Reverb10 - 31 December

Prompt: 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.)


Story: To those who've earned my trust, friendship and loyalty, they are permitted to learn me. It's not that I put up a front; it's that I don't let just anyone see past my skin. I am very personal. I have very deep connections with very few people in this world, and I like it that way. I am strong, determined and independent. 


I wasn't sure where that story was going, so as I reviewed my Reverb10 posts, I came up with the following list of themes:

control

physical, emotional and financial health

motherhood, sacrifice and reward

"life begins at the edge of your comfort zone."

forgiveness and healing

prioritizing what I spend my time doing

still scared to let myself love

Reverb10 - 30 December

Prompt: Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What's the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?


Hands-down, the single most memorable, tangible AND emotional gift I received this year: HEIDI! (My puppy!)

Reverb10 - 29 December

Prompt: Defining moment. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.


I feel like I've already responded to this prompt (in another prompt). Basically 2010 didn't have any single super-defining moments. I let myself live a little, but I wouldn't consider it a moment or series of events. *shrug.

Reverb10 - 28 December

Prompt: 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.


Get rid of some debt. Scratch that. I want to get rid of a lot of debt. Time to kick Sallie Mae to the curb, or something. When I'm through with Sallie Mae, maybe I'll buy a house and invest in it. I'm not going to do the lists for this prompt. I know what achieving a goal feels like.

Reverb10 - 27 December

Prompt: Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

Time spent at the dog park with my German Shepherd pup, Heidi. Totally routine and ordinary since I go 4+ times a week with her. Seeing her happy makes me happy.

Reverb10 - 26 December

Prompt: Soul food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth and touched your soul?


Harry Potter Pepper Imps and Butter Beer, and grilled chicken Caribbean Jerk Shish-Kabobs. Okay, that's the literal answer.


Soul-wise... well, my poor soul didn't have much of an appetite. Or I deprived it. I'm not sure which is more accurate.


Maybe I'm completely missing the crux of this prompt.

Reverb10 - 25 December

Prompt: 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.

This photo was taken, obviously, in Washington, D.C. I was spending the weekend with my cousins, and Lana showed me around the sights; she took this photo. (It took us probably 20 photos to get the jump and click timing to sync up properly, haha!)


This photo says "hey, look! I'm fun, I'm different!" I really like how my hair flipped out mid-air here; it is very 60-ish - one of my very favorite eras, and I am very old-fashioned, so it adds up well. The fact that the photo is in the nation's capital represents loyalty and community.

Reverb10 - 24 December

Prompt: 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?


No single moment like that is coming to mind. Probably because my life is riddled with question marks anymore. I suppose everything is okay, though. I have a fantastic job, a loving family, lots of friends, and two fun pets.


If I had to choose a single moment, it would be when I let myself go past one of my many comfort zones. I'm not going to go into specifics, but that's the closest I can do for this prompt. I don't particularly want to propel that into 2011. ...I don't know what to do about it, actually. But where things stand right now, well, they're okay.

Reverb10 - 23 December

Prompt: 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?


This is tough. I like my name just the way it is. At first I was thinking first name is different, but why couldn't it be a different last name? I won't reveal which last name I'd like to have; it's impossible on so many levels, anyway. So, in the end, I'll present myself with a different first name:


Hello, my name is Charlotte. People call me Charlie for short.


I've always liked older-sounding names with pretty pronunciations. I also really like when a girl has a guy's name as their nickname. Charlie is one of my favorites (think The Italian Job).

Reverb10 - 22 December

Prompt: Travel. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?


I traveled between Florida and Indiana (home), and to Maryland for a couple of work-related trips, but I don't consider any of that to be true traveling. So, unfortunately, no, I didn't travel in 2010. In 2011 I am focusing on paying of some debt, so traveling will have to wait. However, I do have a trip planned to visit a dear friend in Iowa.

Reverb10 - 21 December

Prompt: 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?)


In five years I will be twenty-nine years old, nearly 3-decades-old. I would tell myself to work hard to get out of debt. To pray for guidance on my gut feelings. To let my hair down once in a while. And to love fiercely.

Reverb10 - 20 December

Prompt: 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?)


Let myself love the way I did once, a long time ago. Will I do it? If it feels right, yes.

Reverb10 - 19 December

Prompt: Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?


A friend healed me this year. I had been ripping back scar tissue for nearly 2 years when, finally, I was able to let my friend help me spread salve over the wound, and leave it alone, so that it could heal properly.

Reverb10 - 18 December

Prompt: 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?


I want to try to check Facebook less. Outside of sharing photos and planning get-togetheres (events), my life is not enhanced by Facebook. In 2010 I wanted to keep better track of my finances, and I did that with Excel's help.

Reverb10 - 17 December

Prompt: Lesson learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

While I'm very good about forgiving others, I need to learn how to forgive myself. I will apply this lesson by being easier on myself in the future. I don't have to suffer because I made mistakes; I just need to learn from them and let them go.

Reverb10 - 16 December

Prompt: Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?

It was a gradual change. It started with a Inga's card that said "life begins at the edge of your comfort zone." that concept planted a seed in me somewhere, and towards the end of summer something else gradually changed in my life. It's been pretty good. = )

Reverb10 - 15 December

Prompt: 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.

Brought Heidi into my life and home. Chucky is training to become a NAVY SEAL. Sam graduated high school and is wrestling on a scholarship for Northern Illinois University. Mom and Dad are growing together as they adjust to an empty nest and more time with one another. I joined the ISLDP at LM. I started my master's at PSU.

I just needed one minute. = )

Reverb10 - 14 December

Prompt: Appreciate. What's the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?

Motherhood. No, I don't have a biological child. I have a puppy. And she is my world. I express my gratitude for her with treats, running, lots of peanut butter, fun photos, hikes, long walks, pineapples, and LOTS of time at the dog park.

Reverb10 - 13 December 2010

Prompt: Action. When it comes to aspirations, its not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen. What's your next step?

My next step is to get my finances even more in line. I have everything I can foresee budgeted in my budget for next year. I'll be making big payments and minimal, if any, charges on my credit card. My savings is going to be beefed up, too. I'm excited to gain more control on my money so it doesn't rule over me.

In addition, I am going to be working hard to get my Etsy shop, amara | 86, off the ground. I have items for sale, and have had many views, but no bites yet. I'm going to focus on advertising and photo work for appeal. It's a whole new world to me.

Reverb10 - 12 December

Prompt: 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?

During the month of October I ran every single day. Sometimes it was just for 10 minutes, but usually it was at least 2 miles and up to 3.5 miles. My body was in great shape and I felt amazing. It wasn't exactly a moment, but my body was definitely integrated.