Words of Wisdom: Golden Nuggets to Assist You on Your Journey

I recently gazed over the definitions of balance. I took away that one is balanced when he/ she are reasonably steady, even when two opposing forces/factors are of equal strength/importance and stability is maintained. Another definition shares that one is harmonious when the parts of our lives together are satisfying; everything is proportionate so that the whole being is stable and at rest. Regardless of your years of service, the goal of this article is to make an impact on you now for an improved stable and balanced future. I have been married now over 13 years and it has gone by so fast, which I believe is a good thing. I thoroughly enjoy my time with my wife and our three boys who are nine, four, and one. In no way am I a perfect husband and father, but I remember hearing from multiple people that the best thing I could do for my children was to love their mother. I know all three boys know how much I love their mother. I need to remember that the role of spouse is a higher priority than the role of parent. I believe there are a couple of things people ought to consider before they make the ultimate commitment and are yoked to each other. I am not referring to the old ball and chain concept, but a commitment that involves supporting one another. We must make sure we are heading in the same direction and understand what the work and married life entails. We must each understand the career commitment and the industry in which we work. An agriculture teacher I visited recently said that he is so thankful his spouse is involved in the agriculture industry because they each understand the importance of what the other person does. It works well for them. They are yoked together and moving in the same direction. If you are not married or on the verge of marriage, I highly suggest premarital counseling when you reach that point. Regardless of your belief system, make this a priority. Clergy and therapists often have counseled many couples at the end of marriages gone wrong, but they are also able to help you identify and talk through issues hopefully heading them off before they cause gigantic problems. 1 distinctly remember learning how to communicate expectations, work through finances, and develop a routine that both spouses can enjoy. My goal is to share a couple of Golden Nuggets I have discovered myself or have been gifted along my journey. My goal is that you consider them and receive them yourself, no matter what profession you are going into. Golden Nugget #1 - Communication During my student teaching experience, the principal I worked with shared some valuable advice. He was aware I was a newlywed and over lunch he suggested that every Sunday evening I communicate the upcoming weekly schedule to reduce surprises for my spouse. I have attempted this for my entire career, so I don't know any different, but I believe my spouse appreciates knowing what's coming up so she can plan accordingly. Living a chaotic and spastic life isn't fun. Try to plan it out! Golden Nugget #2 - Spousal/Family Involvement 1 have found that it is good to have your spouse spend time with your coworkers and students. You want there to be a connection so when you mention them, they understand who they are and they actually care about the students. When 1 taught high school we actually lived on our school farm and had many students visit us daily. We chaperoned events all across our campus and knew the students. We had the privilege of making an impact on many students on our campus as a team. Golden Nugget #3 - Develop Balance Build in time that represents your TRUE priorities. It is imperative to establish healthy boundaries and habits that protect personal time. …