Soul food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?
Hmm this is a tricky one, because I generally don't pay super attention to food. Although this year I'd have to say the one thing that sticks out is Australian Sour Cream. It's heavenly, it's like whipped butter but sour cream. It's amazing and delectable.
But more than that it's about HOW I eat, the best meals I've had are prepared with friends, shared over a bottle of wine and terrific conversation. And I've had these meals in many countries over the year, and that's makes me so happy.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Ordinary joy
Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?
There are so many. I try to make sure one moment of every day is made extraordinary by my noticing it. But my most joyful moment of the year was coming back to Toronto, realizing that I have a home in this world. Coming to my apartment and being SO HAPPY to have my space back. To be happy to be alone.
Photo
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.
I took this picture, in my nook. It's of my Angel, my mum has the other half of it. She collects these types of angels and was pretty into it when I was in my teens. When I moved away to England at 18 she gave me this half to have and remember her with. I took it everywhere, this little angel has seen all of Europe. When I came home, I gave it back. But when I moved to Toronto- supposedly for school and for a limited time offer, but we both knew this was the move I was going to make forever, she gave it back to me and I never go anywhere with it. It keeps me connected to my mum, it watches me sleep and it makes me feel happy and connected to those far away when I look at it. I keep it by my bed so it's the last thing I see before sleep, and the first thing I look in the morning. The halo is pretty beat up and tattered these days- but then we've been through some rough times together.
I miss my family, there isn't a day that goes by that I wish I could live closer. There is no regret about moving to Toronto- ever. I love it here, I'm happy and this is, finally after years of searching, my home. So thank goodness for Skype and the phone and for my whole family.
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| My Angel |
I miss my family, there isn't a day that goes by that I wish I could live closer. There is no regret about moving to Toronto- ever. I love it here, I'm happy and this is, finally after years of searching, my home. So thank goodness for Skype and the phone and for my whole family.
Everything's OK
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?
Hmm this one is weird, I already know everything is going to be OK. And I don't know if I can define it to a specific moment. Everyday that I wake up, it's OK, every time I walk outside, it's OK, every smile I have it's OK, every friend I speak to, it's OK.
So this hasn't been a discovery for this year, but I will continue to come back to now and remember in this moment, it's perfect. It is all perfect.
Hmm this one is weird, I already know everything is going to be OK. And I don't know if I can define it to a specific moment. Everyday that I wake up, it's OK, every time I walk outside, it's OK, every smile I have it's OK, every friend I speak to, it's OK.
So this hasn't been a discovery for this year, but I will continue to come back to now and remember in this moment, it's perfect. It is all perfect.
New Name
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 would be Baroness Michelle Darlington, obviously! Why? Because I think I'm all classy and aristocratic (but realistic enough to only lust after a barony not a duchy) and Darling or Darlington would probably be the only names I'd trade my last name up for. Part of me thinks when you get married you should become a family unit and have one name. But what if that person you marry has a crappy name? I don't want to trade down in my name. I love my name. I have never really had any adverse feelings towards my name.
It's a bit of a funny name, mostly french with a good english kick in the backside. But my middle name is after my great grandmother, and I'm proud of that. Even though she passed when I was too young to remember her. And despite the teasing I received as a child about my name, I know that even if you were named Ann or Sally, you'd still get teased, kids are assholes.
So there you go. And don't forget to curtsey when we meet.
It would be Baroness Michelle Darlington, obviously! Why? Because I think I'm all classy and aristocratic (but realistic enough to only lust after a barony not a duchy) and Darling or Darlington would probably be the only names I'd trade my last name up for. Part of me thinks when you get married you should become a family unit and have one name. But what if that person you marry has a crappy name? I don't want to trade down in my name. I love my name. I have never really had any adverse feelings towards my name.
It's a bit of a funny name, mostly french with a good english kick in the backside. But my middle name is after my great grandmother, and I'm proud of that. Even though she passed when I was too young to remember her. And despite the teasing I received as a child about my name, I know that even if you were named Ann or Sally, you'd still get teased, kids are assholes.
So there you go. And don't forget to curtsey when we meet.
Travel
Travel. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?
Heh, this is a rather reverb to start on, when I read it I was a day away from flying out to New Jersey for the holidays. Which, if you read the news- me wanting to fly out on the 26th- can imagine how that ended. It was a 30 hour journey to get home and there was a lot of time cursing myself for leaving town for Christmas for traveling in general.
It's been a bit of a shite year for travel mojo, I've had several canceled flights, lost luggage, being stranded in cities, being desperately far away from my family and friends and all that was familiar. But there were some great great trips, to the beach, to New York City. And always elements of the sublime in every single trip I took.
But you know- I still love it and crave it. And people help each other, I witnessed so much openness while at Newark, people came round with homemade cupcakes, there was group commiseration on our circumstances. It made me feel part of a larger thing, part of humanity. Where we try to make the best of a bad situation and help out people around us.
I want to keep traveling like that in 2011, I want to be open and helpful and remember that it could be worse and that a helping hand can make all the difference and we're all in this together.
Heh, this is a rather reverb to start on, when I read it I was a day away from flying out to New Jersey for the holidays. Which, if you read the news- me wanting to fly out on the 26th- can imagine how that ended. It was a 30 hour journey to get home and there was a lot of time cursing myself for leaving town for Christmas for traveling in general.
It's been a bit of a shite year for travel mojo, I've had several canceled flights, lost luggage, being stranded in cities, being desperately far away from my family and friends and all that was familiar. But there were some great great trips, to the beach, to New York City. And always elements of the sublime in every single trip I took.
But you know- I still love it and crave it. And people help each other, I witnessed so much openness while at Newark, people came round with homemade cupcakes, there was group commiseration on our circumstances. It made me feel part of a larger thing, part of humanity. Where we try to make the best of a bad situation and help out people around us.
I want to keep traveling like that in 2011, I want to be open and helpful and remember that it could be worse and that a helping hand can make all the difference and we're all in this together.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Beyond avoidance
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?)
I should have gotten a job, but I avoided it. First I was exhausted and wrung out from Australia, then it was Summer and who wants a job in the Summer? (crazy people, that's who) Then I was depressed about not having a job, not knowing what I want to do with my life, not having a career, being 33 and struggling, an embarrassment to my family, not good enough. And then I was scared to try.
Will I do it? You bet I will. I feel like the curtain has parted on what it is I want to be doing, what will make me happy, what I could do for years and years and it wouldn't feel like work. And I'm going after it, I might not get there tomorrow or this coming year. But I will. You can count on it.
I should have gotten a job, but I avoided it. First I was exhausted and wrung out from Australia, then it was Summer and who wants a job in the Summer? (crazy people, that's who) Then I was depressed about not having a job, not knowing what I want to do with my life, not having a career, being 33 and struggling, an embarrassment to my family, not good enough. And then I was scared to try.
Will I do it? You bet I will. I feel like the curtain has parted on what it is I want to be doing, what will make me happy, what I could do for years and years and it wouldn't feel like work. And I'm going after it, I might not get there tomorrow or this coming year. But I will. You can count on it.
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