reflect + manifest = reverb10

 

images from yesterday's sense of wonder a la browsing

during my drive out to the cabin late friday night i kept seeing all these #reverb10 tweets. what. is. that?, i wondered. thank god for google. found the amazing website and immediately signed up. beginning a bit behind the starting line, but happy to be here nonetheless. what a genius idea to have a daily prompt to ponder? won't you join moi 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)

for some reason "healing" comes to mind considering i spent half of the year recovering from surgeries. however, "healing" isn't quite sexy enough. i started the year with a focus on "spirituality" and "creativity." the focus has played out regularly in my life over 2010. yet the final word for me to encapsulate 2010 would be . . . "adventure." from mexico to india to releasing tranquilista to silent mediation retreats to surgeries to costa rica to book tours to internship at n street village creating to new e-courses to website relaunches to opening our arlington studio, 2010 has been one BIG adventure.

the word that i would love to capture 2011 would be "tranquility." my hope is that i am able to continue basking in life's adventures with a continued focus on being in the moment.

December 2 – Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)

juggle multiple to-dos. similar to a daily morning meditation practice, daily writing feels indulgent yet it (and mediation) are critical for growth, reflection, and tranquility. not sure i can eliminate the many to-dos but i can work to insert writing and meditation into my to-dos!

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)

there are so many moments. one that stands out was a sunny day in california during our june book tour jaunt. le beau and i had a free day, hopped into our rented convertible, and got on the 405 to go to the getty museum. the ride was so pretty i asked if we could just drive, see where we ended up and go from there. we headed to santa barbara wine country. sipping reisling mid-day for two people who are very scheduled felt decadent. we stopped in a darling german-style town outside of wine country for more tastings, shop browsing, and a yummy chinese meal complete with a wine buzz. with full bellies we headed back toward LA and were not pleased to sit in traffic during rush hour (the norm in LA) so we got off in the town of santa barbara, hit a few more shops (picked up a pink beret on sale), and went to see get him to the greek while rush hour passed. it was a beautiful day - perfectly spontaneous, yummy weather, tasty vino, and a raspberry beret to top it off!

December 4 – Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)

wonder is to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe. hmmm, it was culivated every time i stepped into a bookstore. note images above are from yesterday's jaunt to a bookstore while le beau picked up supplies at lowes. i sat in front of the craft section and perused the lovely book 1000 artist journal pages (upper right corner image from this book), browsed favorite stampington magazines (lower left corner image), and lost myself in creative wonder. it happens each time i walk into a bookstore.

December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

i let go of my need for exercise to be a certain way. honestly, it was forced. yoga has been my passion and exercise for well over a decade. when my upper body was in a state of lock down thanks to a shoulder and thumb surgery, i had to move so i joined a gym for the first time since 1995. sitting on the stationary bike was my outlet, exercise, and sense of movement for months. i'm now back on the yoga mat with many modifications, but grateful for chance to have had something taken from me that meant SO MUCH. and to be enjoying such a joyful homecoming each time i step back on my pink mat.