As many of you know I’m a self-proclaimed “George Strait junkie” and have been ever since my father took me to my first concert as a kid at the 1988 Ohio State Fair. I’ve been all over the nation seeing the “King of Country” live over the years and am a fan in every sense of the word. Strait is a true legend. Well over 60 number 1 songs in his 30 plus year career with MCA Nashville Records. Impressive to say the least. While “Ocean Front Property” is my all-time favorite song by the King of Country another that nears the top the list, wasn’t even released to radio, much less one of his popular songs.

“The Road Less Traveled” is a phrase I’ll utilize sometimes within my PLN, career, life, etc. and to me personally this phrase along with the song of the same name is powerful. The title track from Strait’s 2001 The Road Less Traveled album aligns with how I strive to go about my daily life and also strive to build positivity with others and create cultures of positivity within the above mentioned PLN, career, life, etc. Risk. Leap of faith. When surrounded with the right people who truly believe in you – what better way to become better?

The Road Less Traveled

Performed by George Strait

Written by Buddy Brock and Dean Dillon

There’s a road a winding road that never ends
Full of curves lessons learned at every bend
Goin’s rough unlike the straight and narrow
It’s for those who go against the grain
Have no fear dare to dream of a change
live to march to the beat of a different drummer
And it all might come together
And it all might unraveled
On the road less traveled

For the road less traveled ain’t for the faint of heart
For those who choose to play it safe and never stray too far
Me I want to live my life and one day leave my mark
And it all might come together
And it all come unraveled
On the road less traveled

I’ve chosen a pathway I may not endure
One thing’s for certain nothing’s for sure
And it all might come together
And it all might come unraveled
On the road less traveled

For the road less traveled ain’t for the faint of heart
For those who choose to play it safe and never stray too far
Me I want to live my life and one day leave my mark
And it all might come together
And it all come unraveled
On the road less traveled

There’s a road winding road that never ends

The lyrics in this song whether read or listened to (see the YouTube link above) are powerful. All about taking risk. Staying in your own path, your lane. Those that know me well know that I strive to do these daily.

Within the past year, I’ve really started embracing daily positives through my PLN through Social Media platforms most notably Twitter but also Facebook and also Instagram on occasion. My pal Sean Gaillard (@smgaillard) from Winston-Salem, NC and creator of #CelebrateMonday is somewhat responsible for this idea of mine along with my friend, fellow Wake County Public School System employee and co-presentation partner Renee White (@RaRaPenguin) – creator of #TootlingTuesday. I have created graphics to celebrate these weekly events which I routinely tag members of my PLN in first thing in the morning before as our day is just beginning and always make an effort during the day to myself tweet out at least one positive thing happening in our school and/or district and utilize the corresponding hashtag.

#WednesdayWisdom, #ThoughtfulThursday and #SundayInspiration all give opportunity for some “wisdom” of mine or a thoughtful and/or inspirational quote will be shared within the PLN through Twitter often reflecting the basic framework of the lyrics above. A sampling of recent inspiration shared:

 

On Fridays I utilize a #FF graphic and try to have different a theme each week for educational leaders of some capacity in an ongoing effort for all of us to grow our PLN effectively.

While these are all builders in the positivity movement there are so many that motivate me in this arena and truly help me #BecomeBetter. Just to name a few others beyond Renee and Sean mentioned above. Mr. Phil Echols (@PhilEchols and check out becomebetter.tv), Mrs. Bethany Guillion (@Lead_thru_Love), Mrs. Leslie Kinard (@lmkinard) and Ms. NaShonda Cooke (@nasleia368hunni) just to name a handful of other “positive praisers” within my PLN.

Grateful for you all as my PLN helps me grow as a learner, in career and life daily while helping me truly #BecomeBetter even while heading down “the road less traveled.”