Take the Time

  Several years ago I took the Stephen Covey seminar "7 Habit for Highly Effective People". I was asked to come up with a "Mission Statement".  It was meaningful, thoughtful, in some ways profound, and long. Over the years I have only looked at it occasionally and when I do I am reminded that yeah it was good but not something that I thought of often, and yes it still reflected a good deal of what I believe in but it was still long. Over the years I have been in groups to make vision boards, philosophical statements and yet more mission statements.They have all been meaningful in the moment and have defined my beliefs and goals but really not usable.

Last year I had the opportunity to take the "7 Habits"seminar again and this time I wanted a statement that I could really use. I found it, "Take the Time".  I realized these three words are something I could apply to all of the areas of me life to help me become the woman, wife, mother, teacher, friend, and citizen that I want to become. Take the time to, listen, be heard, do it right, find the meaning, make a plan, define the journey, etc. I found that I could apply this short meaningful statement to every aspect of my life, every decision and every goal.

The following entries are examples and reflections of how I have used my statement in the facets of my teaching and my life.

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