2025: That’s a Wrap!

Today’s writing marks the final of 41 posts for 2025.  That’s 11 posts short of writing a post each week, but 41 more posts than 0.  Making and keeping promises to others and to ourselves turns out to be a pretty big deal.  I’ve made a habit of writing each week and have no regrets.

Last week, I wrote about making and keeping promises.  The post was inspired by George Couros, and a quote from him bears repeating:  “If I don’t keep my word to myself, it is easier to let others down, and vice versa.”

When I watch what others do to serve, I am awestruck, envious, and inspired.  There are amazing humans on this earth.  As 2025 is quickly coming to a close, I’m reflecting, with lots of gratitude, on the immense impact that others have had on me.

Wrapping Up the Impact of Authors & Books

Of the 18 books that I’ve read this year (yikes – that’s 7 short of my goal!), I was most impacted by the following, and highly recommend each:

   

 

Wrapping Up the Impact of Change

Change comes in many different shapes and sizes:  sometimes we get to choose change; many times change is thrust upon us.  No matter the case, the following (which is likely the most frequent quote in this blog) rings true over and over again:

In September, I wrote about a change in my instructional coaching work.  I didn’t choose the change.  I don’t know that I resisted it, but I was definitely uneasy, as I didn’t know what was to come.  Four months in, I continue to be incredibly grateful for the immense relearning, unlearning, and new learning that is occurring as a result of being shifted to our 7-12 building with a focus on supporting special education teachers and students:

• • Students receiving special education services are GENERAL EDUCATION students FIRST
  • View students through their areas of strength right alongside their areas for growth
  • Special education is, in many ways, the same as general education:  know your students, identify their areas of need, target instruction to meet those needs, assess & adjust instruction
  • There are no shortcuts in teaching students to read
  • Adolescent literacy is an area in need of attention… and is getting some of that well-deserved attention:  huge thanks to The Reading League!
  • Writing instruction is an area in need of attention… and is getting some of that well-deserved attention:  The Writing Revolution, Think SRSD, The Writing Rope
  • No matter our time in education, improvement is always the goal

 

Wrapping Up Networks

Being a part of a group, a network, is an opportunity to grow in shared ideas, support complex work, challenge beliefs and practices, and simply enjoy fellowship.  The impact of the groups that I get to be a part of continues to be felt far and wide.  I’m so grateful for the pictured groups, and many more!

Wrapping Up Discernment

We have loads and loads of information at our fingertips.  This is both a blessing and a curse.  Navigating that information and sorting fact from fiction can be incredibly tricky… and incredibly critical.  Two news sources that greatly impact my ability to discern reliable information were revealed to me in 2025:

• 1440
• Tangle

Wrapping Up Grief

I suppose the heading “Wrapping Up Grief” is misleading.  I don’t know that one really “wraps up” grief.  In the grief that has accompanied my parents’ deaths in 2024, I have recognized the journey that I didn’t even know I was on.  A year ago, I was still pretty heavy in grief… and I’m only now realizing that as I feel like I’m “on the other side” of that grief.

I miss my folks like crazy, but I’m no longer consumed with overwhelming sadness.  I have far fewer thoughts of, “At this time two years ago, Mom and Dad were…”  My bouts with unexpected tears are fewer and far between.  All of the cliches are ringing true:  time really does heal and life really does go on.

Wrapping Up Big Events

2025 brought much to celebrate.  Our biggest celebrations included the marriage of our oldest son, Elton, and the engagement of our middle son, Owen.   Madelyn and Katie:  welcome to the family!

Wrapping Up 2025

It has been a good year.  It has been a year of curiosity, growth, and impact.  I’m anxious to see what 2026 has in store, and how it will be impacted by my One Word…  there are only two contenders in the 2026 One Word ring for now…