Reverb 2010

December 4 – Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?
- I wondered about the world. I went on walks, and noticed things.

December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?
- I let go of the thought of revenge, and of hating.  I had to or these negative thoughts would have consumed me. As I let them go, room opened up for much more happiness.

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?
- I made scrapbook pages for my scrapbook exchange club. I used "block" paper and my Cricut machine. It also took a lot of glue, and a lot more time that I'd originally imagined.


December 7 – Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010?
I found a community in my new school. I had been told that the relationships and relationships found at my old school only existed at my old school- but the truth it, I've found that at my new school. It was amazing how this community formed so quickly.

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.
- I don't know. I am still searching for that which makes me special.

December 9 – Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.
- Wendover in the middle of the night? Snowflake's reunion at the bar?

December 10 – Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?
- Wow- I made two of the largest decisions of my life this year. I guess the one that has already proven to be wise was the decision to move to Vista Heights. I have been given great opportunities that I don't believe I would have been given had I stayed at Oak Canyon. I am department chair, a GT teacher, Yearbook adviser, and data specialist. I am a mentor... and I love it.

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?
- Stress- I'm going on more happiness walks and spending more time listening to music. This will allow me to be happier.
- Worry- I'm focusing on just having faith that things will work out. I read the Bible often.
- Procrastinating my grading- this will decrease my stress
- Posters in the trunk of my car :)  - this will allow me to fit things in my trunk again
- Dust- my house just grows it, but I'm on a regular cleaning schedule...
- Bright Ideas supplies in my office & bedroom - less clutter just makes me feel better
- Piles of unfolded laundry
- 4 more???   I'm not even going to stress about it... I cleaned out a lot of things in my life in 2010

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?
- My trip to Arizona- everything was just perfect.

December 13 – Action. When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?
-I'm in the middle of getting my ELL endorsement, which will help me get my National Certification. My next step is to actually apply...  

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?
- I appreciate God much more. I am so blessed in ways that I can't even describe. I pray and thank God much more than I ever have in the past.

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.
- I want to remember driving to Arizona and hanging out with Misti. I want to remember the road trip will CJ and Ellie and the great friends/family that we saw along the way. I want to remember Texas and Kyra and her family. I want to remember Kim and the great times I've had talking with her this year. I want to remember New Jersey and my family there. I want to remember game nights with my family. I want to remember the feeling of being perfectly happy with myself and my life, and not wondering what the future will bring. I want to remember the good moments with Andy. I want to remember the support I felt from family and friends in the darkest moment. And then- I think I'll forget the rest of this year with delight.

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?
A friend- actually many friends- made me see that it is ok to feel sad and to hurt. It is ok to admit things are not ok, and to take the time to cry and wallow. Feeling that, and allowing myself to feel that, does not say anything bad about me. What matters is how I handle it when the feeling passes, and how I treat others while I am sad. It took along time for me to really accept this, and it was the joint effort on so many of my friends...

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?
I learned that I am completely ok on my own. I can take care of myself. I can be happy alone. I can accomplish things on my own. I learned that I do not need a "relationship" to be whole.

December 18 – Try. What do you want to try next year?
I want to try to get to Europe.

December 19 – Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution?
God healed me this year. He helped me find peace. It took a little while, but I was healed.

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?
I should have dealt with the situation with Andy before it became what I became. I was too scared of hurting him to really deal with it, and instead I was hurt. I won't keep quiet again.

December 21 – Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead?
I already wrote a note to myself 10 years from now. Five years from now? I think I'd just tell myself to go on a happiness walk, or to roll down the windows as I drive.

December 22 – Travel How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? I went to New Jersey twice. I road tripped to San Francisco, Portland, and Washington with CJ & Ellie. I went to Phoenix and Houston. In 2011, I'm going to Europe.

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?
- It is strange how much our name identifies who we are. For the last month I've felt like I don't know my own name, and I don't know how to introduce myself to new people. I've pretty much quit using my last name. If, just for a day, I could use another name- I'd just go by JJ for a day. I wouldn't need a last name, and I wouldn't need an explanation.

December 24 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?
Dancing in the rain on the way home from Arizona. I knew in that moment that I would be ok- and it is proof in my heart that I am ok. And as long as I am ok, the world can throw anything it wants at me.

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.
- I think the fact that are are so few photos of this year is more significant than any one photo can be. This year was not about making memories that would be preserved forever. This year was about living in a moment, and in a moment only. I am letting go of the past, and therefor didn't preserve it in photos.


December 26 – Soul Food What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? I will never forget eating.... whatever. I don't care about food. I really have no memory of anything special. Well- maybe the discovery that I really like Chili's burgers.


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?
I have found joy in just walking around my neighborhood actually. There are flowers, and kids, and people smiling. Happiness walks are my profound joy.

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.
This next year, I want to achieve calm. I want to not be in a crazy mind-whirl so often. How can I achieve that right now?
- Write a blog
- read a book
- Scrapbook
- Grade papers
- Clean my house
- Happiness walk
- Cruise with the music blaring
- Work out
- Play with my dogs
- Tell myself to stop worrying

December 29 – Defining Moment Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.
-Well, let's say the obvious. May 7- confronting Andrew about the photo I found online.. him getting angry... me leaving town... finding the email... saying I wanted a divorce... buying the Mustang... leaving on my road trip... him packing his bags... throwing picture frames at my wall... buying decorations to cover the hole in my wall... redecorating my house... spending all summer traveling... going to church when I got home... hanging out with friends more... spending time with Andy without stress... finding joy in myself... being happy. :)

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?
I was given the gift of forgiveness. I am forgiven and saved.

December 31 – Core Story What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world?
- I don't know my core story. I think if I learned anything this year it is that I am still evolving and that I am still discovering what I have to offer the world. It is big- it will make a difference, but I am not yet ready to share it.