The race is on and here comes....

I must start this entry with an apology for my absence of posts in the last few weeks. My life has been full to the brim with some very positive stressors (action research write-up{completed!}, job applications, women's conference leading, and fulfilling my commitment to run  steady {metaphorically and actually} this year of my life. (Steady On, by Steffany Gretzinger, has been my mantra for the last 6 weeks.) 

And as I sit here, what should come to mind but the lyrics to Swayer Brown's, The Race is On. Now, I have no heartache to be pondering, but I think I am beginning to realize that even though life has been full the race to the end of this master's program is just beginning. The final leg of this 18 month degree is laying out before me and I can hear the bass of this song in my head making my heart start to beat faster, and harder, reminding me that it is time to pick up the pace and finish the race strong. I have jumped the hurdle of getting that dreaded AR-write up completed (in the rough draft sense) and have begun to internalize how I would like to go about presenting in April. In fact, I think I spend more time pondering how I will get my message across in that 45 minutes than I do pondering how to get all the other work of the next few weeks completed. I think that is the teacher in me shining through--I know the writing and the research are important but I value more highly that those who come to my presentation walk away with the understandings that I feel are most important to the content being presented. 

What about you? What are you focussing on to pull you through and stay motived for the next couple months? What do you lose sleep over when you think about the culminating product of your learning at Spring conference? If you had to chose a theme song for the next few weeks what would it be? 

My goal is to remain steady and focussed, while also keeping life balanced. I have run a lot of races in my life (some 5km, others 26.2 miles) and I know that just because the end is coming doesn't mean that I will be strong just because I want to be. The end is so HARD EVERY SINGLE TIME (no matter the distance). Instead, it takes focus, determination and cheerleaders. So, calling all cheerleaders to the front lines:) How can we help each other finish strong? 

And I wonder, who do I need to invite into the race to help me stick to this and come out a better, stronger, and wiser person in May? I think one answer to this is that I have invited other educators outside of the program to revise my papers for me (I have bribed them with Starbucks gift cards, but they are coming along side me nonetheless). 

How about you? What are you going to be intentional about in regards to finishing strong?