Where do you hope to be on Jan 1, 2013?
Being happily married
Another wonderful year of travel and exploration behind me
Having made clear progress towards what I want my professional life to be
Knowing a little more about the future of my family.
Bring on 2012! :)
No. I don't like who I was in 2011.
I am struggling.
I was stressed out by the poor decisions of others.
I feel like I wasted a lot of time.
I feel like I didn't accomplish many of the goals or things that could have.
I am pretty beaten down by my career transition process and perhaps beating myself up about it too much.
In 2012, I hope to
proactive about my own profession future and understand that building it will come with hard work and success or improvement will not happen overnight.
begin to understand and be comfortable with what family means to me and what having my own family will look like.
not answer to others and be willing to tell them about themselves.
to take advantage of this time in my life.
Begin to create a plan for “My friends day out 2012″ – tell us what you envision.
I have to admit that I don't get what this prompt means. Am I supposed to be planning a day for me and my friends? Does it have to be realistic?
I think we would have a fabulous lunch somewhere chatting and laughing over lots of wine. Of course in this vision, we are in a seaside town in Portugal. Don't ask me how I'd transport my friends there. :)
What did you celebrate in 2011? Are you looking forward to any celebrations in 2012?
I don't remember celebrating much this year of note other than my 2nd wedding anniversary. That is always a happy moment. I'm looking forward to next year.
Day 26
Share a favorite photo from the past year. What was happening behind the scenes? What were you thinking or feeling? What could you smell, taste, see, hear at that moment?
Where did your money go this year? Where do you want it to go in 2012? I chuckled when I read this prompt. My/our money went to food and travel this year. Unfortunately, I didn't really EARN any money. That's been the issue. I hope that can change for next year.
Describe a random act of kindness that you benefited from in 2011. How will you pay it forward in 2012? Random act of kindness? Hmmm...well, this older man paid for my lunch. I think he thought my friendliness was flirtation. I just make simple conversation. He's older than my dad and well, I'm married. I felt bad and tried to pay, but he wouldn't let me. Sigh... Maybe I need to pay for someone's lunch in 2012? |
Describe something that you actively engaged in learning to do this year.
Well, I did try to learn more skills for my secret project, which I could reveal. It has a lot to do woth pib;ic speaking and thinkinf on your feet. I also learn how to edit video. I'm far from an expert, but at least I can do some basic stuff on a Mac with raw footage.
We Verb, Day 24
What did you finally let go of in 2011? What will you let go of in 2012? Good question. Not much. :) I'd like to let go of more in 2012. I think in particular I'd like to let myself go to feel creative enough to think of how I can make a contribution to this world. I have been taught to to take a certain path. perhaps all of my hard charging would be better spent letting go and of seeing what the God/Universe has in store for me. |
Tell us about your biggest belly laugh in 2011.
Uhhh..I don't think I can recall this one. It was probably something that Jim, my husband (not his real name) said. He makes me laugh all the time.
Day 20
How has technology affected your life (positively or negatively) in 2011? Do you want this to continue for 2012?
Technology has definitely been great to me. Blogging has been one of the highlights of my year. I've gotten a lot of great opportunities from blogging this year, and I hope that they will only continue to grow. One of my career possibilities for the future may include a social media element. I'm not sure yet.
While my relationship to technology has been good overall, I also feel like I've wasted a lot of time on technology this year. By spending too much time on certain sites, I feel like I waste valuable time that I could spend in a more productive way. I'm hoping that my online time will produce more fruit for me instead of just being something that I occasionally do passively.
Day 21
The butterfly effect posits that a small change can ripple across whole ecosystems. Who do you credit for the small action that made all the difference in your life this year?
Is this bad that I can't think of anyone? Ouch! Perhaps it was Jim's continued love and support?Perhaps it was my friends rallying to help me with professional contacts? In general, I don't think there has really been anyone that made a specific difference (for the better anyway) in my life this year other than these people (but especially Jim).
Day 22
What is one thing you want to do before you bid adieu to 2011? How will you make it happen?
Planning. I want to go into 2012 with some semblance of a plan. I waffle a lot this year. I don't want to do that next year. Next week will be about planning and organizing for 2012.
What event of 2011 affected you in an unexpected way?
Yeah. I think when I saw this WeVerb prompt, I clammed up. I was recently surprised by a family member's news and decisions about their future. It's been a really crazy year in terms of my relationship with that person, and this news will change our relationship going forward. I've been trying to come to terms, and it has been very hard. This "surprise" angered me, then frustrated me. Yet in the past week, I've let go. People in your life are not always going to make the decisions that you think they should. They will ultimately have to make peace with the consequences of their actions.
WeVerb, Day 16
Describe something that disappointed you in 2011 and how you persevered.
Well, the continued search for my new professional space is continually frustrating. At the same time, I am considering the fact that this may be partly my own fault. I'll get into in the coming weeks. It's been a major form of stress for me, but I have no choice but to keep going. When opportunities don't work out, I just say that it wasn't where I was supposed to be. That's all that I can do really.
WeVerb, Day 17
What did you discover (big or small) in 2011?
That my professional space that I need may come from something that I might need to create. That people can really surprise you. The Highline. The Staten Island Ferry. Robicelli's Cupcakes.
WeVerb, Day 18
What lesson or advice were you able to pass on to others this year? Why was it important to share this information? (Or… what lesson would you like to pass on to others that read this?)
I've been waxing poetic about the power of Twitter. I've gotten so many opportunities through it in the past year, and I've been helping folks understand how it can help them. I've also taught my BFF that she deserves to be where she is right now. I'm proud of her.
How did you make space + peace for yourself in 2011?
As much as I am not always thankful for it, I am in a space right now in my life where I can reflect and be alone quite often. I will say that sometimes I felt as if I let technology enter into my space a little too much this year. When you blog or are into social media in any way, it can be hard to not have it be ever-present. I am hoping that I can cut out more TV and also be more strategic about my computer usage. I am hoping that I will continue to take advantage of the fact that I do have time for myself even more next year. I am hoping to be reflective in a more purposeful way in 2012.
What article or book changed your outlook on an issue or life?
Hmmm...I don't really think I read anything in 2011 that was particularly earth shattering or life changing other than what I would normally read. I usually read something spiritually based in the mornings before I begin my day. Those are always helpful to me in focusing and making sure that my mind is right for that day. It's something that I've always done and that I'll continue to do.
I will say that I did start to read books again. I read a lot of blogs, magazines and so on, but I felt that books were missing in my life. After getting a Kindle last year, I've started to enjoy reading and exploring what's out there. I wrote a little about my Jane Austen book project for this past year here. I'm hoping to do another book reading project for 2012.
What was your healthiest habit of 2011? What would you like to change or do differently in 2012?
What 12 new things do you want to do/accomplish in 2012?
In which moment did you find yourself flooded with gratitude? How will you rally around gratitude in 2012?
Honestly, I would not have gotten through this year without practicing gratitude. Amid much of the stress and much of the lows and questioning this year, I was still so thankful. I can't say that it was any one moment, but it was a continuous stream of being very appreciative of all that I do have. I appreciated my health, my marriage, all of the physical trappings and good things that I am fortunate to have. In a time, when so many people are struggling financially, we are not. I am muddling through life right now, but I muddle through a very good one.
A lot of this I attribute to my faith orientation. I personally believe that without it, I may not have been able to see the good I have around me. I am thankful and appreciative for that, too.
I hope that I will have an even deeper attitude of gratitude in 2012.
Did you meet any new friends this year? How did they impact your 2011? I have met one or two new people lately, and in some instances we are still in the "early friendship" stage. One in particular new friend has been fun to meet and get to know. I would have never thought that she and I would enjoy each other's company as much as we do. I've also introduced her to another friend, and she has hit it off that person, too. It's nice to be able to help expand other people's networks. Overall, I will say that I have gotten closer to people that I met last year. I also see my friendships changing due to friends having children, which is a good thing. In many instances, I am enjoying their children as well. That's nice. We had a holiday party this past weekend, and it was great to see people that I haven't seen in awhile, and I am hoping to establish deeper connections with many people into 2012. |
Sum up your year, via haiku.
What lesson did you learn in 2011 from “The School of Life” rather than a classroom? |
I need to stop explaining myself to other people. I learned that I have to find a way to tell others that my life is my life. I'm living it for me and under my terms, and I don't need to explain it to you. I feel like there were way too many instances where I was put in a position of people expecting me to explain my decisions or lack of decisions on a variety of issues. I can't keep doing that if I want to keep my sanity. |
What song did you listen to in 2011 to completely change your mood? Think about ways you can you add more music to your life in 2012. I didn't listen to as much music as I should or could have this year. I'm not really into most popular music right now. I guess I'll write about two VERY different songs. "Trust Me" by Richard Smallwood & Vision
While I'm not a huge fan, I really do like Katy Perry's Firework. I kinda felt like she was speaking to me in this one. :) |
Choose one word. Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why. Imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you? My word would be: STASIS - a state of stability, in which all forces are equal, therefore they cancel each other out. This really is my year in one word. I think this has to be. Read what I just read above. I am so grateful for my life right now. Financially we're doing well as a family. Jim's, my husband (not his real name) career is doing really well. I see my friends excelling and moving forward with their lives personally and professionally. There have been marriages, births, new jobs, big breakthroughs and promotions for the people around me. Yet, here I am in many respects having only inched forward this year. I have made very little, if any, movement towards building my new professional self. I've worked on quite a few things including consulting, my secret project and exploring entrepreneurship. I feel like despite all of the awful things happening in the world at large, I've got it pretty good even if my life isn't what I'd like it to be. So, I guess everything just cancels itself out. The good isn't outweighing the bad and vice versa. I'm just here. :) "Here" ain't so bad. |
I hope 2012 is about moving forward. Period. |
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