I noticed on my friend Office Space’s blog that she was participating in Reverb 10. According to their website:
Reverb 10 is an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. The end of the year is an opportunity to reflect on what's happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead. With Reverb 10, we'll do both.
I was giddy with the thought of participating in this gedankenexperiement. I was also giddy at the idea of being able to work the word gedankenexperiement into my blog. Now I want to say it out loud. I hope when I do, someone responds with “gesundheit.”
But I also knew that it didn’t really fit within the major theme of my blog—sarcastic ramblings vaguely related to my money—and I knew that I didn’t have a lot of time left in my day and if I tell Husband that I have to put more blog posting into my day, he might leave me for his Xbox.
So I decided to make a special page for Reverb 10. Here are my other rules:
1. Use a minimum amount of words in response. Two tweets or less.
2. Spend a minimum amount of time to do them. 15 minutes or less.
3. Shoot for everyday, be happy with once a week.
So here are my reflectifestation:
December 31 Core Story by Molly O'Neill. What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)
I'm cheating on this one and just post a word cloud from Wordle of my Reverb 10.
December 30 Gift by Holly Root. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?
Christmas Day was a good gift for Husband and I. Starting with church on Christmas Eve, when I pointed out a typo in the service program, "the King of angles," we began to relax and shed the everyday worries and stress. It was a great gift to be able to rediscover the fun.
December 29 Defining Moment by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.
The defining moment of our lives this year is Husband losing his job. It's not so scary, threatening, or hard. It just has caused us to look at our lives differently.
December 28 Achieve by Tara Sophia Mohr. What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.
The thing I most want to achieve next year is to finish my thesis. "Free" is a good word to describe how I imagine I'd feel. What can I do to experience that feeling today?
1. Finish a nagging task.
2. Get rid of something.
3. Dance/Run/Yoga.
4. Clear a surface.
5. Walk in the woods.
6. Listen to my "Running Songs 2011" playlist on my ipod. (and similar songs)
7. Reflect on other accomplishments that were "freeing" (quitting smoking).
8. List recent accomplishments (the past hour, day, week) no matter how small.
9. Breathe deeply.
10. Sneeze.
December 27 Ordinary Joy by Brené Brown. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?
My most joyful ordinary moments are listening to Step-Daughter play. Here is an example: One day (although not this year) she was playing with Polly Pocket. The ghost of P.P.'s father came to visit P.P. At first P.P. was scared, until the ghost reassured P.P. that he wasn't here for scaring people, he was here for (dramatic voice) "Truth, Love...and Business."
December 26 Soul Food by Elise Marie Collins. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?
Food Night. I make things I’ve never tried before and the evening and the food are guarded jealously. The best thing this year was Greek night: baba ghanoush, olives, feta and figs…I can’t remember the whole menu. It’s more about the ritual, I think, than it is about the food.
December 25 Photo – a present to yourself by Tracey Clark. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.
This photo was taken Christmas Day by my mom at my parents’ home. Fun, silly, carefree, outdoors, family: all of these aspects that are important to who I am are represented in this photo. I will strive to keep these more prevalent in my daily life.
December 24 Everything’s OK by Kate Inglis. What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?
I knew everything was going to be ok when I realized we purchased all our Christmas gifts without spending our savings. Christmas was amazing and served as a lesson that wealth is as dependent on your attitude as it is on your bank account.
December 31 Core Story by Molly O'Neill. What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)
I'm cheating on this one and just post a word cloud from Wordle of my Reverb 10.
December 30 Gift by Holly Root. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?
Christmas Day was a good gift for Husband and I. Starting with church on Christmas Eve, when I pointed out a typo in the service program, "the King of angles," we began to relax and shed the everyday worries and stress. It was a great gift to be able to rediscover the fun.
December 29 Defining Moment by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.
The defining moment of our lives this year is Husband losing his job. It's not so scary, threatening, or hard. It just has caused us to look at our lives differently.
December 28 Achieve by Tara Sophia Mohr. What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.
The thing I most want to achieve next year is to finish my thesis. "Free" is a good word to describe how I imagine I'd feel. What can I do to experience that feeling today?
1. Finish a nagging task.
2. Get rid of something.
3. Dance/Run/Yoga.
4. Clear a surface.
5. Walk in the woods.
6. Listen to my "Running Songs 2011" playlist on my ipod. (and similar songs)
7. Reflect on other accomplishments that were "freeing" (quitting smoking).
8. List recent accomplishments (the past hour, day, week) no matter how small.
9. Breathe deeply.
10. Sneeze.
December 27 Ordinary Joy by Brené Brown. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?
My most joyful ordinary moments are listening to Step-Daughter play. Here is an example: One day (although not this year) she was playing with Polly Pocket. The ghost of P.P.'s father came to visit P.P. At first P.P. was scared, until the ghost reassured P.P. that he wasn't here for scaring people, he was here for (dramatic voice) "Truth, Love...and Business."
December 26 Soul Food by Elise Marie Collins. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?
Food Night. I make things I’ve never tried before and the evening and the food are guarded jealously. The best thing this year was Greek night: baba ghanoush, olives, feta and figs…I can’t remember the whole menu. It’s more about the ritual, I think, than it is about the food.
December 25 Photo – a present to yourself by Tracey Clark. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.
December 24 Everything’s OK by Kate Inglis. What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?
I knew everything was going to be ok when I realized we purchased all our Christmas gifts without spending our savings. Christmas was amazing and served as a lesson that wealth is as dependent on your attitude as it is on your bank account.
December 23 New Name by Becca Wilcott. Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why?
I would pick an ethnic-sounding name because it conveys a tradition and history: Greta Gruenwald, Svetlana Gagarin, Merriam Goldfarb. I wouldn’t choose a name that ends in an “ee” sound. Would you want Dr. Tiffany performing your colonoscopy?
December 22 Travel by Tara Hunt. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?
My 2010 travel was all for work—Charleston, SC and Austin, TX by plane. Next year, I plan to take a real vacation. Maybe to Chicago. Maybe on a train.
December 21 Future Self by Jenny Blake. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?)
From my future self to my present self: Act upon your intentions. Pursue your goals with reckless abandon. Live in the moment. Quit wasting your time, you'll never get more of it. Have inconvenient faith in all that you believe in. Never be too busy to engage in the task at hand.
To my 22 year-old self from my present self: Everything that I said above and "Seriously, that guy?" and become a mailman. One day your dream will be to wander around all day and get paid for it. Plus, good benefits.
December 20 Beyond Avoidance by Jake Nickell. What should you have done this year but didn’t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing?
Written my thesis. I'm still scared, worried, unsure, busy and otherwise deterred.
December 19 Healing by Leonie Allan. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?
This blog. The 12/5 prompt asked what we let go of this year. Later, I realized that I let go of a fear of my writing. I've never kept a journal--even a private one--because I had this weird fear of reading what I wrote, especially if it was personal or emotional. I'm letting go of that and it is healing.
I'm unsure of how I would like to be healed in 2011. I don't feel particularly injured right now.
December 18 Try by Kaileen Elise. What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it?
I want to try double my savings. I want to be more consistent in my tries and pass the rush of getting started. I want to try to read, write, and workout every day. I want to try to knit a hat. In 2010, I tried a half-marathon. It's a pretty easy thing to try--all you have to do is keep running. I kept moving forward and hope to do the same in my tries next year.
December 17 Lesson Learned by Tara Weaver. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?
I learned that I can push myself farther than I believed I was capable of. I learned this during a particularly fast 5K race. I want to bring this mental toughness to other areas of my life--not fretting about the particulars, just doing with reckless abandon.
December 16 Friendship by Martha Mihalick. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?
My friend Office Space didn’t necessarily change my perspective, but constantly helps me hone and reaffirm my world view. She’s been through a lot this year and is such a force of life, reason and strength. She’s good people.
December 15 5 Minutes by Patti Digh. Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.
Half-Marathon, specifically the hail/sleet near the finish and playing "Where's Waldo?" with my parents popping up along the course. Running on Superbowl Sunday as it is snowing on us to train. Finishing my fastest 5K at Royals Stadium and choking back tears from the sheer physical exertion. Watching Step-Daughter walk into church for her first communion and during gymnastics--especially when she glances over to make sure we're watching. Struggling mentally/emotionally with being a "wife." First anniversary date, wandering through shops on the wine walk. Helping Liz move into her apartment and the first improv show. Weekend jogs and lattes with Jen. Time's up!
December 14 Appreciate by Victoria Klein. What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?
Supportive, Giving, There-for-you Friends. I’m not the best example of this, but these people are. I ought to express gratitude more often, by being the kind of friend that they are for me. If you’re reading this, you are probably who I’m talkin’bout. THANKS!
December 13 Action by Scott Belsky. When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?
My next step is being really save-y. My most immediate aspiration is to have a bigger savings safety net.
December 12 Body Integration by Patrick Reynolds. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?
Wha? Huh? Doing yoga on my back porch on a summer weekend morning? That really makes me feel alive and present, although I don’t know if I feel cohesive because my mind tells my body what to do and occasionally checks my position in the poses.
December 11 11 Things by Sam Davidson. What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?
Blue Sundays Sundays haven’t been the same since The Wonderful World of Disney ended. To avoid Sunday Blues, I will reflect on what I’ve accomplished over the weekend and have ideas for fun family activities.
Negativity I’ve noticed recently that when I’m feeling down, reminding myself what I got done helps pick me up. Cultivating this habit will help me be more positive overall.
Time Sucks Television, computer games. I’ll keep my computer off during the times I’m most vulnerable. I’m not doing it because I think I’ll get more done but because falling prey to time sucks spurs feelings of depression.
Stuff Two ways to eliminate: Not buying stuff and getting rid of stuff. I think less stuff will help me be more on top of things.
Kids No, I’m not going to eliminate kids. I am putting a moratorium on thoughts of procreating. It’s oddly comforting—one less thing to worry about.
Gossip This goes with “time sucks” and “negativity.” When I stop visiting gossip sites or talking smack, I gain more time and feel more positive about the world.
Less Sleep I think my REM goes in 3 hour cycles. It seems easier to wake up after 6 or 9 hours. I’m going to get in bed earlier. Hoping to reap the benefits of all of those extra hours.
More Projects I’m going to make a list of projects I want to tackle at the beginning of the year. If something isn’t on the list, I’m not doing it. Maybe I’ll finally finish something.
Plans I’m going to make fewer plans and go with the flow more. Making big elaborate plans is a time suck and when they don’t work out, I get frustrated.
Paper Recycle it, throw it out or file it. Having thing put away makes me feel calmer.
Strife, Marital I’m still trying to figure out how to be married. I need to be more specific when I communicate. This will help avoid small misunderstandings.
December 10 Wisdom by Susannah Conway. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?
Better examining my spending habits. While I don’t but much stuff—clothing, accessories, home décor, I do overspend on unnecessary consumables: lattes, magazines, drive-thrus. I haven’t been doing this for long, but I plan to boost our savings—always a wise decision.
December 9 Party by Shauna Reid. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.
Awkward & Awesome’s Elvis Party rocked my socks. It was a random mix of people from Liz’s different circles. Best part? Elvis-themed food (and whiskey.) Husband and I wore our most Elvis-themed t-shirts. Me=Ryman, Him=G.I. Joe. The downpour outside didn’t dampen the mood.
December 8 Beautifully Different by Karen Walrond. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.
Beautifully same: I’ve always had a “there, but for the grace of God, go I” attitude. I think recognition of our sameness and capacity for empathy is what makes us all beautiful. Recognizing a similar light in another makes us all light up. Like Sly says, I am everyday people.
December 7 Community by Cali Harris Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?
I discovered community through the organization I work for. At its core is community heritage. It helps to build a larger regional community of heritage-minded people. I would like to engage more with area heritage organizations. I want to contribute my knowledge and talents.
December 6 Make by Gretchen Rubin. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?
Look what I made this weekend! A festive Christmas wreath decorates our stoop. Ingredients: neglected blank wreath, old red satin balls, abandoned holly candle wreath, lonely string of red beads. Combine with some found red thread and borrowed glue gun. Celebrate the holidays.
December 5 Let Go by Alice Bradley. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?
I've let go of decorating. Husband's decision process is too OCD for me. I just stare into the middle distance until it is time to agree--within reason. My patience is exhausted by the second trip to the home improvement store. I still haven't let go of having curtains, though.
December 4 Wonder by Jeffrey Davis. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?
I have a long commute but, thankfully, it isn't in gridlock traffic. I try to make it a point marvel during my commute. The changing seasons, landscape, farm-life, history, and the sky--oh! the sky! It serves as a canvass for God's hand in an ever-changing watercolor.
December 3 Moment by Ali Edwards. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).
My first half-marathon was an awesome, grueling experience. With one or two miles left, it started hail/sleeting. Totally epic. My knees ached with every step but I finished within my goal time. I felt dead from the exertion, which is also why I felt so alive.
I have a long commute but, thankfully, it isn't in gridlock traffic. I try to make it a point marvel during my commute. The changing seasons, landscape, farm-life, history, and the sky--oh! the sky! It serves as a canvass for God's hand in an ever-changing watercolor.
December 3 Moment by Ali Edwards. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).
My first half-marathon was an awesome, grueling experience. With one or two miles left, it started hail/sleeting. Totally epic. My knees ached with every step but I finished within my goal time. I felt dead from the exertion, which is also why I felt so alive.
December 2 Writing by Leo Babauta. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?
December 1 One Word by Gwen Bell. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?
Zen Habits doesn’t contribute to my writing, no offense. Point? I write about my life. I don’t shape my life to fit my writing. Less smart-ass answer? Wasting time on my computer. It doesn’t contribute to my life, and therefore, it doesn’t contribute to my writing.
2010: Planning. I spent a lot more time thinking and planning than I spent doing. You know what that gets you? The same place where you started.
2011: Doing. Plans are great, but next year I will get all Nike on my ass. Unexecuted plans are like masterpiece paintings kept in the closet.
