Beautifully Different
I know I’m late writing this post, but I think the exercise is too good to miss: forcing yourself to acknowledge what it is that makes you so amazing? Perfect for developing self-confidence.
Prompt: 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.
Of all the things I could choose about myself that makes me different, my laugh is without a doubt one that I know is different, and thus beautiful. Impossible to ignore and always recognizable, I am sure it’s one of the more memorable things about me.
What makes you different? Beautiful?
A Sense of Community
Unfortunately, I’ve been waiting until evening to write most of my blog posts for Reverb 10. Not sure if that’s positively or negatively impacting the number of readers, but it’s too hard to find time during the day!
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?
One of my goals for this year was to “build and grow relationships.” Meeting new people is something that I’m not entirely comfortable with. However, thanks to industry networking events and informal gatherings, I have been forced into meeting new people. And it’s been a great experience.
I’ve met amazing people, fine-tuned informal conversation skills and made lasting connections with my peers.
In 2011, I hope to explore the nonprofit communities that exist in the Twin Cities. There are great events, Twitter chats and organizations that connect nonprofit professionals. In addition, I am hoping to join a professional organization focused on marketing and public relations professionals. These groups offer unique opportunities to meet like-minded individuals, learn new things and develop skills. I can’t wait to see what kind of amazing people I meet in the upcoming year.
Early Morning Tradition
Week 2 of the Reverb 10 blogging challenge has come and gone – and I’ve only missed one day so far. I consider that to be a success. Here we go with Day 6:
Prompt: 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?
Though technically not the last thing I made, I spent one Saturday morning this November making lefse with my grandma, mom and sister.
Having never made lefse – only enjoyed it for 24.75 years – I really had no idea how much of a process it really is.
The night before, all the potatoes are cooked and then riced. Andy helped Grandma with this part, because he’s “big and strong.” With that done, they are put in the garage to cool, but not freeze, to eliminate all the moisture.
Saturday morning, bright and early, the real fun began. Approximately 7 cups of potatoes are mixed with flour, sugar and lard – I can’t remember the exact amounts of each. With your hands, you then knead the mixture into a dough until it no longer sticks to your fingers. Well, that’s impossible to do, but you get as close as possible. Then, you roll the dough into small balls approximately 2-3″ in diameter.
Using a grooved rolling pin, the balls of dough are rolled out until they are paper thin. This is where I found the most difficulty as my batch had a bit too much potato and holes kept forming. Enter frustration. Once the dough is rolled out, it is transferred to a grill and cooked for about 90 seconds on each side. Voila. Lefse.
Watching my mom and, especially, my grandma crank out batch after batch of lefse was an inspiring moment. Not only were they able to roll dough, fry it and package it effortlessly, but knowing that this recipe and tradition had been in our families for generations and generations makes it that much more special.
Even though my first experience making lefse was a frustrating one, I can’t wait to try again and become a part of the tradition.
The NEW Plan
I missed out on the fourth post, but managed to log back on to my computer (on the weekends, which I try to avoid) to reflect on today’s Reverb 10 prompt.
Prompt: Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?
This year, I let go of a life plan. I’m a planner. Extremely Type-A. I have always needed to map out my life. Get married by X, have kids by Y.
But, I finally realized that isn’t exactly realistic. Life has too many variables. Priorities change, opportunities arise and the goals of people in your life can affect your own plans. Oftentimes, for the better.
Rather than having milestones in my life. I think I’ve finally resigned to goals. Whether they are accomplished in 5 years or 15 is less important than ensuring they are accomplished. I want to get married. I want to have children. I want to buy a house. I also want to go back to school. And live somewhere outside of the Twin Cities, just for a few years.
While I haven’t completely let go of control or planning, I’m comfortable in my new commitment to enjoy what I’ve got before planning for what’s next.
Go Ahead and Jump..
Initially, the Reverb 10 prompt for today really threw me for a loop – then I started looking through photos, and I couldn’t believe it didn’t come to me instantly.
Prompt: Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).
This year, I went skydiving.
It was, by far, the most exciting, terrifying, exhilarating and freeing moment of 2010.
The trek up to 13,000 feet felt like it took forever, especially when our pilot asked us to guess how high we thought we were when we were only at 6,000 feet (and I guessed 10,000). Yikes.
When we finally got to the top and the door opened, it was freezing, windy and hard to breathe.
All I remember next is tumbling out of the plane – unsure of what was up and what was down. My ears were popping from the pressure and we moved so quickly that I couldn’t catch my breath.
The view, however, was amazing. You could see for miles and the simplicity of farmland as a backdrop helped to keep me calm.
Finally, when we reached Earth, my heart was racing, my legs were jelly and I was already a bit sore.
The entire day was an amazing experience and even though my jump was much easier than friends who jumped first, I think once is enough for me when it comes to jumping out of a plane.
What was one moment in 2010 that you remember vividly? One that made you feel alive?
Self-Doubt
So far I’m two for two on this #reverb10 blogging challenge. Yessss.
Day 2 Prompt: Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing – and can you eliminate it?
For as loud and opinionated as I am, it comes as a shock to many people that I am also very unsure of myself and my abilities. And I know I’m not alone in this struggle.
In starting my blog a little over a year ago, I had the same questions that I have today:
- Why should I write a blog?
- What do I know that is worth sharing?
- Who is going to want to read this anyway?
This constant soul-searching and self-doubt not only takes up time, but it also inhibits my ability to write freely and often.
I’m hoping that by participating in events such as Reverb 10, I can get into the habit of simply writing. Not thinking about writing, or why I shouldn’t blogging, but just doing it.
What about you? What prevents you from writing as much as you’d like? Or do you write/blog frequently? If so, what’s your secret?
Sign up. Contribute. Reflect. Remember. Reverb 10 is an annual event and online initiative to reflect on the past year and manifest what’s ahead.
One Word
Happy December 1st! In addition to changing over your desk calendar, you should check out reverb10.com and join the daily blogging challenge to reflect on the year that was 2010.
Well, it’s Day 1 and here is the prompt: One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?
I just wrote a post about this, but I think it is the most appropriate to describe this past year. Change.
So much happened in 2010 that changed who I am as a person, what I believe and what my future will hold. Here is my best attempt to remember those moments:
- I went skydiving.
- An amazing man proposed to me and we’re getting married next summer.
- I gave my very first solo presentation to the PRSSA chapter at St. Thomas – forcing me to acknowledge that I have something worthwhile to share with others.
- I started a new job.
- I joined the LEAD Project Board of Directors.
- For the first time in a long time, I didn’t attend the College World Series.
- Went to my first-ever game at Lambeau Field – and I’m hoping to go again in January
- My little sister graduated from high school and is now a freshman at the University of St. Thomas.
- I traveled to Europe for (what is most likely my last) family vacation.
- We bought a puppy.
All of these things, no matter how life-changing or minor, affected me greatly this year. I’m proud of the things that I learned, how I adapted and where I stepped out of my comfort zone.
What word would you use to describe your 2010?
About Me
Marketing, web and communications professional. Passionate about sports, photography, travel, friends and family. Minnesota gal, who happens to cheer for the Packers."In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary." --aaron rose