New (school) year's resolutions

Back in January I posted about my goals for the year.  I didn't call them resolutions, because who sticks to their resolutions?  And resolving sounds so definite.  A goal, though...that's just a target.  Something to aim for.  Less pressure.  Overall, I've hit several of the bigger ones (run a marathon, join a running club, improve my mountain biking skills, start strength training, and participate in an adventure race), there are a few that aren't looking so good (ride another century, complete a sprint triathlon, make new recipes), and then there's one that I've boxed myself into a corner forcing me to do (go back to school for my Master's). 

I guess starting a new school year is as good a time as any to make some resolutions.  At the end of last year, I felt like I was chasing my own tail, barely keeping my head above water, [fill in any other pertinent cliche here].  I had a lot going on: N's volleyball schedule, marathon training, D's graduation, and don't forget keeping my blog up to date.  I'm a darn good teacher, but I settled for being good instead of being better.  Sometimes I have a hard time holding myself to the standards that I know I can reach if I put in the additional effort.  By the end of the year, though, I wasn't feeling good on the inside about how I was doing at school or at home, and thank goodness for my husband and my wonderful aides for helping hold things together in both places.  This year is going to be different.

1.  I am going to be organized. (My aides laughed at me when I said this.)

2. I am going to use the resources I've collected instead of using the same things I always do.

3. I am going to do new things.

4. I am going to introduce more physical activity into our class schedule.  Every time I sit in a meeting or inservice, I feel sorry for my students and the amount of sitting they have to do.

5.  I am going to stay inspired.  Our superintendent played the short film The Butterfly Circus for us at our first day inservice.  That link will take you to the film.  It's about 20 minutes, and you should watch it if you have the time.  It was touching and uplifting and inspiring and really hit on the kind of person and teacher I'd like to be.

6. I am going to stay positive.  And yes, anyone who was reading my blog last March through May is looking doubtfully at the screen as they remember me posting about crying most nights because I was so frustrated at not being successful with one of my students.  It's so easy to get sucked into complaining about the kids or the parents or NCLB or whatever is frustrating right now.  It's so easy to be negative and expect problems.  I'm going to stay positive.  I'm going to expect the best and deal with any problems instead of complaining about them.  And when things get stressful, I'm going to recite the serenity prayer until it's tattooed across my brain.

7. I'm going to spend my time on the things that are truly important, in their order of importance. That means that, as much as I love my blog and reading my friends' blogs, I'm going to give my attention first to my family, then to my job, then to my training, and THEN to my blog and other blogs.  I hope that my new, organized life results in me being able to spend just as much time in blogworld as I do now.