I came across this really great site that offers daily prompts throughout the month of December that encourages you reflect on this past year, in order to manifest your desires for next year. I am a little behind, but alas it gives me the opportunity to be more consistent with my blogging and allow for a little daily reflection. You don't need a blog to participate, you can do it in a journal, as a facebook note, or as a tweet. Care to join me on the journey?
December 1 – One Word. 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? (Author: Gwen Bell)
One Word: Extremes
This has been a year of extreme, intense ups and downs. Being in a demanding graduate program often makes me weary, frustrated, and so stressed out that I want to pull out my hair, yet I love what I do. This year, I also got engaged, lost my grandfather, started an art therapy program for patients with cancer and moved into a new house with just my beau. 2010 has definitely been a big year of change. A year from now, I hope to be a little more settled. With planning a wedding and finishing grad school in 2011, the year will likely be busy, however by this time next year these milestones will be behind me.
December 2 – Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)
This is an easy one - school! While I do A LOT of writing for my program, I don't always enjoy what I have to write about. This is part of why I began my blog, to write about topics that interest me, as well as for creative expression. While I can't eliminate school, at least not for a few more months, I am hoping this challenge will encourage daily...or at least weekly blogging.
December 3 – Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)
Oh so many moments! The first that came to mind though was getting engaged. I had an inkling it might happen that day. On a warm fall day, the beau and I hiked through Great Falls under a canopy of colored leaves. The sun was out and streamed through the tree tops. We hiked for so long, and nothing happened that I began to doubt my intuition. After climbing up a rock that overlooked the water, John handed me his lens cap and camera body cap, and asked me to help him put away his camera gear. I twisted apart the caps and inside was the ring. Except for the sounds of hikers passing, there was silence until I smiled and said YES!
December 4 – Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)
Hmmm...this one is a little tougher. By the end of 2009, my yoga practice was really lagging. This apparently is quite common for teachers, once you become a yoga teacher you tend to forget to practice yourself. One of the things I wanted to cultivate this year was a more consistent yoga practice. At the very beginning of the year, I began going to classes on Fridays mornings and expanded from there. It feels amazing to end my week by connecting with myself. There's always some to be learned and some way to go a little deeper on the mat.
December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?
My grandfather. While his passing was sudden and unexpected letting go wasn't too difficult because I knew at the time (and now) that whatever quality of life he could have had after his accident, he wouldn't have wanted. I saw this posting on a few people's facebook statuses yesterday and it made me think of him.
"I don't need an Angel on my Christmas tree - I already have one in Heaven looking down on me"
December 6 – Make. 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? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)
The last thing I made were the Christmas cards for sale in my Etsy Shop. I used rubber stamps, embossing powder, and white and metallic card stock. Similar to writing, I make A LOT of artwork for school, however I don't always enjoy the finished piece because I feel like I am trying too hard to give it meaning. Throughout 2011, I would like to expand my Etsy Shop and also be more consistent with my visual journaling. Perhaps I will need to block out weekly artist dates.
December 7 – Community Prompt: Community. 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? (Author: Cali Harris)
I have discovered community with the wonderful ladies in my art therapy program. Two days every week, we all schlep into school for incredibly long days of class. Our class is a very united group who commiserates about the amount of work we have, but also shares in each other's successes and accomplishments. It has been a pleasure and an honor getting know each and everyone of you ladies better through 2010. Thank you for all that you have given me.
In 2011, I have a secret desire to become more comfortable with online communities i.e. blogging and Etsy. I have been really resistant to partaking in them because for me they don't feel incredibly intimate or personal. As more and more online communities emerge, I think being part of them is important for the future.
I apologize for the change in text...I am not sure what happened or how to make it all the same.December 7 – Community Prompt: Community. 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? (Author: Cali Harris)
I have discovered community with the wonderful ladies in my art therapy program. Two days every week, we all schlep into school for incredibly long days of class. Our class is a very united group who commiserates about the amount of work we have, but also shares in each other's successes and accomplishments. It has been a pleasure and an honor getting know each and everyone of you ladies better through 2010. Thank you for all that you have given me.
In 2011, I have a secret desire to become more comfortable with online communities i.e. blogging and Etsy. I have been really resistant to partaking in them because for me they don't feel incredibly intimate or personal. As more and more online communities emerge, I think being part of them is important for the future.
