My LIFE WORD: GRIT

I recently saw a challenge on Twitter.  It was a hashtag (of course, it's Twitter) that I didn't recognize or know a whole about.  So, I began to research #OneWord.  #OneWord is a movement to encourage students and teachers to find one word to focus them and guide them to success for the year 2017.  What a great concept!  As my research progressed, I found that one of my favorite authors, Jon Gordon is a co-author to a book related to this concept.  Life Word:  Discover Your One Word to Leave a Legacy, takes the concept one step farther.  It asks you to determine your 'life word'.  The one word that describes your power, passion and purpose for life.  A word that drives and focuses every decision you make and every step you take.

As I begin the process of determining my Life Word I thought back to my childhood.  As a little girl growing up in a small town in
the mid 1970's, there were few opportunities to participate in athletics.  I did not understand this...my cousins played football and baseball, my friends (that were boys) played baseball.  At family get togethers we ALL played ball, I was never picked last, I could hang with the boys.  I wanted to play on a team, but there weren't teams for girls.  As an 8 year old, I approached my dad and told him of my desire.  I will never forget his words, they have guided me for the rest of my life, he said, "You can do anything you want to do, AS LONG AS YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD ENOUGH FOR IT."  He didn't tell me anything is possible, he didn't say you deserve to do whatever you want to do, He gently reminded me that the most important concept to achieving your goals was hard work.  Additionally, he said, "...and if you start, if you join a team, you WILL NOT QUIT.  It will be hard, you are going to have to work harder than everyone else, and that is okay, because if you want something you won't mind putting in the work.  Regardless of how hard it is, you will finish it.  Are you willing to do that?  Are you willing to work harder than anyone else?"  At the time, I'm not sure I fully understood the depth of meaning behind those words, but they have guided me for nearly 40 years.

It was way back in the spring of 1979 that I began developing my Life Word:  GRIT.
grit

ɡrit/

noun

1. 1. 

   small, loose particles of stone or sand.

   
   

   "she had a bit of grit in her eye"

   synonyms:

   sand, dust, dirt; More

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2. 2. 

   courage and resolve; strength of character.

   
   

   "he displayed the true grit of the navy pilot"

   
   

   synonyms:

   courage, bravery, pluck, mettle, backbone, spirit, strength of character, strength of will, moral fiber, steel, nerve, fortitude, toughness, hardiness, resolve, resolution, determination, tenacity, perseverance, endurance; More

The Book discusses three things that can help you determine your life word:  Power (what you are born with or have developed over time), your purpose (the thing that makes you feel the most alive) and your passion (what motivates you and gives you energy).  For me, that #OneWord is about a guiding principle.  It is a reference for when things aren't going the way I planned or expected.  It is #OneWord that centers me and helps me remember what I am doing, why I'm doing it and who I'm doing it for.  What is your Life Word?