#Reverb10

I'll admit that I got overwhelmed by the holidays, and I am now getting back on track. I fell all the way off with the reverb posts, but I thought about them often. Because I enjoyed doing them so much, I want to catch up on the ones I missed.

December 13 – Action. When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)
The next step is just that. DOing more. In 2011, Miss Journey will be doing more adventures (and blogging about them, of course), and the Her Journey Girls will be doing more activities together as well.

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? (Author: Victoria Klein)
My car and my new room. Because these are two major things that I worked hard for to secure as my own, they are very special to me and my independence that I continue to develop every day. I'm developing new habits, like making my bed everyday and getting regular car washes to show my appreciation.

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. (Author: Patti Digh)

• Going to Chicago
• Meeting Queen Latifah/Common
• Falling in love with Abaco
• Getting my New car
• Celebrating the Her Journey Anniversary
• Memphis, Mississippi, Minneapolis
• Discovering She Creates Change
• S Factor
• Thanksgiving (boy girl animal place thing)
• Bloggers Soiree

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? (Author: Martha Mihalick)

My partner in crime Tonita Morena definitely offers interesting insight into whatever situation I'm dealing with. Sometimes playing the devil's advocate, sometimes getting exactly what I'm thinking, she helps me see various perspectives.

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? (Author: Tara Weaver)
I learned that I often edit, censor and limit myself so that others around me will get me. Going forward, I allow myself to be who I am uncensored, and those who get me are the ones that are on the same page as me.

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? (Author: Kaileen Elise)
I tried S Factor and I loved it! I want to try so many things! Flying Trapeze is at the top of the list.

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? (Author: Leonie Allan)
A summer fling healed my heart. It showed me that I could love someone again, and it felt good. Even when it ended unexpectedly, it felt like it served its purpose as a reminder.

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)
Going to the doctor and dealing with my student loans.

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)
Go for it WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? (Author: Tara Hunt)

2010: Chicago and Abaco; 2011: Atlanta...we'll see...

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)

Bon Qui Qui. Because she says what I wish I could. lol.

December 24 – 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)
When my whole family came together as a team at the car dealership. It reminded me of the unit that we are. Moving forward, I will continue to cherish that unit, and contribute to it as best as I can.

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)

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)
Chicken in the bag!

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)
Driving. While driving I often find absolute joy from the appreciation of my new car, and from the freedom that the road allows.

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. (Author: Tara Sophia Mohr)

Income from Her Journey will certainly make me happy and feel accomplished.

December 29 – Defining Moment Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year. (Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice)
Becoming a part of the She Creates Change Community has really helped me transform.

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)
My car in a way was a collective gift from my family. I'm also really excited about my gift card to Angelo & Maxie's because it is such a perfect gift for me.

December 31 – Core Story What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Author: Molly O’Neill)
Life is like a big ol' chocolate cake, and I want to taste every bite.

#Reverb10: Body Integration

December 12 – Body 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? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

I think my recent experience with IntenSati is the best example of this. IntenSati is all about combining the intensity of a cardio workout with the mental energy of positive affirmations. Although it was physical challenging at times during the workout, in the end I felt physically stronger and mentally empowered. It was a great experience that I would definitely do again.

#Reverb10: 11 Things

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? (Author: Sam Davidson)

1. Fear
2. Doubt
3. Procrastination
4. Insecurity
5. Nonsense
6. Drama
7. Negativity
8. Limits
9. Anxiety
10. Bad habits
11. Regrets

I have been practicing taking each moment one at a time. I am learning to fully commit to each moment and am allowing myself to feel more deeply within that moment. I have learned to identify my feelings within each given moment and choose the feelings I enjoy and proceed from there.

In 2011, I will continue to take in each moment and eliminate whatever it is I don't want from it. In making these better decisions, it's my intention to establish better thoughts, actions and habits. I know that doing so will open me up to a world of opportunities that will unfold in a way beyond my own imagination. I look forward to seeing how it all plays out in 2011.

Photo courtesy of http://zezu.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Calendar-2011.jpg

#Reverb10: Wisdom

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

My wisest decisions have been within the theme of letting go. I can proudly say that I've become more clear on certain things that I want for my life, certain things I do not want. I've grown to understand what I have little to no tolerance for and a certain standard that I hold for certain things. While it may sound like a limiting perspective, I'd like to defend myself by saying that I approach each situation with an open and fair chance, but I have learned to make quicker and wiser decisions when I know what decision to make. My wisest decisions have been letting go of things that I know do not fall in line with what I want for myself.

#Reverb10: Party

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

I have to say Her Journey's 2nd Anniversary Celebration at Ravel Hotel. Of course, I planned every single detail and stressed during the weeks prior, but the actual day of the event was pretty perfect. There were a few snafus that every event presents, but I honestly couldn't have asked for a better turn out.


August 8th was a beautiful day. The atmosphere on the rooftop of Ravel Hotel (Penthouse 808) is absolutely amazing. The day started with a private brunch with the Her Journey team, family and close friends. I had the honor of introducing Suparna Bhasin from She Creates Change as our special guest. During my speech when I thanked everyone for coming and told everyone what to expect from Her Journey, I honestly felt at that moment that I was doing exactly what I wanted to do. I felt passionate and confident. I recognized the growth I'd made from just a year before, and I felt perfectly aligned with my purpose. It was an amazing feeling.

The day continued with a cocktail party open to all Her Journey supporters. The support was ovewhelming (in the best way possible). As the sun set and provided the perfect backdrop for some photos, the day came to a perfect ending.

I Like Me

A while ago I saw this post on Single Mama NYC's blog about National Like Yourself Day, and I kept saying I was going to do one but never actually did it. Today's #Reverb10 prompt is perfect because it allows me to do the post I've been putting off for so long.

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. (Author: Karen Walrond)

I have always been one to go against the grain, whether by choice or not. And I will admit that I used to hate it. Always being the youngest in my class, the last to do everything like getting a bra, my period, driver's license and sweet 16, the only one without a relaxer, among the few lefties, I used to think my life was so hard because I was so different.

I've grown to not only accept my differences but I now love my unique qualities because I know that I am out of the box.
-Passionate- Sometimes my energy is so much that I feel like it's going to burst out of my skin. It is with that passion that I live each day like my life is a never ending adventure.
Fearless-I love those moments when I jump for whatever it is in front of me with no thoughts of consequences.
-Undying determination- I go beyond the point where other people give up because I do not comprehend any option other than accomplishing the task at hand.
-Funny- I crack myself up and others seem to get a kick out of it too.

All of this is what makes me me and gives me my glow. When I'm at my highest, it's contagious. I want to continue to share my overflowing energy with others.

Me, myself and I have our moments where we pick on each other's faults, but when it comes down to it I really do love who I am and wouldn't have it any other way. I know that I am exactly this way because I have a very specific purpose to fulfill in a way that only I can.

What makes you different?

#Reverb10: Community

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? (Author: Cali Harris)

I've said it enough times since joining, but I'll say it again for the purpose of this prompt. Joining the She Creates Change community was the best decision I could have made. I am in constantly in awe of how when this group of individually amazing women comes together, something phenomenal happens. The energy is electrifying.

I also love the Her Journey community that is budding. There is a great feeling that is buzzing, and it is my intention to further develop it and allow it to grow into something beyond my own imagination. The community is primarily online right now, and I know that bringing the women together for personal interactions is going to magnify the impact of it tremendously. I look forward to seeing how it unfolds in 2011.

#Reverb10: Make

December 6 – Make. 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? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

I made a vision board. I used my vision to cut specific images of my life to come, and I used my imagination to paste my dreams onto the reality of my present and my future.

#Reverb10: Let Go

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

I have learned to let go of things that are not working for me. Instead of trying to change them or waiting for them to change, if it is not what I want, I've learned to let it go and walk away. I am now secure in the idea that what I want will come, and it will be even better than I imagine.

#Reverb10: Writing

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

Watch TV. I know that I can waste several hours watching TV. And it's not that I'm even enjoying it all of the time, it's just there, and it's something to do.

HOWEVER, I am creating a new habit: It starts by setting the timer at night as soon as I feel sleepy so that the TV turns itself off soon after I fall asleep. Instead of waking up to the TV and just staying in bed for hours, I now read, journal, and meditate for a little bit, and that is the perfect state of mind to get writing done. I've noticed that when I check my e-mails before writing, it puts me in a different state of mind that stifles my creative juices. So I've learned to alter that and focus on my writing first. Starting my day off expressing some creativity feels really good.

#Reverb10: Reflect on this Year & Manifest What's Next

Thanks to my blogging buddy Tracey (aka Tica), I am participating in Reverb 10, which is an end of the year exercise that allows one to not only reflect on this past year but to also think about and manifest her desires for the year to come. This is perfect timing. I am already in this season of change and life planning, and this daily exercise will encourage me to write on a regular basis, which is one of my goals. Thanks Tracey!

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)

Stretch.

I was originally going to use "growth" but as I thought about the events of this year, I feel like I have stretched my boundaries. I was fortunate enough to visit new places on my travel to do list. I survived a car accident and endured the character building experience of buying a new one. This year's Her Journey Anniversary Celebration is certainly one of my proudest moments. It was a perfect day that really made me feel like "Yes, this is exactly what I want to do with my life." I had a few brief but refreshingly fulfilling summer flings, one of which really allowed me to open my heart. I have joined the She Creates Change Community, which has undoubtedly pushed me beyond my comfort zone into a whole new level of comfort and confidence. With all that has happened this year, I think "open" is an equally appropriate word for this latter part of 2010. Moving into 2011, I want the word to be "change" because 1. I am consciously making changes in my own life. 2. I will follow Mahatma Gandhi's wisdom to "be the change [I] want to see in the world."

What's your word? Post a link to your post in the comments!