Gift and Core Story: Reverb 10 Finale

Below are my answers to the last two prompts from Reverb 10, an annual event and online initiative to reflect on the past year, and the year ahead.  Thanks for reading along during my reflections.  I don't know about you, but I'm ready to move forward into 2011. You can see the rest of my Reverb 10 posts here.

Page from my visual journal

December 30 - Gift
This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year? (Prompt by Holly Root).

I have received many wonderful gifts this year, but the one that I will probably use for the rest of my life was learning how to visual journal during a workshop this spring with Lisa Sonora Beam. 

I *love* it and have found visual journaling to be, dare I say it, an even more effective reflective tool than written journaling.

another page . . .

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.) (Prompt by Molly O’Neill).

Gosh, that's a big question that I don't even know how to answer. . . . I think the main theme I see when I look back over my Reverb 10 answers, and over my experiences of the past year, is that the daily practice I did for the 40 days leading up to my birthday in 2009, (move, play, reflect, connect) really is the key to my happiness.

What is the key to your happiness in 2011?

last one . . .

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New Name, Everything's OK, Photo, Soul Food, Ordinary Joy, Achieve, Defining Moment: More Reverb 10

The year is winding down, and so is Reverb 10, an annual event and online initiative to reflect on the past year and the year ahead.

Below are my quick answers to the prompts for December 23-29.  Feel free to share your answers in the comments.  You can see my past Reverb 10 posts here.

My beautiful friend, Elizabeth

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? (Prompt by Becca Wilcott).

Probably Elizabeth, which is actually my middle name.  Although it's fun to have an unusual name like Britt, I always wanted to have a name that could be turned into a nickname. Elizabeth has so many possible nicknames (95 according to Wikipedia).  I'd love to be able to go by Babette, Liz, or Zabs once in awhile (:

December 24 – Everything’s OK 
What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be all right? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead? (Prompt by Kate Inglis).

As I mentioned in a Reverb 10 post earlier this month, in November, I started meditating in the mornings using the method described in Sharon Salzberg's book, Lovingkindness.  Some mornings feel better than others, but overall I would say I have at least one moment, if not longer, each morning when, "everything's ok."  I plan to finish the book, and continuing my meditation practice in 2011.

December 25 - Photo 
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. (Prompt by Tracey Clark).

I don't have many photos of myself from this year so I'll have to choose this one of me with our cat, Dora, lounging on the couch and doing nothing, just hanging out and being.  Definitely need to do more relaxing and appreciating of the simple pleasures of life in 2011.

December 26- Soul Food
What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth and touched your soul? (Prompt by Elise Marie Collins).

This is my kind of question 'cause I *love* eating! My favorite meal this year was our second annual Christmas Eve dinner at Gather restaurant in Berkeley.  The co-owners, Ari Derfel and Eric Fenster, catered our wedding (before the restaurant existed), with their company, Back to Earth Organic Catering.  Years later, people still tell us how much they liked the food.

Here's my Gather Christmas Eve dinner of bliss:

• Kale salad with roasted fall roots, fried capers, pine nuts, and Fiscalini cheese.
• Some of my husband's seared squid with anchovy, Romanesco broccoli, grilled baby escarole, chilis, capers, and mint.  (I'm not a big squid fan, but the broccoli and escarole were out of this world).
• "Chicken fried” Red Kabocha squash with braised baby collards, root vegetable mash, and Hen of the Woods gravy. (Soooo good!  Who would think to fry Kabocha squash like a piece of chicken).
• Glass of Pinot Noir from Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
• For dessert, we both got decaf Thanksgiving Coffees and split a Pinot Noir chocolate mousse with “Nutter Butters” and nutmeg meringue for dessert.

I'm counting the days till Christmas Eve 2011!

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? (Prompt: Brené Brown).

The hubs traveled a lot in 2010, so I appreciated the nights when we were able to have our favorite evening routine: laughing at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart while eating dinner.

Photo of trees from a walk

December 28 - Achieve
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. (Prompt by Tara Sophia Mohr).

In 2011, I'd actually like to spend less time trying to achieve something, and more time relaxing, being and appreciating what I already have.  10 things I can do to experience those feelings are:

1. Walk in nature
2. Journal
3. Meditate
4. Stretch/do yoga
5. Play 
6. Cut my to-do list in half
7. Spend time with friends and family
8. Hang out with our cat
9. Create
10. Celebrate

December 29 - Defining Moment
Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year. (Prompt by Kathryn Fitzmaurice).

As I've mentioned in most of my Reverb 10 posts, this year I've been dealing with a bone spur and arthritis in my big toe.  Although it's no big deal in the scope of illnesses, it has been a big deal to me. It has affected how I exercise (or not), my weight, the shoes I wear, (and consequently, the clothes I wear), and in some ways, my sense of self.  It's the first physical "problem" I'll till the day I die.  As someone who has had very few physical problems in her life, it has made me feel very mortal, and think a lot about how to balance going beyond and accepting limits as I age.

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Lessons Learned, Try, Healing, Beyond Avoidance, Future Self and Travel: More Reverb 10

First off, I just wanted to say thanks for reading my Reverb 10 posts this month as I reflect on the past year, and the year ahead.  I know these posts are more about me than about providing you with have fun, do good ideas, interviews and inspiration (:

Even if you don't have a blog, I recommend taking a little time to write/walk/paint with some, or all of the questions. I've really enjoyed the process.

Below are my quick answers to the prompts for December 17-22.  Feel free to share your answers in the comments.  You can see my past Reverb 10 posts here.

December 17 - Lesson Learned
What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward? (Prompt by Tara Weaver).

I require a lot of Play in my life.  I'd like to make, "Play is my Pilot" my motto for 2011.

Arizona Sunset by Elena Gaillard

December 18 - Try
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? (Prompt by Kaileen Elise).

I'd like to re-try knitting.  Blogger Deb Roby taught me how to knit a few years ago, but then I put it down.  A knitting store near my house offers all kinds of classes, as well as free, drop-in knitting circles.  I think I might enjoy knitting with others more than I did knitting by myself.


December 19 - Healing
What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011? (Prompt by Leonie Allan).

Participating in Art Every Day Month, created by Leah Piken Kolidas, was very healing for me this year.  Making time every day to create something gave me many "aha" moments where I felt like I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.  In 2011, I want to heal my foot and knee so I can start dancing again.

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?) (Prompt by Jake Nickell).

I didn't write the Have Fun, Do Good Guide book proposal or e-book, like I told y'all I would back in January 2010.  I'm not sure if I'll do it in 2011 . . . I think I'll probably focus on this blog instead.


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?). (Prompt by Jenny Blake).

My advice from my 46-year-old self to my 41-year-old-self:  

• Someday is now
• Take more risks
• Having fun is doing good
  

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. May 1954 eruption of Kilauea Volcano 

December 22 - Travel
How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? (Prompt by Tara Hunt).

This year I traveled to NYC, LA, Phoenix, AZ, and Santa Fe, NM.  All fun trips, but all places I've been before.  In 2011, I'd like to travel to at least one place I've never been before, like one of the U.S. National Parks on my bucket list: Acadia, Congaree, Death Valley Denali, Hawaii Volcanoes, Kenai Fjord, Kings Canyon, Petrified Forest, Redwood, Saguaro, Sequoia, or the Virgin Islands.

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Friendship, 5-Minutes, Appreciation, Action, Integration, Things: More Reverb 10

I'm participating in Reverb 10 this month, an online project that provides daily prompts to help you reflect on the past year, and the year ahead.  Below are my quick answers to the prompts for December 11-16.  Feel free to share your answers in the comments.  You can see my past Reverb 10 posts here.

Dora helps me file

December 11 – 11 Things
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? (Prompt by Sam Davidson).

I'm sure I have 11 things I need to get rid of, but committing to eliminate so many things seems unrealistic, so I'm narrowing it down.  The main thing I would like to eliminate in 2011 is feeling like our home is stuffed with stuff.  Not only would it be easier to find things, the feeling of spaciousness would be awesome.  In particular, I would like to un-stuff:

1. My file cabinet
2. My closet
3. My dresser drawers
4. Our linen closet (I have a terrible penchant for towels and sheets)
5. Our cupboards (I also love dishes, mugs and glassware)

My ShimmyPop! teacher

December 12 – Integration
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? (Prompt by Patrick Reynolds).

As some of you know, I've been dealing with foot pain that has prevented me from dancing regularly.  I finally broke down and went to see a podiatrist a couple weeks ago.  Before the appointment, I decided to go to my favorite belly dance fitness class, ShimmyPop! at Hipline.  I wanted to go to one last dance class before the doctor told me I couldn't anymore; a last meal sort of thing.

My fabulous friend Heather Meyer (pictured above) taught it, and it was awesome.  I got a little teary part way through (and now as I write about it) from how joyous and happy I felt.  I asked Heather for the class playlist, so I could share it with you. I bet if you dance around to it you'll definitely have a moment, or two where you'll feel, "there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present."

• Kitty Kat / Beyonce
• Never Gonna Get It / En Vouge
• Boom Boom / Kumbia Kings
• I Wanna Dance With Somebody / Whitney Houston
• Loca / Shakira, featuring Dizzee Rascal
• The One / Mary J Blige, featuring Drake
• Jai Ho / The Pussy Cat Dolls
• Shake It, featuring Lady Saw / Michael Franti and Spearhead
• Crazy Kiya Re / Sunidhi Chauhan
• Boom Boom Mama Remix / Da Family
• Hot in Herre / Nelly
• Good Stuff / Shakira
• It's A Mans World / James Brown
• I Put a Spell on You / Nina Simone
• Perdido Sin Ti / Ricky Martin

Me "blogging"

December 13 – Action
When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Prompt by Scott Belsky).

As I mentioned in a post last week, I'd like to teach a  a class in 2011 about The Art of Blogging: Creating Juicy Content for Artists, Writers, Creative Entrepreneurs and Do-Gooders.  A big thanks to everyone who shared the format and number of sessions they would find the most helpful.  My next step is to choose a date to launch it.

Walking in Muir Woods

December 14 – Appreciate
What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Prompt by Victoria Klein).

A week, or so before my 41st birthday this summer, I wrote a post, Walking Into 41: A Birthday Reflection Practice about going for a 30-minute walk for the first 41 days after my birthday.  I asked for suggestions about how to make time to take the walks, and my Mom commented:

"One thing that might help you when you don't feel like walking, or you think that you don't have time, is to do it because you can! It is a gift to be able to take a brisk, vigorous walk. So many people have limitations and are not able to take a walk, so go for it!"

Ironically, a few days after my birthday is when my foot really started bothering me (see December 12 - Integration), and I had to abandon my Walking Into 41 practice.  Although my foot is better, and I know now what the problem is (bone spur and arthritis in my big toe), my barefoot dancing and running days are numbered.  On the other hand, with the right shoes, I will be able to walk and hike without pain for the rest of my life.  I'll never take being able to walk for granted again.

Lake Chabot

December 15 – 5 Minutes
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. (Prompt by Patti Digh).

• Having birthday dinner for my dad with my parents and the hubs.
• Trip to visit my grandma with the hubs.  
• Seeing my grandma's smile when we took her to an animal shelter to meet cats.
• Going to LA with the hubs for work and play.
• Going to NYC with the hubs to see friends, family, and to go to the BlogHer Conference.
• Visit with pal, Gabriela Masala, and her family as they passed through California.
• Going to Guerneville for a girlfriend's birthday.  Champagne tasting at Korbel! 
• Hiking with the hubs in Lake Chabot Regional Park
• Hiking with the hubs and pals in Purisima Creek Redwoods
• ShimmyPop! class with my Big Vision Circle gal pals for my birthday.
• Having brunch with Vassar girlfriends every other month.
• Discussing books in my virtual social change book club. 
• Cooking all kinds of new recipes, including my first pie crust and first pizza.
• Making my first Thanksgiving dinner.
• Growing my first vegetables!
• Meeting amazing people while doing interviews for the Big Vision Podcast.
• Witnessing my creative career coaching clients moving towards their Big Visions.
• The kind comments and emails I've received this year from Have Fun, Do Good readers.
• Going through the Off the Mat Yoga, Purpose and Action Intensive.
• Taking Lisa Sonora Beam's visual journaling workshop
• Making something every day for Art Every Day Month.
• Laughing at our cat several times a day.
• Reading Eating Animals, Farm City, Farmer Jane, Play, Lovingkindness, Women Food and God, Promise Me, and Radical Homemakers.
• Starting a meditation practice.

December 16 – Friendship
How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst? (Prompt by Martha Mihalick).

Trying on Las Palomas aprons

As I mentioned in my answer to "December 15 - 5 Minutes," for the past 10+ years, a group of my girlfriends from college gets together for brunch every other month.  Not only do I appreciate these gatherings because the woman who hosts them is an amazing cook, but also because as we get older and approach our 20-year reunion in 2011, I cherish our 20 + years of friendship and the integral roles we've played in each other's lives more and more.

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Community, Beauty, Party, Wisdom: More Reverb 10 Reflections

As I mentioned on Monday, I'm participating in Reverb 10 this month, an online project that provides daily prompts to help you reflect on the past year, and the year ahead.  Below are my quick answers to the rest of this week's questions.  Feel free to share your answers in the comments.

The first book we read

December 7: 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? (Prompt by Cali Harris).

This year I organized a virtual "social changey" book club with some of the BlogHer Contributing Editors, which has been wonderful.  I've read some tough books, like Half the Sky, that I might have not made it through if I hadn't know that they were reading them too, and because they're all smartypants, I always learn something, or gain a new perspective from our conversations.

A community I would like to join/create in 2011 is a co-working/office space with other creative women entrepreneurs.

On our Hawaii honeymoon

December 8: Beautifully Different
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. (Prompt by Karen Walrond).

What comes to mind is that when I'm happy, or excited about something, I get very animated and loud, wave my hands around, and will literally jump and dance around.

I can be very childlike. I love cupcakes (all desserts, really) and have a collection of cupcake holders, containers, trees and cookbooks.  I like funny stuffed monsters, anthropomorphized objects (like my Alessi egg cup) and anthropomorphized food (like the book, Food Play).  I love making things and to laugh with my hubs while watching funny TV shows like Psych, Modern Family, The Office, The Daily Show, and 30 Rock.  Basically, I require a lot of fun, play and silliness in my life.

December 9: Party
What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans. (Prompt by Shauna Reid).

WEA Directors, Melinda and Amira

Women's Earth Alliance puts on wonderful Weaving the World events that, although they are educational, and essentially fundraisers, feel like parties.  I went to two this year: one in March about their Women and Water program, and one in November about their Women and Land Program, where Winona LaDuke spoke (so cool).  There was music, good food (by our wedding caterer, Back to Earth), and interesting folks to chat with.  The ladies at WEA really know how to have fun and do good (:  If you missed it, I interviewed WEA's co-Directors Melinda Kramer and Amira Diamond in May.

December 10: Wisdom 
What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Prompt by Susannah Conway).

In November, after a long stretch of the blues (something I've always struggled with), I started meditating.  I've always hated meditation because all that counting and breathing makes me feel more anxious than relaxed.  Then, I picked up Sharon Salzburg's book, Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, and everything changed.   I just love that her way of meditating focuses on feelings of lovingkindness, rather than counting, or watching your thoughts float by (I'm sorry, but mine never floated.  They always get stuck in traffic).

I haven't finished the book yet, but the most profound learning I've taken from it is that you have to start by feeling lovingkindness for yourself before you can focus on feeling it for others.  For whatever reason, it has *really* brought home to me that you really can't effectively "do good," or give, or care for others unless you are loving towards yourself.  I've always thought "self-care" sounded selfish, but now I realize that it is essential.  You have to fill the well before you can offer others something to drink.

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What was the last thing you made? (Reverb 10)

Yesterday I joined Reverb 10, an online initiative that provides daily prompts to help you reflect on the past year, and the year ahead.  Today's question (submitted by Gretchen Rubin) is:

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? 

In November, I participated in Leah Piken Kolidas' Art Every Day Month which was *totally* fun!  Every day I made "art" which ranged from painted postcards, to 1-hour totes, to embroidery, to new recipes, to collages.  You can see what I made on Flickr, and below:

It was definitely one of the highlights of my year, and confirmed for me that making things makes me happy.

Something I'd like to make, but need to clear time for, is to learn how to make a patchwork scarf, quilt, or something with all of my fabric scraps.  If you can recommend any super simple tutorials, or books that can show me how to do that, I'd love to know about it (:

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