Reflecting on the 2010’s
How do you measure success? How do you reflect on a decade? The week between Christmas and New Years is always a time when you look back on past successes and failures and think forward to setting goals for the future.
Lately, I have found myself at an odd crossroad. I have always been a very goal oriented person and thrive when I have goals to work towards whether they are personal wellness, fitness, travel, education and/or work related. Since defending my dissertation on October 1, I have struggled to figure out what exactly my next goal is. I have found myself over the past few months struggle to commit to anything and everything whether it be an outing with friends, doing a Crossfit competition, travel plans, future career plans, etc. So I decided this week to take some time to try and just be with a simple to-do list where my goal has been to finish one book (I am still working on this), one small task everyday on my Google Keep list, spend as much time with Moe as possible, plus go to CrossFit at my regular time to stay in a routine because I hate that I get off my routine every single vacation and weekend. I am quickly realizing that being complacent is something I simply am not good at.
I have tried to come up with my one word for 2020 and am down to a few final options but I have decided that I met and exceeded my word of 2018, growth and 2019, perspective. These words were about a deeply personal journey I have been on over the past two years where I decided to make some very significant and positive changes to focus selfishly on myself for the first time in my life. Changes that took some deep personal reflection, consistent motivation and perseverance despite some challenges (and daily motivation from my 5:30 am Crossfit family).
A colleague reminded me recently of all that I have accomplished and that I should be proud of this, it hit me in a way that I can't explain because it came from someone I really did not expect. It humbled me in an odd way and made me admit to myself that perhaps success is different things for different people. For my siblings this has been love, marriage, and starting their families; for me this has perhaps been a very different journey but does not mean that is has been any less meaningful or important.
So, while I reflect on my own journey of this decade, the things I am most proud of (my 20 bullets of reflection for the 2020's or the items I can check off my bucket list):
(in no particular order)
1. Became Dr. Korn by successfully defending my thesis on supporting high school math and science teachers to implement universal design for learning. A topic and research question that allowed me to explore my passions in inclusion for all students, supporting professional development for teachers that is meaningful, digital tools and resources, and providing authentic and relevant experiences to today's students.
2. Lost over 100 lbs in the last two years (yes, you read that correctly and I am no where near done)
3. Established a consistent Crossfit routine and found a family at my box of positive support and encouragement that I am deeply grateful for
4. Kissed a cheetah in Zanzibar
5. Woke up to a lion roaring in the Serengeti
6. Hiked the final part of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu to the sungate
7. Visited the concentration camp in Germany where some of my ancestors were murdered
8. Visited 3 different Disney parks: Florida, California, Paris (visiting them all is on my bucket list)
9. Fell in love with Paris
10. Fell in love with Sydney and hugged a koala named Cooper there
11. Became a Google Innovator
12. Became an aunty to Cooper and Abigail
13. Visited 14 baseball parks (one goal of the next decade will be to finish them all)
14. Checked off North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia
15. Presented at several ISTE and other local conferences (I was afraid of presenting in high school and college so this was a major feat for me)
16. Became an assistant principal where I am forced to step out of my comfort zone every single day
17. Learned to snorkel in the Galapagos
18. Bought my own condo (aka Moe's casa/kingdom)
19. Told Mariano Rivera that I named my dog after him
20. Paid off some student loans and invested more in retirement accounts
So what’s next?
I know there are a lot of exciting things already on the horizon for 2020's beginning with the birth of my sisters twins in February, who I simply cannot wait to meet. I also know this last decade may be hard to surpass but I am confident in my continuous growth and improvement to becoming the best me that I can be and at the end of the day (or decade) that is all I can continue to work towards.
Wishing you all the very best in your personal and professional growth in the next decade!
Lately, I have found myself at an odd crossroad. I have always been a very goal oriented person and thrive when I have goals to work towards whether they are personal wellness, fitness, travel, education and/or work related. Since defending my dissertation on October 1, I have struggled to figure out what exactly my next goal is. I have found myself over the past few months struggle to commit to anything and everything whether it be an outing with friends, doing a Crossfit competition, travel plans, future career plans, etc. So I decided this week to take some time to try and just be with a simple to-do list where my goal has been to finish one book (I am still working on this), one small task everyday on my Google Keep list, spend as much time with Moe as possible, plus go to CrossFit at my regular time to stay in a routine because I hate that I get off my routine every single vacation and weekend. I am quickly realizing that being complacent is something I simply am not good at.
I have tried to come up with my one word for 2020 and am down to a few final options but I have decided that I met and exceeded my word of 2018, growth and 2019, perspective. These words were about a deeply personal journey I have been on over the past two years where I decided to make some very significant and positive changes to focus selfishly on myself for the first time in my life. Changes that took some deep personal reflection, consistent motivation and perseverance despite some challenges (and daily motivation from my 5:30 am Crossfit family).
A colleague reminded me recently of all that I have accomplished and that I should be proud of this, it hit me in a way that I can't explain because it came from someone I really did not expect. It humbled me in an odd way and made me admit to myself that perhaps success is different things for different people. For my siblings this has been love, marriage, and starting their families; for me this has perhaps been a very different journey but does not mean that is has been any less meaningful or important.
So, while I reflect on my own journey of this decade, the things I am most proud of (my 20 bullets of reflection for the 2020's or the items I can check off my bucket list):
(in no particular order)
1. Became Dr. Korn by successfully defending my thesis on supporting high school math and science teachers to implement universal design for learning. A topic and research question that allowed me to explore my passions in inclusion for all students, supporting professional development for teachers that is meaningful, digital tools and resources, and providing authentic and relevant experiences to today's students.
2. Lost over 100 lbs in the last two years (yes, you read that correctly and I am no where near done)
3. Established a consistent Crossfit routine and found a family at my box of positive support and encouragement that I am deeply grateful for
4. Kissed a cheetah in Zanzibar
5. Woke up to a lion roaring in the Serengeti
6. Hiked the final part of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu to the sungate
7. Visited the concentration camp in Germany where some of my ancestors were murdered
8. Visited 3 different Disney parks: Florida, California, Paris (visiting them all is on my bucket list)
9. Fell in love with Paris
10. Fell in love with Sydney and hugged a koala named Cooper there
11. Became a Google Innovator
12. Became an aunty to Cooper and Abigail
13. Visited 14 baseball parks (one goal of the next decade will be to finish them all)
14. Checked off North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia
15. Presented at several ISTE and other local conferences (I was afraid of presenting in high school and college so this was a major feat for me)
16. Became an assistant principal where I am forced to step out of my comfort zone every single day
17. Learned to snorkel in the Galapagos
18. Bought my own condo (aka Moe's casa/kingdom)
19. Told Mariano Rivera that I named my dog after him
20. Paid off some student loans and invested more in retirement accounts
So what’s next?
I know there are a lot of exciting things already on the horizon for 2020's beginning with the birth of my sisters twins in February, who I simply cannot wait to meet. I also know this last decade may be hard to surpass but I am confident in my continuous growth and improvement to becoming the best me that I can be and at the end of the day (or decade) that is all I can continue to work towards.
Wishing you all the very best in your personal and professional growth in the next decade!
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