ONE WORD IMPACT
I am writing this as I prepare to close out the semester for our winter break. I am an Elementary School Principal in New Caney, Texas. This is my second year at this school, but I have been a school administrator for the past 16 years. I started choosing my One Word in 2014. I have worked at three different schools and with each one I encouraged teachers and staff to pick a word for the year. Several staff members have done this, in fact after all of these years I always get a message from some previous staff members that send me their word for the new year!
I am writing because my word for 2021 was Shine, this word came to me last December as I sat watching movies with my family. The strange thing is that even though my word is Shine, this has been the darkest year of my life.
In fact it all started on the morning of January 4, 2021. I had just read One Word for Kids to my staff and told my story of how I believed in this instead of New Year's resolutions. I told them my word for the year was Shine, because I wanted to shine, I wanted my teachers to shine, I wanted the kids and my family to shine!
I walked out of that meeting and got the devastating news that my husband had not shown up for work that day. The rest of the day was a blur but sadly I lost my husband of 21 years. We had been together for over 30 years. He was my everything, I could not imagine how I would do anything without him much less shine. I will say that my friends and family swooped in and showed so much love and support... they certainly shined!
I took a few weeks off and when I returned my entire staff and some people from all over the district had the prettiest yellow shirts with SHINE on them. The staff had come together to make their own one word board. Through the year I have received signs, bracelets, figurines, pillows, etc. that all have SHINE in them as a reminder to me that even when we don't think we can, we can always Shine.
So even though this year has been the most difficult I have ever experienced, I do feel that my one word gave me more strength than I could have ever imagined. I have clung to it and recognized that sometimes the only thing I could focus on was the one way I would shine for the day.
Right now I am searching for my 2022 word: hope and joy seem to be coming up in different ways. I truly believe I will know by January 1st what my One Word will be mine.
Please know that I am a huge fan of your books and materials. I have heard you speak several times. Your life lessons mean a lot and impact many. I started writing this email seven months ago but It was too difficult. I am finally in a place where Shine makes me smile.
Thank you for your impact, Merry Christmas and Happy 2022
Stephanie Coronado
