Happy New Year to Sisters Near and Far!

Council Connections – January 2016

By National Council Vice President Kristin Walker, Ph.D., Alpha Lambda

I hope your 2016 is getting off to a great start. I don’t know about you, but it seems like ringing in the New Year means sharing resolutions and hearing talk shows and television programs help us figure out how to stay on the band wagon. Then comes the ultimate disappointment when we don’t keep those pesky resolutions. It takes all of the fun out of confetti, “Auld Lang Syne,” and the hope of a new year.

A while back, I heard someone say “I’m against New Year’s resolutions!” We’ve all heard that before as well. Only this person said that, instead of making a resolution, she picks a word to focus on for the year. As a former English teacher, I immediately thought of spelling and vocabulary words which I inadvertently said out loud, making her laugh. She explained that this kind of word is different. She shared how she puts this word on her desk, refrigerator, nightstand, and even in her car because of her long, Washington D.C. commute. She has it everywhere as a constant reminder of how she wants to live her life that year.

Again, my head went in the wrong direction because when I asked her for examples, I thought she would say things like diet, money, travel, or family. Instead she said, purpose – as in, to live with purpose. I must have had a puzzled look on my face, so she gave me another one: new – as in, try new things. Her words – like purpose and new – were so … freeing. Encouraging. For me, they encompassed so much more than the words that originally came to my mind.

Ringing in the New Year made me think about my word for 2016. You have probably seen the refreshed Sorority branding with the tagline, Defining Excellence. As I think about nearing the end of my time on the National Council, I have picked excellence for my word this year. I want to finish my term on the Council with excellence. Now that I have finished my doctorate, I want to manage that “extra” time with excellence by spending more time with family and friends. I want to do my job with excellence while also being an excellent supervisor. I’m still working to cook with excellence and thus make a few healthier decisions. I’m not striving for perfection because I realize I’m human, but I don’t want to settle for mediocrity either. I have started putting my word on my desk, refrigerator, nightstand, and car even though my commute to Clemson University is shorter than any D.C. commute. The reminders are already making me focus more on living the vision of our Founders – of living excellence.

So Alpha Sigma Taus near and far – what’s your word for 2016?

Then, if you like, share your word with the world, your chapter, or your Sisters. Post on Facebook and Twitter using the #ASTMyWord2016 hashtag.