Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead?
(Author: Jenny Blake)
I guess I've fallen down on this "write every day" plan. Writing during Christmas prep and Christmas party fun has been difficult...well impossible. So today I thought long and hard about giving up versus catching up versus starting from today and going forward.
I settled on catching up...not quite sure how I will accomplish that but I'm going to give it a try. I think it's important to me that I follow through on this. I really like the writing...I pretty much hate the prompts. But I believe a good writer can write about any subject so here we go...
Dear Future Self,
I am so proud of the way you have tackled so many unfinished projects in quilting and knitting. I knew if you were able to complete a lot of projects, your creativity would just explode. What fun it was to be able to tackle a new idea without any guilt over the unfinished ones.
You've become quite a prolific writer too. Muscling your way through those #reverb10 prompts in December 2010 really started you on a good habit of writing every day. I hear you've finished that book you've been planning for more than ten years.
Please share with me what being less of a procrastinator has done for your work life. I'm sure you have enjoyed the reduced stress level of always being under the wire in finishing projects.
Wow, it looks like you've gotten your life together in these past five years and I'm very proud of you.
Here's hoping this was not just a Christmas dream...
Love ya!
Mindy
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
#reverb10 - December 20 Beyond Avoidance
Prompt: 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)
Today, I will try to get back to my original concept for this blog -- quilting and knitting. I think the topic of avoidance is an interesting one in regards to these topics. I never quilt or knit as much as I would like. I start a lot of projects but they sometimes languish for good periods of time in the UFO (unfinished objects) bin. I think it is easy to blame this on a lack of "free" time. "I'm sooooo busy; I just don't have time to work on (insert name of project)."
But if I'm totally honest with myself, I know that I can make time to do plenty of other things even while being soooo busy. So what is it then? I love to learn new skills and I'm willing to work through the learning curve to do so. BUT, I get to a point in many projects where I have tackled a project that is a bit too big or a bit too complicated and I think I psych myself out of doing it. I'm scared that it won't turn out well or the work won't be "good enough". Who are these quilt police who will tell me it's not good enough? I don't know....but there's always that chance.
Is this a form of avoidance? Yes, I'm pretty sure that it is. To be so worried about not being successful that you're afraid to try seems almost ridiculous, especially when we're talking about a knitting or quilting technique. If skydiving were my hobby instead, I'd never actually jump out of the plane if all I did was worry about failure. Thankfully, the consequences of failing at knitting or quilting are much less dire.
The reality is that I enjoy the process of creating more than I enjoy the finished project so instead of avoiding something, I should just jump right in and start ...or finish.
(Author: Jake Nickell)
Today, I will try to get back to my original concept for this blog -- quilting and knitting. I think the topic of avoidance is an interesting one in regards to these topics. I never quilt or knit as much as I would like. I start a lot of projects but they sometimes languish for good periods of time in the UFO (unfinished objects) bin. I think it is easy to blame this on a lack of "free" time. "I'm sooooo busy; I just don't have time to work on (insert name of project)."
But if I'm totally honest with myself, I know that I can make time to do plenty of other things even while being soooo busy. So what is it then? I love to learn new skills and I'm willing to work through the learning curve to do so. BUT, I get to a point in many projects where I have tackled a project that is a bit too big or a bit too complicated and I think I psych myself out of doing it. I'm scared that it won't turn out well or the work won't be "good enough". Who are these quilt police who will tell me it's not good enough? I don't know....but there's always that chance.
Is this a form of avoidance? Yes, I'm pretty sure that it is. To be so worried about not being successful that you're afraid to try seems almost ridiculous, especially when we're talking about a knitting or quilting technique. If skydiving were my hobby instead, I'd never actually jump out of the plane if all I did was worry about failure. Thankfully, the consequences of failing at knitting or quilting are much less dire.
The reality is that I enjoy the process of creating more than I enjoy the finished project so instead of avoiding something, I should just jump right in and start ...or finish.
Monday, December 20, 2010
#reverb10 - December 19 Healing
Prompt: What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?
(Author: Leonie Allan)
I made a commitment to writing every day during the month of December using the #reverb10 prompts. What was #reverb10 supposed to do? "reflect on this year & manifest what's next" Sounds like a pretty good exercise and, in fact, I enjoyed the first ten or so prompts. It gave me a chance to do exactly what was promised - a bit of reflecting on the year and a few goals to reach for in the new year. I was enjoying each session of writing and feeling pretty good until...I realized that what I was being "forced" to do, if I wanted to play along, was to throw some pretty heavy stuff out there for the whole world (or at least the three readers I may have) to see.
Admitting to yourself what you'd like to change is one thing but to continually have to think about ways you are messed up and how you can fix yourself is, frankly, pretty depressing. Especially in a month where I'm supposed to be feeling all warm and fuzzy and Christmas-y. I have remained pretty excited about the season in spite of each night's self-reflection I found myself sighing about the icky stuff I was forced to bring forth in order to answer the prompts. But I persevered...it was an exercise in writing with a topic already chosen. Slowly however, I was beginning to dread the point of the night where I had to sit down and spill out some other deep dark secret about myself. So I delayed on a few of the prompts until the next day or the next evening. In fact, right now I'm only one night behind. But...to quote the great B.B. King, the thrill is gone.
I was still enjoying the writing part, just not the subject. I was thinking maybe I am a failure at blogging. How hard could it be to follow the simple prompt and write a bit of drivel? So for the first time, I started to seek out my fellow reverbers and I found out something. I wasn't alone! Others were uninspired, disenchanted and feeling a little uncomfortable about laying it all out there. Too much navel-gazing as Shauna so aptly pointed out (the link will take you to her post on this topic). So the blogger that gave me the inspiration to do this has also given me the permission to NOT do it. Not that I need Shauna's permission (I've never met her and she surely doesn't know me) or anyone else's permission. It just felt great to read the comments on her blog post that very closely matched my feelings.
I'm going to attempt to loosely follow the prompts each day for the rest of the month because this commitment was more about writing every day than to actually follow #reverb10's plan. I appreciate the opportunity it's given me so far for refection and manifestation but I think it's been said more than once!
So for today's prompt on healing, I think my healing for 2010 happened today, all of a sudden when I gave myself permission to stop navel gazing and get on with the excitement of the holiday season. As for 2011, I hope that if I undertake something like this again and it's not working, that I will recognize it sooner this time and give myself permission to make it work in my own way.
(Author: Leonie Allan)
I made a commitment to writing every day during the month of December using the #reverb10 prompts. What was #reverb10 supposed to do? "reflect on this year & manifest what's next" Sounds like a pretty good exercise and, in fact, I enjoyed the first ten or so prompts. It gave me a chance to do exactly what was promised - a bit of reflecting on the year and a few goals to reach for in the new year. I was enjoying each session of writing and feeling pretty good until...I realized that what I was being "forced" to do, if I wanted to play along, was to throw some pretty heavy stuff out there for the whole world (or at least the three readers I may have) to see.
Admitting to yourself what you'd like to change is one thing but to continually have to think about ways you are messed up and how you can fix yourself is, frankly, pretty depressing. Especially in a month where I'm supposed to be feeling all warm and fuzzy and Christmas-y. I have remained pretty excited about the season in spite of each night's self-reflection I found myself sighing about the icky stuff I was forced to bring forth in order to answer the prompts. But I persevered...it was an exercise in writing with a topic already chosen. Slowly however, I was beginning to dread the point of the night where I had to sit down and spill out some other deep dark secret about myself. So I delayed on a few of the prompts until the next day or the next evening. In fact, right now I'm only one night behind. But...to quote the great B.B. King, the thrill is gone.
I was still enjoying the writing part, just not the subject. I was thinking maybe I am a failure at blogging. How hard could it be to follow the simple prompt and write a bit of drivel? So for the first time, I started to seek out my fellow reverbers and I found out something. I wasn't alone! Others were uninspired, disenchanted and feeling a little uncomfortable about laying it all out there. Too much navel-gazing as Shauna so aptly pointed out (the link will take you to her post on this topic). So the blogger that gave me the inspiration to do this has also given me the permission to NOT do it. Not that I need Shauna's permission (I've never met her and she surely doesn't know me) or anyone else's permission. It just felt great to read the comments on her blog post that very closely matched my feelings.
I'm going to attempt to loosely follow the prompts each day for the rest of the month because this commitment was more about writing every day than to actually follow #reverb10's plan. I appreciate the opportunity it's given me so far for refection and manifestation but I think it's been said more than once!
So for today's prompt on healing, I think my healing for 2010 happened today, all of a sudden when I gave myself permission to stop navel gazing and get on with the excitement of the holiday season. As for 2011, I hope that if I undertake something like this again and it's not working, that I will recognize it sooner this time and give myself permission to make it work in my own way.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
#reverb10 - December 18 Try
Prompt: 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?
(Author: Kaileen Elise)
This is going to sound like one more bad New Year's resolution. You know the kind I mean. Good intentions that make it to about January 3rd. Work harder, exercise more, eat less, get fit, enjoy life, etc. I think we set ourselves up for failure when we decide solely based on the date on the calendar, we can suddenly wake up and be "perfect".
It goes back to that "all or nothing" attitude we like to take. If we can't do it perfectly, then why bother at all? I have worked on this concept recently, and, in fact, wrote a bit about it in yesterday's prompt. And surprisingly (well to me at least), letting go of that way of thinking has been good.
I have struggled with bad eating habits my whole life. Trying to make a permanent change for the good is tough and filled with pitfalls. A few months ago, I decided, after a lot of research and reading, to try a new way of eating. Not a diet or even a way to lose weight but a way to approach eating in a more healthful way that would improve my energy and reduce my addiction to sugar. I took a radical step and included trying to cut down on not just sugar and white flour, but to eliminate artificial sweetener as well. The theory behind that is that you'll never truly lose your craving for sweet things, if you eat artificially sweetened foods. I didn't expect a miracle but I wanted to see if I could do it and if it would change my energy level.
It was hard but it worked. The first couple of days were okay because it was new and exciting but the next few days were really hard as I was craving, of all things, Diet Pepsi. I persevered, however, and in a little over a week, I wasn't craving sugar at all. I was feeling better and had more energy. Great! Until a small stumble or two or three....
I never expected to be perfect and I didn't say I would never have sugar or white flour again. The trick is to pick yourself up after the stumble and get right back to work. What I find most surprising about the experience is that I HAVE picked myself up each slip AND after each planned deviation. Currently I'm off "plan" more than I'm on but I haven't totally failed or given up. I know that I feel better when I'm following it and I recognize the effects as soon as I change my eating habits.
As I think about moving forward into 2011, I feel pretty good about continuing this way of eating and I will try to do it better and more consistently because I know how it makes me feel and I like that most of all.
(Author: Kaileen Elise)
This is going to sound like one more bad New Year's resolution. You know the kind I mean. Good intentions that make it to about January 3rd. Work harder, exercise more, eat less, get fit, enjoy life, etc. I think we set ourselves up for failure when we decide solely based on the date on the calendar, we can suddenly wake up and be "perfect".
It goes back to that "all or nothing" attitude we like to take. If we can't do it perfectly, then why bother at all? I have worked on this concept recently, and, in fact, wrote a bit about it in yesterday's prompt. And surprisingly (well to me at least), letting go of that way of thinking has been good.
I have struggled with bad eating habits my whole life. Trying to make a permanent change for the good is tough and filled with pitfalls. A few months ago, I decided, after a lot of research and reading, to try a new way of eating. Not a diet or even a way to lose weight but a way to approach eating in a more healthful way that would improve my energy and reduce my addiction to sugar. I took a radical step and included trying to cut down on not just sugar and white flour, but to eliminate artificial sweetener as well. The theory behind that is that you'll never truly lose your craving for sweet things, if you eat artificially sweetened foods. I didn't expect a miracle but I wanted to see if I could do it and if it would change my energy level.
It was hard but it worked. The first couple of days were okay because it was new and exciting but the next few days were really hard as I was craving, of all things, Diet Pepsi. I persevered, however, and in a little over a week, I wasn't craving sugar at all. I was feeling better and had more energy. Great! Until a small stumble or two or three....
I never expected to be perfect and I didn't say I would never have sugar or white flour again. The trick is to pick yourself up after the stumble and get right back to work. What I find most surprising about the experience is that I HAVE picked myself up each slip AND after each planned deviation. Currently I'm off "plan" more than I'm on but I haven't totally failed or given up. I know that I feel better when I'm following it and I recognize the effects as soon as I change my eating habits.
As I think about moving forward into 2011, I feel pretty good about continuing this way of eating and I will try to do it better and more consistently because I know how it makes me feel and I like that most of all.
#reverb10 - December 17 Lesson Learned
Prompt: What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?
(Author: Tara Weaver)
It feels lately like I'm learning a lesson almost everyday. It may be similar to the old adage that the older kids get, the smarter their parents are. I feel like I've gained a lot of insight into myself and my relationships this year. Maybe it was because I turned 50; maybe it was the year of change that we had; maybe it was a conscious decision to be more aware. Whatever the reason, I think a few things clicked in my brain that previously didn't quite make the connection.
As I reflect what some (or even one) of those lesson were, there is one that comes to the forefront. I've had always had a good sense of instinct and maybe this year, I'm learning to trust it more and more. It feels like this comes with maturity; enabling you to be more comfortable with what you know is true and less worried about whether anyone else agrees.
This has happened in my personal life and my professional life. That niggling little feeling as you're about to make a decision that tells you to stop, wait a moment, rethink the plan and adjust. I'd be lying if I said I always listen to that little voice but in the times I did, it was usually right on target. As I sit here giving this more thought, I realize that this simple concept of "trust your instinct" gets all mixed up in a few other lessons learned.
A big one is accepting that things do not have to be "now or never". If this little voice is saying this is not a good idea right now, it doesn't mean it will always not be a good idea. For example, I've had a strong desire to pursue my PhD for many years. Last year, an opportunity arose to do that on a part-time basis while still working full-time. I eagerly prepared at the end of 2009. I crammed for my GRE dredging those old high school and college match concepts from the back of my brain. It was tough but I did okay. I lined up references and began to fill out the application. Suddenly, I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't the right time. I really struggled with it. I beat myself up on a regular basis as I procrastinated completing the application to the point where I literally ran out of time. It was a pretty tough period and I was angry at myself while at the same time relieved. I kept reminding myself that I could apply next year or the year after that.
The reality hit in March when suddenly our financial situation changed as my husband was laid off. I was immediately relieved that I hadn't applied. Had I been accepted, I would have had a tough time not moving forward. Although I could have made it work financially, I knew that it was not the best time. I was very glad that I listened to my instincts this time.
A year later, I still haven't applied but I'm still planning to do so. I just need to wait until the right time...when the little voice inside my head lets me know I should go for it. I sure hope I'm listening.
(Author: Tara Weaver)
It feels lately like I'm learning a lesson almost everyday. It may be similar to the old adage that the older kids get, the smarter their parents are. I feel like I've gained a lot of insight into myself and my relationships this year. Maybe it was because I turned 50; maybe it was the year of change that we had; maybe it was a conscious decision to be more aware. Whatever the reason, I think a few things clicked in my brain that previously didn't quite make the connection.
As I reflect what some (or even one) of those lesson were, there is one that comes to the forefront. I've had always had a good sense of instinct and maybe this year, I'm learning to trust it more and more. It feels like this comes with maturity; enabling you to be more comfortable with what you know is true and less worried about whether anyone else agrees.
This has happened in my personal life and my professional life. That niggling little feeling as you're about to make a decision that tells you to stop, wait a moment, rethink the plan and adjust. I'd be lying if I said I always listen to that little voice but in the times I did, it was usually right on target. As I sit here giving this more thought, I realize that this simple concept of "trust your instinct" gets all mixed up in a few other lessons learned.
A big one is accepting that things do not have to be "now or never". If this little voice is saying this is not a good idea right now, it doesn't mean it will always not be a good idea. For example, I've had a strong desire to pursue my PhD for many years. Last year, an opportunity arose to do that on a part-time basis while still working full-time. I eagerly prepared at the end of 2009. I crammed for my GRE dredging those old high school and college match concepts from the back of my brain. It was tough but I did okay. I lined up references and began to fill out the application. Suddenly, I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't the right time. I really struggled with it. I beat myself up on a regular basis as I procrastinated completing the application to the point where I literally ran out of time. It was a pretty tough period and I was angry at myself while at the same time relieved. I kept reminding myself that I could apply next year or the year after that.
The reality hit in March when suddenly our financial situation changed as my husband was laid off. I was immediately relieved that I hadn't applied. Had I been accepted, I would have had a tough time not moving forward. Although I could have made it work financially, I knew that it was not the best time. I was very glad that I listened to my instincts this time.
A year later, I still haven't applied but I'm still planning to do so. I just need to wait until the right time...when the little voice inside my head lets me know I should go for it. I sure hope I'm listening.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
#reverb10 - December 16 Friendship
Prompt: How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?
(Author: Martha Mihalick)
Beginning in college and through my 20's, I didn't really have that many girlfriends. Most of my really good friends were male. I'm not really sure why. My best friend in high school was Pam and we understood each other. Neither of us were close with a lot of female friends and I think that was one of the things that helped us become so close. Through the years, Pam and I stayed close even if there was significant amount of time between visits. But most of my day-to day friends were still men. After I got married, my husband was my best friend. After my divorce, the friends that helped me through were also male. I like men! What can I say? I married another one and this one is a keeper, but there is one key difference this time.
Over the last few years, I developed relationships for the first time with a number of female friends. Oddly enough, it was through the Internet. The stigma attached to virtual friends has pretty much gone away but I would sometimes feel a bit embarrassed to say that the people I interacted with most were online. Introducing the idea of online friends to my husband (boyfriend at the time) was interesting and he had to get accustomed to the idea that my confidants were via email and we shared a lot! That eventually changed and I met most of my online friends in person. Now we are friends in real life who stay in touch through the Internet. (OK, it's a bit of a subtle nuance but work with me.)
Where is all this leading and does it have anything to do with the prompt? Well yes, it does. I think that I appreciate the female friends I have more every day. Maybe it's my age or the place I am in life but I have come to appreciate the ability to reach out to any one of them any time of the day or night and know that when they check their inbox, I'll hear back from them. I have learned a lot from these ladies, from the serious to the silly. My changing perspective on these relationships has been gradual but every now and then, there's a burst of insight not previously considered. This year especially, as many of us have had some serious matters to handle and some major changes in our lives, their constant love and support has changed my perspective on a number of things. Most of all, my perspective on friendship in general and female friendship in particular.
(Author: Martha Mihalick)
Beginning in college and through my 20's, I didn't really have that many girlfriends. Most of my really good friends were male. I'm not really sure why. My best friend in high school was Pam and we understood each other. Neither of us were close with a lot of female friends and I think that was one of the things that helped us become so close. Through the years, Pam and I stayed close even if there was significant amount of time between visits. But most of my day-to day friends were still men. After I got married, my husband was my best friend. After my divorce, the friends that helped me through were also male. I like men! What can I say? I married another one and this one is a keeper, but there is one key difference this time.
Over the last few years, I developed relationships for the first time with a number of female friends. Oddly enough, it was through the Internet. The stigma attached to virtual friends has pretty much gone away but I would sometimes feel a bit embarrassed to say that the people I interacted with most were online. Introducing the idea of online friends to my husband (boyfriend at the time) was interesting and he had to get accustomed to the idea that my confidants were via email and we shared a lot! That eventually changed and I met most of my online friends in person. Now we are friends in real life who stay in touch through the Internet. (OK, it's a bit of a subtle nuance but work with me.)
Where is all this leading and does it have anything to do with the prompt? Well yes, it does. I think that I appreciate the female friends I have more every day. Maybe it's my age or the place I am in life but I have come to appreciate the ability to reach out to any one of them any time of the day or night and know that when they check their inbox, I'll hear back from them. I have learned a lot from these ladies, from the serious to the silly. My changing perspective on these relationships has been gradual but every now and then, there's a burst of insight not previously considered. This year especially, as many of us have had some serious matters to handle and some major changes in our lives, their constant love and support has changed my perspective on a number of things. Most of all, my perspective on friendship in general and female friendship in particular.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
#reverb10 - December 15 5 Minutes
Prompt: 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.
(Author: Patti Digh)
An amazing trip in April to the Mohonk Mountain House. Beautiful place, old style charm, wonderful setting, totally pampered.
The day my daughter chose Temple University over three other schools and I knew it was the right decision for her. And it was!
A most amazing graduation party to celebrate my daughter's high school graduation. It wasn't the occasion, it was the amazing mix of people -- friends, family, in-laws, ex-laws, etc. all together
A great trip to the beach with my husband and my daughter. Great food! A lot of laughs! Getting stuck in the rain.
The day we dropped my daughter off at college. Sad, but exciting.
When I finally got my mother to agree to see a doctor after many years of not going. I didn't realize how heavily it weighed on me until I felt the relief of her going.
The night that my class of historic preservation students "got it" and began jumping in with ideas for case study solutions that were right on target. What teaching is all about.
Preparing the house for Christmas in anticipation of my daughter coming home from college. Remembering how I felt that first year that I came home and the house was all decorated and smelled good and I was so happy to be home.
(Author: Patti Digh)
An amazing trip in April to the Mohonk Mountain House. Beautiful place, old style charm, wonderful setting, totally pampered.
The day my daughter chose Temple University over three other schools and I knew it was the right decision for her. And it was!
A most amazing graduation party to celebrate my daughter's high school graduation. It wasn't the occasion, it was the amazing mix of people -- friends, family, in-laws, ex-laws, etc. all together
A great trip to the beach with my husband and my daughter. Great food! A lot of laughs! Getting stuck in the rain.
The day we dropped my daughter off at college. Sad, but exciting.
When I finally got my mother to agree to see a doctor after many years of not going. I didn't realize how heavily it weighed on me until I felt the relief of her going.
The night that my class of historic preservation students "got it" and began jumping in with ideas for case study solutions that were right on target. What teaching is all about.
Preparing the house for Christmas in anticipation of my daughter coming home from college. Remembering how I felt that first year that I came home and the house was all decorated and smelled good and I was so happy to be home.
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