Rashda Munawar

Every January, we see lists of inspiring words and bold goals everywhere. And yet… many of us still feel stuck trying to choose the right  word of the year. Here’s the truth: Your word doesn’t need to be forced. It needs to be listened for . The most meaningful word of the year usually shows up after  reflection not before it. And once you give yourself time to look back, the word almost always finds you. Let me share the simple 5-step process I use to choose my word of the year one that...

As the year comes to a close, an end-of-year reflection is one of the most grounding practices we can gift ourselves. Before we set new goals or choose a word for the upcoming year, pausing to reflect helps us understand the story we lived and the growth we might have missed along the way. A thoughtful year-end reflection isn’t about judgment, it’s about awareness. It gives us space to recognize what shaped us, what supported us, and what we want to carry forward. Without this pause, we...

I I was substituting in a grade 2 classroom when I decided to try something new. As a substitute teacher, I love when elementary teachers leave a bit more flexibility, those days when I get to choose the book I’ll read and a writing activity I can try if I want. This was one of those days, and I just loved it. “Today,” I told the students, “ you’re going to write your own growth mindset story. And guess what? You get to be the main character. ” A few heads tilted, a few pencils tapped. But...