What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
– Jane Goodall, English primatologist and anthropologist

As we welcome in the new year, we celebrate each of you and the ways you uniquely build a better world for children, families and your own teams. Spoiler alert! Here’s an excerpt from the January 3 entry in Nancy Rosenow’s book, Encouragement Every Day:

“Every morning I open a small box filled with ‘quality cards’ that list attributes such as courage, gentleness, strength, humility or creativity. On some days I pull a card at random and think about what that particular quality might mean for me. On other days I choose a quality that I want to cultivate. This simple exercise has been powerful. As Jane Goodall’s quote reminds me, I get to decide how I’ll make a difference with my life. I get to choose how I’ll show up in the world each day. Focusing on how I want to BE, not just what I want to DO is a game-changer.”

For inspiration, check out the book, Stories of Resistance: Learning from Black Women in Early Care and Education, in which each of the contributors has chosen their own quality to frame their story:

Rooted: Theressa Lenear
Authentic: Jerletha Mcdonald
Defining: Cynthia Davis-Vanloo
Determined: Joyce Jackson
Limitless: Nadiyah Taylor
Reassurance: Brandy James
Passion: Rukia Rogers
Rebirth: Crystal Sanford-Brown
Intersectionality: Meghan L. Green
Resolute: Olga Lacayo
Planted: Kelly Ramsey
Resilience: Alissa Mwenelupembe

What quality do you claim?