My One Little Word for 2017 is PROGRESS. I had a list of 15 words narrowed down to 6 a few days before the new year. On January 1st, I asked the family to vote. We chose from the words Learn, Explore, Journey, Progress, Change, and Purpose. Purpose has been a goal of mine for the last two years at my workplace, as one of the 5 Lenses of Instruction. However, it didn’t seem to fit my whole life. “Progress” is defined as a noun (movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage; advancement), a verb (to go forward; to grow or develop), and an idiom (“in progress” means going on; under way; being done; happening). That’s me this year — “in progress.”

The progress started last year: maintenance and fixes to the house are almost complete; traveling enhanced my teaching and personal life; personal professional development gave me a leap towards future endeavors. Yes, PROGRESS — ongoing work — is the key to my life in 2017.

I indulged in a Facebook “quiz” last week, which assigned me this quote, supposedly defining my year:

I am no longer afraid of what might happen; I’m ready to tackle the future. So many things went right in 2016, and I’m ready to move forward, advance, grow. I will make PROGRESS this year!