"The oldest, shortest words - yes and no - are those which require the most thought." Pythagoras

I almost hate to dedicate a One Thought Thursday to the idea of saying NO, because reminders of its importance appear to be everywhere we look.

...and yet, as teachers, we seem to have a next-level struggle with using the letters N-O.

It appears the seemingly-infinite pool of articles/quotes/memes we encounter on the Internet is no match for the Teacher's Heart and its desire to do ALL THE THINGS.

Like so many things in life, I believe the only way we REALLY learn our lesson is through firsthand experiences.

(And, even more accurately, how we reflect on those experiences).

So, let's think about the things you said NO to this year. Regardless of how you feel about saying no to the opportunity, start by making a list.

I had a difficult time coming up with a list of No's for 2023 (this probably surprises no one). ☺️

...but then I laughed at myself because I'd actually said no to a BIG thing this past year! It was a gut-wrenching decision at the time, and now it barely registered on radar. Isn't it amazing what a year can do?

2023 was the year I said "no" to continuing my adjunct faculty position at a nearby university.

I have a lot I could say on this topic, but at the end of the day, it boils down to this: I loved the work (and thought I was pretty good at it!), but I wasn't able to maintain my own standards of excellence for the job. Balancing those responsibilities with my home studio and family was just not possible. The discrepancies between what I wanted to be doing with that work and the "good enough" job I was actually doing had me twisted in knots.

So, I swallowed my pride, faced my fears of disappointing my colleagues, and submitted my resignation.

Spoiler alert: The position was ultimately taken by a dear friend of mine, who is - I'm sure - absolutely nailing it. Win, win.

That was my biggest "no" of 2023, and it was without a doubt the right decision for me.

Upon further reflection, I came up with a few other no's, most of them not worth mentioning here.

...though, I did come up with something else that surprised me and left me with very mixed feelings. If you want to know what it was, you'll have to hit REPLY to this email and tell me something YOU said no to in 2023. ☺️

How's that for a teaser?! Seriously, I'd love to know what you turned down in 2023. Making my own list proved to be quite a revelation for me this week, and I hope it is the same for you.

🥂May we continue to seek balance in our lives with the right combination of "no" and "yes". 🥂

...a BONUS birthed from saying NO!

Stepping away from University work allowed more space in my life to create content for teachers.

Rather than focusing my efforts on a handful of (fantastic!) college students, my time can now be spent sharing my teaching experiences with teachers like YOU!

My latest resource, Making the Most of Your Chosen Method, is a video-workbook combo that helps teachers depend less on books and more on their own expertise.

Don't get me wrong: I'm a HUGE fan of method books. They provide a valuable source of repertoire, and a sense of accountability as they usher us through a tried-and-true methodology.

My passion in this project is to help teachers reconsider tendencies to let method books guide the lesson experience. Our materials should support us, not vice versa.

The introductory price of $15 will double at midnight on 12.01, so you have just a little more than 24 hours to purchase at its lowest-ever cost.

SO:

...If you ever struggle against the pacing or a particular concept sequence in your method series of choice

...If you've ever thought about writing your own method because you can't find the "right" one for you

...If you were unable to attend my NCKP session titled, "The Teacher as the Method" (and wished you could have!)

...Or, if you simply want to support me in the work I put into TeacherWorld, while scoring yourself a thought-provoking bonus!

...If ANY of these statements apply to you, get access to Making the Most of Your Chosen Method for $15 today.

Don't Delay! This introductory sale price ends in:

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Other Ways I Can Help You:

On the Podcast On the fourth of my year-end replays, I'm featuring Episode 104: Cheers to the Upcoming GIFT of January. I know it sounds like I'm jumping the gun by talking about January, but with the right planning, January can be the gift you have been waiting for. Listen in for 17 minutes of important perspective! Listen Here

Can't-Live-Without Repertoire I pulled this sheet out for a student recently and was reminded how much FUN it is! Lots of pedagogical opportunities here, all in one fun little package. Check it out!

December Performance Challenge! It's TIME, friends! THE best (easiest!) way to keep your students playing throughout the holiday blitz is right here... for FREE! Check it out!

Patreon Community If you are interested in supporting the work I do, you can do so for $3 or $6 (and score yourself some great community bonuses!) ​ Check Out the Patreon Here

A Favorite Thing It's a great time of year to watch for great prices on my favorite Owala bottle! I credit these bottles for keeping my family better-hydrated. I love them so much, I gifted them to all of my girls' teachers last year. I consider this one the "concert black" version for gigging, even though I mostly use the colorful versions (duh!). Find it on my Favorites List

Studio Foundations Course Our next "official" 6-week session will run in January, but I'm opening up the Studio Foundations Course to anyone eager to dive in NOW to prepare for their best teaching year yet! ​ You can join now for a sneak peek, then follow along with us in January! Course Information Here

New Methods Resource! Once again, here's my newest resource. $15 for November ONLY!

NOW: Hit that REPLY button and tell me something you said NO to in 2023!

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Onward and upward toward the holiday season!🥂

Want to check out PAST One Thought Thursdays? Find the Archives Here.​

*This email may contain affiliate links. That's just smart business, but please know all recommendations are purely my own, and are absent of any icky ulterior sales motives.

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