Future Self and Past Self Bonus

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)

Take your list of "11 things you could use less of in 2011" seriously. Develop new habits. Be your biggest self.
Continue to give back and create community around you. When you know, just do it - whether it means to let something go or to give energy in the right direction. Be love.

Bonus: To myself 10 yrs ago: Don't be distracted by your ideal of something. Worry less. Continue to follow your intuition. Be less afraid.

For All Of Those Reasons

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)

I avoided developing VabeVibe. I didn't do it for all of the reasons above: scared, worried, unsure, and busy. All of them. I am taking all the steps to develop it this year.

Evan, Ian, and Healing From The Inside Out

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)

I have three sisters and we are very close. There are two stand-out healing situations that happened this year which didn't involved me directly, but because I love my sisters so much their healing has healed a part of me.

My younger sister Linda, after years of trying, gave birth to the amazing Evan Brian Bookman in February. He is a miracle baby and a true delight for all of us. We longed for him for such a time that he has healed our hearts by coming into the world and making Linda a mother and Matt a father and me an Aunt once again. It's absolutely beautiful to see Linda's family grow and to spend time with this beautiful little person.


The other healing situation is my sister Diane and her son Ian. After 7 years of difficulty and struggle with understanding how to care for her non-verbal, highly sensitive (food allergies and everything else) autistic son and help heal him she has finally found the way - by healing herself first and bringing that energy to him and her family. Ian has greatly benefited from this and is having many more peaceful and comfortable days than he ever did before. This really happened this year. She is part of many online communities, is a large part of the community of parents of autistic children, and with her wisdom ends up helping all sorts of people - most of all her own family. Many find her through her site AfterAutism. Because I love her and Ian so much it has also healed a part of me.

This year I'd like to heal my body - from the inside out. I know exactly what that means. The cleanse I'm starting now is the kickoff.

New Habits

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)

Daily meditation and yoga practice at home. This didn't catch on in 2010 although I know it'd be great for me. I'd like it to become habitual, like brushing my teeth, and no matter where I am - at home, at Rob's, or on vacation - it's a habit that I do. And don't be a perfectionist about it, just do it.

Trusting Instincts

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)

My sister Diane has an autistic child, Ian. Ian is 8 and is now Diane's greatest teacher. She's learning so much and changing in significant ways and is much more light and joyful. It's amazing to witness. She's constantly learning, and teaching, how to better communicate without words. She gave me the gift of going to Koelle Simpson's Horse Workshop in Keystone for a few days. Koelle is an equus coach and one of Diane's biggest teachers as well.

The bottom line is this: As herd animals, horses are highly attuned to energy - and when you get in a pen with a horse, the horse reflects the energy you bring into their sphere. If you don't lead it, it will lead you. And you can lead a horse very quickly after meeting it. I've seen and experienced it myself. Quick lesson goes like this:

Without telling us what she's doing Koelle gets into the pen with a horse she's never met (she does this all over the world with horses she's never met). With calm confidence she gets a horse to follow her. Then she tells you that you have 5 mins to try and do it yourself, like that. I figured I studied her movements, her calm way, and wonder how hard can it be?! Well, MUCH HARDER THAN YOU THINK. Everyone's stuff shows up in that pen - whether they're nervous, they want the horse to do something so they're more aggressive, they want to do well, they fear the horse, etc. What showed up for me was this:

If I'm confused as to why something isn't going a particular way as planned, I will go somewhere else and do my own thing. I'll try a new approach, but perhaps half-heartedly. And, I don't always trust my instincts (which was kind of news to me). Later we discuss how this helps and also hinders. At the end of the next day everyone is basically able to lead a horse.

Now I am more often noticing the energy with which I approach a task or something new. I am more aware that trusting my instincts is key and so I do it.

Mirror Friend

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)

Wow, hard one, these are getting tough. I'd have to say when a friend told me that she had a moment when she was feeling let down or something and was expressing something like "I do this, who does this for me?" and her fella said, "Nancy does, you got Nancy." And she immediately stopped feeling bad and said, "Oh, yeah, you're right!"

That meant a lot to me and I felt my perspective tilt - it was a sudden burst change for a second and I realized how amazing it is that friends really are mirrors for us. Hey, thanks for that!

5 mintues - Go...

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)

Last New Year's - Howl
Playing tennis, running in city park, riding around Denver with R.
Summer hikes in the mountains
Camping with friends, rummage sale and camping the next weekend
Jumping in the cold mountain resevoir
Father's birthday weekend at my house
Parlour time with the family, Evan!
Claremont Hotel Berkeley, CA weekend
Horse time with Koelle
Hanging out with Bandit and Sasha, watching Bandit hit a mouse down the hallway, catching mice every summer night
Rob's birthday
Just one day of subbing
Thanksgiving with my folks and the Fords

I think this is really interesting. Stream of consciousness since timing is involved. I wrote Bol and Dish at the end but 5 minutes was already up.

2010 Appreciation and Gratitude

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)

There is so much I appreciate in my life that it's impossible to gauge what I appreciate the most.

My home is up there. I bought it 3 years ago and owning a home, this home in particular, has changed my life. I renovated it immediately and I love everything about it- the light, the view, the surface materials. Now, everything I work toward and for is invested in my own life. I express gratitude by taking care of it and was on the board of the HOA the first two years of ownership.

Rob is way up there! But of course. And I express gratitude directly to him every day for being such a fantastic, fun, loving badass. Think Steve McQueen.
7:30am - dropping me off at the airport.

My family: by blood, by friendship, and Sasha and Bandit. I believe I mainly express gratitude with words and my actions/behaviors. I am always excited to be in their presence. With Sasha and Bandit, I don't think I express enough gratitude with them - I will do more of that in 2011.



My community: I donated to some organizations this year that I really appreciate: jazz station KUVO that we now pick up in Vail, SOS Outreach (started as Snowboard Outreach Program) - their programs build character and self-esteem in youth through outdoor activities and five core values: Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom and Compassion. I am volunteering at Beaver Creek Resort for guest services. We greet and help out guests and ride the mountain, ready to lend a hand. We're another set of eyes for Ski Patrol.

Sane voices: I reeaally appreciate people who are constantly fighting for our rights, our freedom, and who in the public arena represent me. I often wrote letters to my representatives and signed my name to proposed legislation that I thought was important. Rob and I also made ten signs for our friend Liz to take to the Rally to Restore Sanity. Liz is a very sane, visionary, fightin woman dedicated to enlightening debate and smart change.

VabeVibe Business Plan

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)

Time to write a business plan about VabeVibe and go over it with my mentor, see what he thinks.

When were you simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?

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)

Anytime I give myself the time to meditate (which I plan to make part of my daily routine in 2011) I feel integrated.
When I play tennis
When I snowboard
When the music is so good I can't help but dance.

I was at my friend's house here in the Vail valley that we all refer to as the Chalet. It's a beautiful, timber framed home, surrounded by a golf course outback and the rocky mountains in the distance, nestled in trees. S & A are so generous with their home that it becomes a slumber party on weekends for friends who come up from Denver and for others who end up crashing there. On one of these nights some punk rock was blaring and a few of us started jumping, headbanging, fist-pumping, air-guitaring like idiots, like you do when you're a kid. I remember being aware at the time of how great I felt and grateful I was for being able to do this, accompanied by friends! I was simply ME, alive and present, havin a blast.

Here are the jerks in the middle of rockin out who were joining me - photo by Sarah.

What are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011?

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)

Health issues I can control
Baggage
Fabrics in boxes/Clothes in piles
Looking for keys/phone/wallet
State of paralysis when feeling overwhelmed
Neural pathways that drain energy
Mindless diversion (though entertaining and mind-numbing which is appreciated. I could use less of it in 2011).
Less thinking about it
Sugar, caffeine (dang), sodas (don't drink much but even a little is too much)
Hurrying
Phantom worries

I'll meditate often and check this list often in 2011. Only I know what these really do when in my life. I think if I significantly lessened these 11 things in my life this year I will feel a significant change for the good. Exponentially

Being Wise

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

I decided to make balance in my life a priority. My grandfather always told us that "just as a table is balanced, so must we be in order for peace and happiness. Balancing mental, spiritual, physical and social is the way." I've done ok with it this past year, not exceptionally well, but pretty well.

I've also held to the approach that life is like one of those coffee table games with a tilting board and metal ball, and when you hit an unexpected wall the universe will tilt the board a little until you, as the ball, drop through another doorway. Don't force the tilt, wait for it.

Started pursuing interests in teaching and community and am answering questions I've had about both - and the way seems to constantly be provided.

Feeling Free

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)

Amie's 30th birthday and the following day, Tour de Fat Denver.

At an old Denver mansion from turn of the century - on a hill, white lights shining up on white stone three stories high. An old hunting castle-type place, rented out for the occasion, friends gathering by large fireplaces, 20-ft ceilings, ladies and fellas dressed fancy to look like Aime, for birthdays we dress like the guest of honor. The next day at a brunch at Rob's house to celebrate Amie and Tour de Fat we eat and be merry before setting out on bikes.

We rode bikes to city park with two of the only double-bikes at the park, and a gang of ten others. We wore burlesque-ish clown attire, parked our bikes against a tree amongst a sea of bikes and crazy clothing, great beer and great live music, everyone dancing and having fun in the sun at city park. We rode to a car show a few blocks over, strode in like a crew. Rode to pizza, then it got dark. Ended up at the White Owl. This weekend party embodied some of my favorite things: beautiful Colorado outdoors in the sun, playing on bikes, and feeling free.

Curly Hair and Authenticity

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)

First thing that comes to mind is my curly hair, LOL. I'm quite used to it but it's the first thing people have noticed throughout my life. It took me until my senior year in high school to really embrace it and rock it naturally. And moving on, looking deeper. . .

It's hard to talk about myself this way - it makes me a little uncomfortable because it's tough to see what is truly different about yourself as you're so used to your own perspective and outlook that you can't really tell what is so different, special, and beautiful about yourself. I mean, I know that certain experiences are quite different than others' - like having been a Mormon missionary in France and Switzerland for 1.5 yrs and then having a worldview change, or having a mother who was very ill at one time and it took 10 years to really turn around- but everyone has personal, tough experiences. It's not these that make another person light up - it's one's attitude and how these experiences have shaped a person, it's their way of being and interacting with the world that this question is getting at.

So, I asked someone whose perception I trust about this question as a way to brainstorm for my response. He said something about me that resonated: I uniquely make it a priority to enjoy life; I am proactive about enjoying myself.

Well yes, but is that unusual? I mean, doesn't everyone want to do that?
He said yes, but you are pro-active about it - you have learned who you are, what you want, and you go after it. In general you do not concern yourself about how you are perceived by others, about looking silly, or what others might think about or judge what you're doing, and this is at the core of your feeling good and makes being authentic easy for you.

I can't argue with that.

So, these are my thoughts: Yes, a core value is that I want to enjoy myself. Not in a "let's paartaayy" kind of way (although sometimes that's very true) but by understanding that what makes me feel good is living values of: giving back, being involved in the community in a positive way, fulfilling my potential, making others feel good about their journeys, being invested in a place that I love and enjoy, and being part of creating a community of friends that are family, which cultivates love in my life.

I've recently experienced a lot of the principle that: WHAT YOU GIVE YOU RECEIVE IN EQUAL MEASURE BY THE UNIVERSE, and it is a joyful way to live. Apparently some people do not let themselves feel happiness. I don't at all understand why not, but I've been told this many times.

I value freedom and peace of mind above all and have the deep understanding that choice is freedom. There are basically two choices we make - that of personal behavior and that of consumption. I prefer delving into all the intricacies of personal behavioral choices and I come from an understanding that if it "feels good to me in the long run" it's "the right way to go." I think as my personality demonstrates this principle, others see and feel it and it speaks to their souls and may light them up a bit to their own power and ability. I hope that is true - I'm not sure that it is all that different from others, but I'm willing to see it in myself.

My People, Volunteering, and Music Nights

December 7 – Community Prompt: 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)

My community are my people, my tribe, my friends whom I adore - we are a band of best friends, lovers, ex-lovers who keep on lovin, creatives, punks, hippies, jerks, ladies and fellas who have become my family here in the Vail Valley and in Denver. We celebrate together, create, pontificate, play, encourage, inspire, and support one other. They mean the world to me. We have known each other for 3 years and have cultivated this famiy, although we've probably played throughout lifetimes together. Here are a few of us: Rob's 10-10-10 Birthday video




I've also discovered a deeper sense of community in this valley where I'm invested (I bought a place in Avon two years ago). It's a small mountain town with not many year round residents and as a result we help take care of each other. It's not easy to make it here but it's so worth it. I'm volunteering on Beaver Creek mountain this winter season and am excited to strengthen ties with other volunteers and with Beaver Creek operations and community in general. I've also discovered community as a substitute teacher around the valley - getting to know teachers and school administration and kids. I like to see the children around town and it's fun to see them waving at me at the store or the bank. I say hi and ask how they're doing and get to meet their parents.

In this next year I'd like to create a community of musicians who play music together as part of dinner party entertainment. Ideally I envision having music jam nights - evenings full of food, drinks, and music. We would host these at each other's homes and make it potluck, or the host cooks for all and guests bring drinks, their instruments, and there's music every time.

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) --

The last thing I made was this - a little spun bamboo mossy green blanket knitted on large needles so that a special someone, my nephew Evan Brian, could poke his fingers and toes through it, interacting with something warm and fuzzy surrounding him with love.
I made him a white one when he was born with the hopes that he would feel love and comfort from me so many miles away (he's in San Jose, CA and I'm in Avon, CO). My sister made sure it was with him at all times. He doesn't go anywhere without it - it's been getting a lot of play - and now at 10 months old he initiates peek-a-boo with it. I thought it was time for a new one, a fall colored one for all of his holiday visiting.



I make my holiday card every year and that's the next thing I need to clear time for, immediately.
Happy Holidays ya'll!!

Let Her Go, Breathe, Make Tea

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

I named Rob's Lavazza Espresso Point machine Sophia after the icon Sophia Loren. Why? Because with all that chrome and gold it was beautiful Italian deliciousness, just like Sophia. Rob loves coffee like he loves BMWs and anything that goes fast due to a simple, efficient and powerful engine. So finding this amazing machine (which was on his life-list as something to own one day) that showed on its counter it had only made 45 espressos, for a measley $28 at a charity rummage sale, put us both on a high to say the least.




New, these commercial machines can cost anywhere from $700-$1200. And the espressos Sophia made were. . . well, let me just say, a little bit of creamy heaven. We had a brunch and Sophia made espressos for everyone like little delicious presents as a thank you. Everyone loved her. We even talked of getting her a chrome name tag. We loved her and the fine Italian caffeinated treats she produced. So you can imagine my shock when, just after 3 weeks, Rob was feeling especially tight in the financial department and made a funny post on Craigslist, was offered $650 for Sophia, our dear Sophia, and. . . he let her go. Even though she was HIS espresso machine, I really had a hard time with it. "But it's on your life-list honey," I said. "You'll never buy one of these for their real value, it was magic you found her and could get her, arrrrrggghhhh. No one makes espresso like Sophia, no one!" I was incredulous, then upset, then disappointed, threw a little verbal fit, and then I grew up. Seriously, I respect Rob's decision to make a ridiculous profit off of an item rather than go into any debt. And so, I had to let go. I hear she's at a coffee/ice cream shop pleasin all the customers, having a blast.

Information Consumption

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

Rob and I live roughly 2 hours from each other and see one another every weekend. Depending on the weekend it's a lot of driving time for me. I leave the Vail Valley and drive the winding mountain passes down to Denver. When it's not snowing it's a beautiful drive and I love the time to myself. I've listened to some amazing stories while making this drive back and forth, two in particular that significantly increased my sense of wonder.

MY STROKE OF INSIGHT by Jill Bolte Taylor TED video
This is a book worth reading or listening to (she reads it herself). As a brain scientist she suffered a stroke and 8 years later she wrote about the experience of recognizing the stroke as it was happening, what it was like to be completely living from her right brain (her left brain damaged by the stroke), what neural pathways she chose to strengthen and "regain" and how and why, all the while her mother tending and taking care of her and teaching her as she always had. For example, to help Jill regain speech and vocabulary her mother would give her two choices for lunch ie., tuna salad sandwich or roast beef sandwich. If Jill said she didn't know what a tuna salad sandwich was then that was what her mother served her so that she could associate those words to that object. How patient both she and her mother had to be!! When I'm so moved and excited about a piece of work as My Stroke of Insight it moves me in such a way that it changes my life. Among many things, Jill's story taught me that it is up to me to strengthen neural pathways or let them diminish simply by choosing my thoughts. In a personal and scientific way she taught me how to change my thoughts so that I can literally shape my mind. This has changed my life profoundly and this concept is now part of my life's perception.

THE ELEMENT: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson TED video
I think this book is better as an audiobook - he also reads it and the stories of his research are wonderful. The key theme is that we cannot afford to squander our most powerful human resource - personal creativity. With technology this world is changing so rapidly that we absolutely need everyone's help to think creatively and use their imagination and what he calls their unique Element to shape and create a positive living experience. With science and math valued above every subject for every child in the classroom, not only those who have a proclivity for it, and the arts and physical education valued far below for every child, despite their proclivity for it, Robinson says we are wasting our most important resource needed for our future - imagination and creativity. To Robinson it would be ideal for everyone to know their Element, nuture and grow it, and share it with the world in its most positive expression. He cultivated a sense of wonder in me that has lead me on the quest for my Element. I have good ideas of what it is, but I want to be sure, and I have been experimenting with various jobs and habits that I believe will help reveal my Element. I'm getting close!

I've tried to limit and direct my consumption of information to that which enhances my life, expands my perception, and teaches me what I need to understand in order to uncover and strengthen my Element. This cultivates and keeps me in a constant state of wonder.

Mother Nature

--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) --

I live in Avon, CO in the rocky mountains high country with nature all around me. I wake up to the sights and smells of the mountains every day and I am here because it makes me feel alive, like I am living and breathing with mother nature. This summer Rob and I camped a lot and one weekend stands out in particular. On labor day weekend we took a chance and drove to our favorite camping spot late saturday morning to have a well needed weekend to ourselves. We were so excited and even though there was was such little chance that it would be available we set out on the adventure. It's about a 12 mile dirt road drive from the two lane highway and for 10 miles we were chatting and enjoying the drive. The last 2 miles we were on the edge of our seats, rounding the dirt road corners, knowing that if there wasn't a car parked on the side of the road where a small pathway takes you to a secret camping spot that we were golden. Wouldn't it be great, we thought, if we got there first, it's impossible to think, wouldn't it be amazing if we had this place to ourselves?!!!! The anticipation was completely exhilarating as I stretched my sight as far as I could with each turn as if it would make it come sooner, and as we rounded the last corner - there were no cars parked- it was ours!! We couldn't believe it. This place is magical and was the perfect place to celebrate 2 years of being together. Tall pine trees and cool, green foliage surround you as a you walk a small, winding dirt path for about 10 yards then rise over a huge boulder to look over a flat dirt area. A secret spot. There is a 10' rock wall to build a fire against, a river to the right that i love to dip my hot skin in and get all tingly. You walk further into the pine forest where there is flat ground, bedded with pine needles, and room for more tents. We've had 15 of our closest friends camping here at one time. You can hike or mountain bike to a gorgeous reservoir - and climb rocks to jump in the cold water with squeals of delight, which we did the weekend earlier with our friends. This weekend we gathered wood, built a gorgeous pine fire, talked late into the night, marveled at the black night sky and slept under a blanket of stars.

Inner Criticism

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

Great question. I'd have to say that my own criticism and sometimes confusion about what I want my writing to accomplish gets in the way of actually writing. I have a general idea of what I think my writing should be, and I get fearful of falling short of that. I have come to love 750words.com - and was dedicated to writing daily in the month of September which was wonderfully inspiring (even though I missed 3 days!). I've used claddyjack on and off for years as a place to form ideas and creative thoughts - it has been an imaginative space without needing to be FOR anything, not even for writing daily, which I've enjoyed as it's been at my whim. Yet I feel the need to write more often for all sorts of great reasons. Writing is an activity that I too often expect too much from, not sure why but the "why" doesn't matter - so I'm just going to write and see what comes of it and not needing to know beforehand what it will accomplish - make sense? By doing this Reverb10 reflection daily and online I am already eliminating what contributes to my non -writing. So yep, I can and am eliminating what doesn't contirbute to my writing. Small steps daily, people.