This morning I had met with my grant team for the first time in 2022. The project is focused on preparing more diverse teachers with a partner school district. Since this project started during the covid-19 pandemic, we have built community via zoom and to do this, we always start each meeting with check-in. Today’s check-in was “What is a New Year’s resolution or goal you have?”

Being a team of women ranging in age from early-20s to early-50s, it was really interesting to hear the responses. Being a more senior member of the team, I was surprised and interested in the responses from my junior colleagues. They focused on well-being, physical and mental health, and spending time with family. Then, one of the more senior members simply stated, “I don’t do those anymore. They just don’t stick.”

Her comment resonated with me. It’s not like I’m not trying to take better care of my physical and mental well-being–I am. And I’m working to spend more quality time with family–doing that, too. However, I’m at a point where I do not see these as resolutions, but rather healthy life choices. Additionally, I want to tap into the continuous improvement tenets that guide my professional life for my personal life.

One of these aims for continuous personal improvement is being demonstrated here, right now. For my work, I do a lot of writing…a LOT. Yet, I do not get to share my ideas, thoughts, and crafty projects in those words. My aim for 2022 is to do more writing for me. This blog post is the first in what I hope will be a range of posts in 2022.

Why writing for me and not writing to share research in my field? Why not writing to add to my CV? Why not writing to enhance my professional profile? Because it is time. It’s time for me to share more of my personal perspective as an educator, crafter, parent and partner; to make statements about my field that may be political; and to not worry about the dreaded Reviewer #2.