Life has been so EXCITING lately that I haven’t even thought about writing a commitment reflection. If you haven’t done so already, check out the movie my 4th grade class made on CommonSenseKids.org. The idea started when I learned how Apple was partnering with textbook companies to create digital textbooks for the iPad. My 4th graders and I decided to gather our facts and write persuasive papers on WHY this technology is the inevitable replacement of the paper textbook!

We took it a little further and combined the kids’ ideas to make a short presentation for the principal and their parents. It was our principal who loved it and suggested I film it and send it to Apple. My husband and I worked together to write a grant to produce a movie that would be worthy of Apple’s attention. We won the grant and over 5 days filmed the movie in my classroom. We also started the website, CommonSenseKids.org to house our video and hopefully host more “Common Sense” projects in the future. My class and I are now anxiously awaiting a response from Apple and the various textbook companies they are partnering with.

So, just in case anyone is noticing- it’s February! Where did January go??!! I feel like I just finished Green Drink Commitments 2012 series and here it is the second month of this opportunistic year!

Just in case you were wanting in on the action- it’s never too late to make a “Commitment”. In my 4th grade classroom, we make and break commitments all of the time. That’s the point. You keep it at the forefront of your day, but if you mess up (or “whoops” as I call it,) there’s tomorrow to start fresh with clarity. The KEY is to remind yourself of your commitment(s) daily so that you are convicted of stagnance or complacency.

This week last year I wrote my first post for Green Drink Diaries! Since then I have written 101 more, driven with a PASSION to teach others about the effectiveness of alternative cancer therapies and natural living.

To help celebrate, here is a recap of what Green Drink Diaries has featured this year!

I don’t know about any of you, but I just don’t seem to have enough time for the PEOPLE I Love.

That means friends and potential friendships get put on the back burner- upstaged by work, children, and maintaining a holistic, cancer-fighting lifestyle. I have struggled with forming close friendships since graduating from the convenience of college fellowship when I lived with my closest friends.

This year is different though.

This past September I asked my 4th grade students to decide on a name for our class. It’s an exercise in team-building and cooperation, but the name they chose for themselves made me proud. They named themselves “The Smarticles.” A few of the natural leaders in the class spoke up to tell me that they chose this name because no matter where they were, they would always be learning.

These 9 and 10-year-olds offer great insight to us grown-ups. We must always be seeking out new knowledge. Never be satisfied with what you know right now. You are never really an expert. With all we have access to at this time in our history, why wouldn’t we be seeking out new ways to better inform ourselves and our families?

The struggle with vegetables is not foreign to me. Last week you could find me sneakily infusing my daughter’s food with juiced carrots and spinach. I have also used bribery (let’s call it a “rewards system” for now.) And as for me…just read why this blog is called “Green Drink Diaries.”

Increasing the amount of quality, nutrient-dense foods in our diets is a MUST in 2012. Your nutritional efforts matter this year. If you haven’t read my cancer story, you will see why nutrition is so important to me. What you fuel your body with matters. Don’t take your current health for granted. Start making small changes now towards optimum health and powering your body with the food intended for it.