2011 Year of Spaciousness and Creativity

The new year is officially upon us and sadly it means I need to get around to taking down my beloved Christmas tree. However, on a happier note, the chaos of 2010 is in the past. As you know, I spent much of December reflecting on 2010. This, in addition to some art making really helped me to pull together my dreams for 2011. If I were to select two words to describe my hopes for 2011, they would be spaciousness and creativity. If you haven't had the opportunity yet, why not take a moment to draw, paint, collage, or write about your dreams for 2011..?  Posted below is a photo of my 2011 vision board.

As you've heard me state repeatedly, 2010 was a year full of change. While change is good, this year has ripped through my life like a whirlwind and has left me feeling very scattered. I have a lot of projects on the go; some need to be weeded and others grounded. Collage seemed like a perfect metaphor to describe where I am presently. Collage images are scattered pieces of paper. These might represent my many ideas and projects. The canvas they have been mounted onto signifies them coming together to a cohesive whole. It should be noted that I had many other images, which had to be discarded because there just wasn't room...more symbolism! My hopes are that 2011 is a continuation of this journey I have been on since moving to Washington D.C., yet that I begin to reap the benefits of my labor. Notice how this all has been tied together with a big beautiful bow...?

A few goals for my year include: a sense of spaciousness in life, morning routine, healthier eating and consistent exercise, dream wedding, graduating from the gwu art therapy program, earning an income, learning to sew, building my etsy shop, marketing my yoga and art making ideas, and regular journaling. What's on your horizon for 2011..?

Better Late than Never....Final Reverb10 Prompts

Happy New Year! Been laid up the past few days with a bit of a cold. Wanted to finish up my reflections on 2010 before moving into dreams for 2011. Now, I am officially ready to begin 2011! What are some of your reflections on the past year..?


December 20 – Beyond Avoidance. What should you have done this year but didn’t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?) (Author: Jake Nickell)


Invested more time into my Etsy shop. I tend generally do the research, do the work, but have trouble bringing things into fruition. In 2011, I intend to plunge into my endeavors and move through fear and hesitation


December 21 – Future Self. 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?) (Author: Jenny Blake)


To continue to take risks (and take even bigger risks), enjoy life, and laugh at myself. But also remember to make time for myself - something I have to work on everyday. Bottom Line: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff....it's all small stuff


December 22 – Travel How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? (Author: Tara Hunt) {Future Tool: New Year’s Goal Questions for No-Goals Creatives from Jeffrey Davis. For the next 10 days as you round out your year, we’ll share one tool each day to help you [...]


2011 has been a lot of small trips within North America. In my endeavor to feel more settled by the end of 2011, I am hoping to take less smaller trips in 2011 and to have one big trip...the honeymoon!


December 23 – New Name 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? (Author: Becca Wilcott) {Future tool: Chris Guillebeau’s How to Conduct Your Own Annual Review. \


Given my love for yoga, I think I'd like to try something yogic like shakti or prana


December 24 Prompt – Everything’s OK 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? (Author: Kate Inglis) {Future tool: Gwen Bell – How to Create Your Personal Manifesto. 


Hands down when John proposed. It solidified our commitment to each other. I will try to keep this in mind each time I get stressed out about upcoming wedding plans

December 25 – Photo – a present to yourself. 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. (Author: Tracey Clark)

This photo was taken by Tom Williams, a friend of my beau's at his 21st birthday party. The party was a lot of work and stressful to coordinate, yet when the night arrived, it was a blast! To me it represents having fun and being relaxed at the same time. These are things I aspire to each day, although I don't always get there - particularly the relaxed part.


December 26 – Soul Food What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? (Author: Elise Marie Collins) {Future tool: Sark’s MicroMOVEment Support Sheets.


Lobster Mac and Cheese from Founding Farmers. This has been something I had been dying to off their menu FOREVER! From whatever reason though, I never got around to ordering it before this year.


December 27 – Ordinary Joy Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? (Author: Brené Brown) {Future tool: Tara Mohr’s The Next Steps After Vision


During the snow storm last February, a few of us headed up to join the Dupont circle snowball fight. While that was so so much fun, it was slightly extraordinary given that it rarely snows in D.C. It was near twilight on our walk home and as we walked, one of us (I forget who) sporadically jumped into a snow bank in the middle of the street and began making snow angels. Everyone else followed. It was so carefree and impromptu, as we all just let go and allowed the moment to happen.

December 28 - 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. 

(Author: Tara Sophia Mohr) 

{Future tool: Gretchen Rubin’s Start Your Own Happiness Project (and be sure to visit the Happiness Project Toolbox!)

Graduate from Art Therapy + Wedding = Settled, happy, complete, and blissful

December 29 – Defining Moment Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year. (Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice) {Future tool: The 99%’s How to Budget for an Irregular Income.

My more consistent yoga practice over the last year, has left me more consciously aware of the importance of being present. This is something that I still struggle with, yet am getting better at. 

December 30 – Gift Prompt: Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year? (Author: Holly Root)   {Future tools: Lifehacker’s Free Tools to Manage New Years Resolutions and Gretchen Rubin’s Questions to Help You Make Effective New Year’s Resolutions.

Giving myself the summer off from school and teaching yoga to relax and explore new things - like starting this blog. I wish I could take two months off every year...

December 31 – Core Story 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 am always afraid that there is never enough time to get everything done. This is what probably leaves me feelings so scattered and all over the place. I don't necessary think that I present being scattered to the world, however it's a major theme that I noticed throughout this reflection.