I’ve been walking my dog around in my desert neighborhood and leaving my phone and music at home. Today, as I drank in the quiet, I spotted a baby hummingbird on top of a mature saguaro. I realized that listening to music (or podcasts) often distracts me from seeing the true beauty around me. My walks have become walking meditations.
new year
New Year

“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” – Lao Tzu
Berry Smooth
Here is my recipe for delicious smoothies:
1 cup of vanilla yogurt (Greek style is best)
1 cup of berries (your fave: strawberries, mixed berries, blueberries, etc.)
1 cup of crushed ice
1/2 cup of orange juice (optional, it makes it sweeter and less thick)
Blend it and serve immediately.
Persevere!
As a teacher, I have many different types of students:
talented, but not diligent,
talented and diligent, and
not naturally so talented, but diligent
I do not have any untalented and non-diligent students.
It is the diligent students who meet the most success. There really is no substitute for hard work, self-discipline and care. With facts and “knowledge” readily available at our fingertips (Internet), it is not “knowing data” that will lead to success, but knowing how to use that data and knowing how to interact with people that will lead to achievement.
Grit is proven day by day, hour by hour, and on a consistent basis.
What will you be dedicated to – every day – in 2018?

Resolutions
When I was a young adult, I used to love New Year’s Eve. One of my favorite things to do was to sit on the couch with a pen and my journal and write down my resolutions for the year. It was exciting! A clean slate! A fresh start! I got really excited about the possibilities.
I’d usually actualize half of my resolutions.

In time, I learned that achieving life-changing dreams did not simply hinge on writing them down – although that is an important step. I realized the secret to success: My desires had to be matched by my commitment.
The most important day for your resolutions is not December 31st or January 1st. It’s Jan. 2, 3, 4, 5, and all the days after.
Dream Big. Write It Down. And then work your tail off.