Thoughts to Inspire Positivity

Recharge! Reflect! Renew! 
Recharge! Reflect! Renew! 

As the 2015-16 school year draws to a close here in New York State, it is time to reflect on all the positives. Last night, #NYEDChat brought its year to a close while the strawberry moon was floating in the sky (not to be seen by me-oh, well). Connected educators celebrated sharing the pulsebeat of the possible. They gathered as a tribe to move beyond oneness, banding together to strike a balance in a world of dissonance. Why did we come from near and far to gather? It was for the right reasons-to celebrate our professional and personal learning with each other. 

With new and veteran #NYEDChat members, the roar of voices conversing reached beyond our state last night. Educators and even a student leader from New Zealand, James Anderson, connected, despite our distances. We listened, leaned in to learning, and most importantly chatted about the positives of the year. Emily Pascual from the upper part of New York State joined in the conversation with a statement from the heart.

We may have closed the doors for the summer months at #NYEDChat last night but we know we will return at the end of the summer and share new learnings and the positive moments of our summers.

The countdown to summer relaxation begins this week. It is time to direct attention to our summer bucket lists that should recharge our batteries.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FOR EDUCATORS and CONNECTED COLLEAGUES:

This summer, luxuriate in relaxation, reacquaint yourself with your passions, pick up the book that has been waiting for you, and enjoy downtime, a precious commodity. 

REMINDER FOR CONNECTED EDUCATORS and COLLEAGUES:

Let your mind wander to creative spots to renew your energy for another new year of life and learning.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Before I close, I would like to give a shout out to the #DareToBe Community led by my Twitter friend, Andrea Sanchez. When I joined the chat midstream tonight I heard the word recharging and knew that I was in the right spot. The conversation recharged my energy and focused my thoughts as I listened to the ideas of others and tweeted along. By the end of the chat, I refueled my energy so that I could wrap up this slice.

If you don't take the time to recharge, you risk the chance to savor the sweet moments of life. Recharging is a necessity of life. It is the spark to reflect and renew our spirits.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Every Tuesday, Two Writing Teachers call together educators to write Slices of Life. Visit the site here to read this week's posts.

Slicers, may your summer days be filled with relaxation and rejuvenation. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Under Construction

Dear Mind and Body,

I decided that this month, you will be part of an under-construction plan of action. That may seem strange, but I will explain why the logo above is my opening thought. After several weeks of deliberating on my one word for 2026, I chose restore. Of course, I need you, Mind and Body, to challenge myself. I would like to see life differently than just gray skies and feeling forlorn. Did you know that an Arctic Blast has spread across the USA? Today, temperatures are dipping lower than before. Layers of clothing and acceptance are needed. 

I am not ready to shoo away the gray sky of winter, but I am willing to stop feeling like the morning routine is regimented and boring. I need to take a fresh approach to start each day. Last night, I ended the evening by reviewing one of the mounds of paperwork that sits on my desk, table, and bed. All of this is a start to a new year that is not about renewing life but restoring it. I invite you both, Mind and Body, to help me restore my heart and soul with positive intentions, stillness, and less anxiety.

💝It is time now for me to settle in

and be comforted by words that flow.💝

"Heart's Reset"

at day's end,

I sit in silence

surrounded by darkness

my one word, restore,

will guide me to

re-store

my broken heart 💔

to a growing heart 💗

draft  ©CVarsalona, 2026  

💝After a stressful week, I sit here at my computer listening to the music video, Restore My Soul.

The lyrics bring comfort,

especially these words: 

Restore my soul, revive my heart.

Renew my life in every part.💝

A Golden Shovel poem evolved from listening to the song many times. The strike lines for my poem are above.

Time to Restore

2026 is time to restore

what is in my

grieving soul

and kindly revive

what makes me strong - my

mind will open my heart

my faith will renew

me and my 

family's life

there is love within

nature's every

beating part

Amen! 

 draft  ©CVarsalona, 2026 

Thank you for listening.

 Carol

💝

Even though it is late, I am offering my blog post, Under Construction, for the Poetry Friday Roundup, hosted by a dear friend, Jan Annino at Bookseed Studio. Jan is sharing her thoughts on one of the honored leaders of the 20th century, Martin Luther King. Jan's statement on MLK is strong. "This weekend, especially, I wonder where a leader is, who can remind us and begin to renew us, with the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Let's band together to lift up prayers as Martin would for peace and justice. 

My 2025 One Little Word

A new pathway opens for my 2025 Spiritual Journey. It is guided by a new one little word. My former collection of OLWs will not be forgotten or discarded. They are the foundation that I have walked on since 2014. While reflecting on my stepping stones below, I open my heart to the possibilities for 20225 with a new guiding word.

My collection of one words strengthens my spiritual journey each year. In December, I eagerly awaited a new word, a connector that creates newness. Little did I know that my word had been waiting for me since 2014. In that blog post, I wrote the following about my one word openness. "A connector on my journey, the enticer to find possibilities in life by shifting, reflecting, redirecting, redesigning, and renewing my course of action."

I intentionally paused life since May 2024 due to a medical issue. I am ready for RENEW to restore what has faded and create newness in my life. I hope 2025 will provide a fresh start and a positive change to restore, revitalize, and make life feel fresh again. Psalm 51:10 holds the essence of my one word. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit  within me."  After last year's interruption, I confidently return to my spiritual path.

Logo created by Margaret Simon

Please join me at Margaret Simon's Spiritual Journey 2025 post to read what others in the community have chosen for their new word.

I am celebrating the start of Poetry Friday 2025 with our host and keeper-of-the- calendar, Mary Lee Hahn. She is full of wisdom today, a positive way to start poetic writing in 2025. Happy New Year to all! 

Spiritual Journey-One Word 2024

This morning a quiet sensation flowed through the chilled wind. Winter announced its arrival with freezing temperatures and icy crystals that decorated my car windows. I felt the push-pull of Nature reminding me to to breathe in winter's frosty breath and feel replenished. As I swept crystals off the car windows, stillness surrounded the grayish morning. Awed by the magic of the winter scene, I listened to the sounds of quietude, finding peace within. 

move slowly on

winter's frosty path-step back

just be and pause

witness small moments

reflect, renew, replenish

breathe in stillness

pause intentionally

breathe in earth's quiet stillness

with verve

©CVarsalona, 2024

Happily, I went to yoga where I heard a mantra that sparked a plan. "A New Year, a New You!" This solidified my intent to find one little word that would enhance last year's guiding word, Be.  

Have you thought about pausing to witness quiet moments? It is the mindful, intentional pause that allows us to focus on, and be engaged in the moment not the hustle and bustle of life's to-dos. I have spent years as an educator and educational leader studying the art of mindfulness. Today, while scurrying to yoga class, I solidified my intent to find one little word that would enhance last year's guiding word, Be. I decided to cultivate mindfulness with an intentional pause each day. 

inhale

one word

stillness announces

my hope-filled wish

pause

©CVarsalona, 2024

While researching how to practice the pause, I found a quote from Eckhart Tolle: "In today’s rush we all think too much, seek too much, want too much, and forget about the joy of just Being." My one word, "Be", guided me last year. Adding an intentional pause this year will strengthen my spiritual walk. I hope you will join me as I pause, reflect, and renew my spirit throughout 2024. May the magic of winter also encourage you to pause and witness quiet moments?

🌲🌲🌲

I  look forward to joining the Spiritual Journey community hosted by teacher/author/poet Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche.

Here, I will find poetic goodness and spiritual enrichment flowing. 

 Logo designed by Margaret Simon

Opening a New Door - Spiritual Journey

It's Spiritual Journey Thursday with our host, Bob Hamera (aka arjeha). He reminds us that when God closes one door, He opens another. It is up to us to recognize the new door and go through it. Thank you Bob for the questions you provided for us to be aware of the roadblocks in our life and proceed with steadfastness.

After mulling over Bob's questions, I mentally listed the abrupt challenges that occurred during different seasons of my life. While these times were difficult, I hung on to hope. New pathways to renew life evolved. Each time gratitude filled my heart. God was with me through every challenge.

Walking on the Edge of Darkness

Life moves in seasons.

Sometimes I walk

Joyfully along the road.

Other times I trip,

Lost in a tangled maze 

Darkened by mishap.

Sunset's shades close.

Tears puddle.

Heart blackens.

Wonderings wander

in a swirl of heavy clouds.

Where is the light? I often ask.

Doubt jumps in but

Faith widens a pathway

Shimmying in silence

Under an inked sky.

Sometimes, a path is unclear.

I pause to recalibrate.

Stars gather with

Enough brilliance,

Leading the way

To a bright new day.

Only the Master Artist

Creates new walkways.

draft ©CVarsalona, 2025

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 30: 31) 

With this promise in mind, I send a song of gratitude into the universe.

Logo designed by Margaret Simon