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.
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| My beautiful friend, Elizabeth |
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.
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.
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| Photo of trees from a walk |
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:
- Walk in nature
- Journal
- Meditate
- Stretch/do yoga
- Play
- Cut my to-do list in half
- Spend time with friends and family
- Hang out with our cat
- Create
- Celebrate
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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Zabs, It has been a stellar year of learning and loving, hasn't it? I so appreciate your reflections, your maturity, wisdom and handle on what it is to truly live, value and honor life! Your being, your loving and your joy give so much to the world. Thank you! 2011 Lounge in Divine Bliss! G
ReplyDeleteThanks, chica! ~ your pal, Zabs (:
ReplyDeleteI would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post.
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