Thought of the Day: Friday, January 2nd, 2015

“One day at a time: It sounds so simple but it isn’t easy: It requires incredible support and fastidious structure”
~ Russell Brand

Taking it one day at a time

If you are a blogger or use social media platforms such as Medium to share your ideas, thoughts, inspiration, and/or art, chances are you’re already a highly motivated person who constantly strives to deepen their craft in whatever arena that you have chosen to pursue as an expression of your life’s work. When referring to your work, I don’t necessarily mean the full-time job in which you receive your salary, but more so whatever it is you are passionate about and want to share with people who you may or may not know. 

In my own personal case, much of what I share on my blog or on Medium directly connects to the full-time job that I do which is teaching. Those of you who regularly share your life’s work will clearly understand that it is the act of getting it out there that forms the basis of your pursuit and journey towards mastery. My pursuit of mastery in teaching has transformed itself countless times since I began my blogging journey a few years back. 

Even though my ultimate desire is to be the very best educator I can be, the path that I venture down now is more deeply rooted in the process of being a lifelong learner. Committing myself to this journey has helped to open many doors and create new paths that fork in multiple directions. Regardless of which door I walk through or path that I decide to explore, I’m becoming a better teacher along the way. This has allowed me to provide a more enriched learning experience for those who matter most in my life; my family and the different people who I teach (my students and the teachers who I train). 

Russell Brand’s quote that I highlighted as a starting point for this Medium post is one of the most noble forms of truth that there is. Although taking it one day at a time sounds so simplistic in nature, putting this valuable advice into action is an extremely challenging thing to do for a variety of reasons. One of the main causes of not taking things one day at a time is often a result of being too end-product focused in our lives and work. 

However, producing our best requires us to understand that it is necessary to find support and use this base not only to better ourselves but to also strive to improve the work and lives of those who have extended a helping hand to us. When looking at successful people who have been a source of inspiration to us, it’s not hard to see that their success hasn’t occurred by mere chance. They take initiative to manage their time effectively and build upon their toolkit of essential skills which allows them to move forward with regularity. It’s fastidious structure, organization, and a continual commitment to being their best that forever shines through even in the face of adversity and failure. 

There are many people who inspire me on a daily basis that continues to shape the person and the educator that I am. I always try my best to let them know, in my own way, just how special a role that they play in my life and my work. It’s these people who will push me to produce my best work, not only in 2015 but for years to come. I have nothing but immense gratitude for each and every one of them. 

How can you slow the pace down and focus more on taking things one day at a time? This question is intended for me just as much as it is for anyone who is reading this post. Slowing down certainly doesn’t imply stifling productivity either as it will serve to ultimately allow us all to produce our best work possible now and in the future. May you all be your very best in 2015.