearance of. {Goosebumps!}
Actually Rebirth is my word
Joy—to find more joy in all things even those beyond our control
Amen! Love this word! Love your claiming its power. Defined: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
Grateful
Connectedness ?? during our time of uncertainty in New Zealand, I found we as kaiako, whanau, tamariki, families and our wider community(teachers, families, children) became so much more connected with each other, it was beautiful ??
Respect
Adapt
Beginnings
Respect
speak- be able to use our voice, not be afraid, to wholeheartedly speak what it is we really believe in.
joyful creativity
Compromise
Dedicate
Kindness
Brave
Very grateful & respectful
Word of the year for me is “Resilience”
Lana
Legacy
Every “find your word” quiz ends up with the same, and it’s one I feel is so important….connect. Connect with others and with myself.
My word for 2021 is Renewal
success
Possibility!
Grace
Blessings
Thinking
Hopeful
STRENGTH
Even though I believe strength is what I need the most I keep going back to the word focus! Can I have 2 words? Lol
Intentional
We go through the motions for so many things. Eating, driving, speaking, planning
I want more intention in living, expanding my education working with children.
My word is intentional
Trust – in myself and my internal rhythm. I did well in challenging situations and, working from home with limited distractions, I got to discover how much better I function if I give myself the time I need.
Hope. Blessings, strength
In my opinion, to describe 2020, one word is not enough.
Selfishness
Love
Resilience
Creativity
Hope
Uncertainty,self care,advance
I’m thinking either “PAUSE” or “HONOR”…
Or “TODAY”
Perseverance
Embrace is my word for my business
Balance is my word for my personal life
2019 my word was intentional
2020 my word was connection
Both of those years my word of the year served me very well and it is fun to look back at how they popped into my life at very pivotal moments.
Magic. ??
Flexible mind-set, Grateful and risk-taking.
My word is
ENRICH
I want to make an even bigger commit more to enrich and share my knowledge regarding how children SHOULD be learning with parents and our community.
Reinvention
Move. I was supposed to ‘move house’ last year, instead I spent a long time lying around my old place; shut in. I want to change my job also. And get fitter, so Move applies to many aspects of my life.
With the lockdown happening almost everywhere in 2020, my word for 2021, reconnecting
Great!!!Thank you for another great workshop!
Grace and life-long-learner
Confidence
My word for this year is: present.
I want to remind myself to put down the phone, enjoy the moment that is happening.
Also, to remind myself that these moments are fleeting, they truly are a gift.
A mantra I created while trying to relax was:
This is awesome.
I am awesome.
Here is awesome.
I am grateful.
I can say this in moments to center myself and appreciate what is happening.
Courage. As we confronted something new, unknown, and scary. Courage to move ahead and not stay still. Courage to keep loving and keep living.
Thanks for your gifts.
Word for 2021 is THRIVE. It encompasses so many other concepts such as courage, freedom, grow, learn, reflect, and emerge despite or because of the circumstances!
I have three words,
~Aesthetic
~Curtesy
~Forgiveness, (if I get off track, just forgive myself and refocus)
Thank you for the inspiration!
Courtesy
What we should consider important in our life. What we could have done better.
My word for 2020 was cathartic. For the first time in 25 years I had time to figure out what direction I want my life to go. For 2021 the word is community. I aim to create a life-long dream of building more community. Awesome exercise, Sally. As always, I am grateful for your wisdom.
My word is: WONDER
Partially due to my thoughts on the environment as the third teacher and adding more enthusiasm and purpose to interactions with each other. It is still a work in progress – not fully complete yet!
2020 – Challenging
2021 – Enjoyment
Comfort is my word for 2021. I think this encompasses all I wish to achieve this year… more focus on me, my children and home and my spirituality… loved your Hygge class… looking forward to implementing some new natural and lighting aspects into my classroom environment to allow the kiddos to feel more “at home” when away from home… ?
Hello everyone, I have 3 words for 2021
Evolve
Brave
Spirit
REJUVENESCENCE: the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity
My word for 2021 is FAITH.
Thank so much Sally for this! I looked over my ‘Create my 2020’ and all the notes I took! perspective and equip were my two words for 2020! and it certainly was that kind of year! so good to reflect and look forward.
my words for 2021 so far are:
emerge, discover, explore
I feel like I’ve been in a cocoon all 2020 and now I will emerge in 2021! Thnk you for being so inspiring Sally and team xx
My word is self fulfilled. Had a tough year, been out of work twice. Thank you for this gave me a positive start to 2021. It made me realise that even in a bad year I have had many highs and can still achieve more.
Thank you sally!for all the information I took lots of notes that will be my future guidance and power to teach these wonderful children loving them guiding them to the best future of their lives.
Our school community chooses a word at the beginning of each school year. My word for the school year is: GRACE Not only to give grace to others but to give it to myself.
Joy, a small word with such a powerful meaning.
Possibilities
My personal word was LIGHT and the one for our family was CREATION… My son Max said, “Yes! We need to create the chicken coop that will house the chickens who will create eggs for us!” ?
Strength is my word.
My word for last year was JOY! Well, it wasn’t that kind of year for me for so many reasons. This year I am keeping the word JOY though because my Mom would want me too. There are so many reasons for me to find joy and I know as I look back and move forward I will find and share JOY in abundance!
Survive to thrive
I meandered to “observe” and then after reviewing the words, found DELIGHT which takes me to a more positive state of being than simply accepting what is…I will delight in what is!
2021-derful
Wonderful, full of wonder
Passion- equals action and engagement in my professional and personal life.
Faith and Family is my phrase.
Possibility and inside that: growth, openness, connection and wonder
Peace
Magical?
Fresh Air
Self care, self love, and Mindfulness
My Word for this year is -Love- in my 54 years I finally found it this year, in many ways
Redirect
I thought first of Stop, actually, and I think this is also an accurate word for me.
My word is Humble
buy what got
me through this year
God
Family
Friends