From the yearly archives:

2010

reverb 10

December 28, 2010

in 2010 will be what it will be,a little history

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)

I’ve talked about my friend Christle before. She has been a faithful friend for many years now and has seen me through some of my darkest days and brightest spots. In May we travelled to the Sasquatch Music Festival together with another good friend, Andrea. That weekend stands out as one of the best, not only of this year, but of my entire life. Spending all that time together brought us closer and gave me reason to understand why spending time with friends is so important. I laughed so much that weekend and felt such joy. I want to make it a priority to spend a weekend with friends every year now.

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)

This year i learned that i can be happy. That i can be content. That i can love and appreciate myself. I learned to be alone, to love, to be loved. I listened to my heart. It was a wonderful year.

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)

Well, i signed up for the BMO Vancouver Marathon in May. It was one of the most terrifying and exhilarating decisions i have ever made. I’m not sure what my goal for this race is, other than just doing it. This year i started running and made a similarly frightening goal to do a half-marathon. I ended up doing two and doing them really well. I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again – running has changed my life and made it amazing.

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)

Having shane back in my life has healed me in profound ways. It hasn’t been an easy evolution back to being together. Over the past 9 months we have struggled to find ourselves in this new relationship. We have a deep understanding of each other, we have been together for half our lives (minus three years). We drive each other crazy with frustration, passion, laughter, love and pain. In the past few months we have come to a good place. We have both healed. Healed from being hurt and hurting. I am deeply thankful to have him in my life again.

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 had really wanted to spend more time writing this year. It kind of took a backseat to spending time with my family and running. It is still important to me and helps me better than anything else to get clarity. I have this book that’s been rattling around in my head forever. I would really like to write that at some point, but family and health will remain a priority.

December 21 – Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Author: Jenny Blake)

Ummm. I can’t wrap my head around this. I have no idea what the future holds. I can hope for things – healthy children, a happy home – but i am constantly evolving and i can’t envision who or what i will be in five years.

December 22 – Travel How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? (Author: Tara Hunt)

I had three major trips last year. Washington, New York and Las Vegas. Unfortunately i didn’t get to do very much local travelling. Vancouver Island is one of the most beautiful places and i love exploring it with the kids in the summertime. A hectic summer work schedule meant i couldn’t get away to go camping last summer. Living in our new house on the lake helped to alleviate some of the kids resentment about that. Next year i am hoping to get away with shane a couple times, take the kids skiing and camping, go back to Sasquatch and BlogHer and make a couple trips to races.

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? (Author: Becca Wilcott)

Would changing my name change anything about me? I don’t think so. I am jess and i make my mark on this world and in my children’s lives as myself. There is nobody else i would rather be.

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? (Author: Kate Inglis)

It was sometime in April or May, Shane and i had had a rather large argument and he stormed out the door with a flurry of anger he declared he was never coming back. Moments later i phoned him and he was sitting in his car out front, he came back. I’m not sure if i knew at that moment that everything was going to be okay. But, i did know one thing – I wanted him to come back. Having been alone for three years i know that i can do all of this on my own, i just discovered that i don’t want to. I want to be married, i want to be married to shane and i want to love him and treat him well every single day.

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. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words.

thank you from jess howard on Vimeo.

Not a photo, but a visual moment that changed my life. Early last year i couldn’t afford runners and some readers bought them for me. It was incredible and amazing and i’ve been trying to their generosity forward all year.

December 26 – Soul Food What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? (Author: Elise Marie Collins

The Christmas Dinner i made. A standing Rib Roast with Stilton Cream Sauce, Yorkshire pudding, Roast potatoes and brussel sprouts. It was amazing. It was an amazing day. I was filled with so much love, happiness and joy – the meal was the topper. Best dinner i’ve ever made.

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? (Author: Brené Brown)

Being a mother who works evenings means i miss out on family dinner most nights. I get so much joy out of my nights off. Cooking dinner, eating as a family, catching up. Making lunches and doing homework with the kids. I love my nights off.

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reverb 10 – five minutes

December 16, 2010

in 2010 will be what it will be,family,i think i'm in love

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)

The only thing that is really important. My family. I have the four most amazing little creatures in my life. My kids make me laugh and cry. They bring me to the heights of every single emotion, then they burst the threshold and fill me with more love than i ever thought i could possibly hold. I am so thankful to have them in my life. They make me proud every single day. They continually amaze me. Watching them stretch and grow over the past year has been incredible. I never know what is around the corner when it comes to parenting and i look so forward to every single day with them and treasure every single one of these fourteen years i’ve been a parent.

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reverb 10 – catching up

December 14, 2010

in 2010 will be what it will be,a little history

December 1 – 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? (Author: Gwen Bell)

Strength. Courage. I can’t decide which one. Reconciliation, running, traveling, moving. It was such a busy, great year. In so many ways 2010 was the year i became myself. I have no idea what 2011 will hold. Hopefully continued peace, strength and courage.

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

My life is pretty full. All of it contributes to the loop in my brain. I don’t have time to do anything that doesn’t contribute to family, health, love and life. If i could give up grocery shopping i would.

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)

Two things come to my mind. First, when i was so sick last week in Vegas that i truly thought i was dying. My body was screaming with life and struggling to bring itself back to an even keel. Second, when i finished my first half-marathon and looked over and saw my family waving and cheering me on. Such an immense feeling of pride.

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

I think i did. At moments. I try to do this for my kids, it’s one of those things that i lay in bed thinking about and promise to myself to try harder/do better the next day. Childhood is flying by for my children, every day that sense of wonder slips a little further away for them. I want to hold that magic for them.

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

I let go of being single and a single mother. Most days i am content and happy with my choice. Love is a battlefield. Messy and awesome.

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)

I’m not a maker of things. I don’t even like cooking anymore. I’m a doer i guess.

December 7 – 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)

I have discovered an amazing running community, both locally and online. I am really happy to have this group of people around me who are so focused on healthy habits and genuine support, and encouragement. I want to get more involved locally. Run with other people, attend meet-ups. Make friends i guess. I would like to make some friends next year.

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)

I often feel like i’m different than most people. I don’t fit in very well. I’m awkward – which often comes across as weird – and super shy – which often comes across as snobby. One thing that i do that i really love about myself is that i am very positive. I always compliment people. I am not scared of beauty, it does not intimidate me in any way and i love to tell people what i think is beautiful about them. I can see the joy it brings. I notice most people don’t like to give comments and that intrigues me. I want to figure out why.

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)

A small affair. A little black dress, some candles, a blanket on the floor, a lovely dinner, good music and shane.

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

I gave up being scared. I mean fear didn’t go away, i just embraced it – the racing heart, the negative talk in my head, the doubts, the what if’s. I kept all those, but i added a positive loop in my head – “what’s the worst thing that can happen?” Because, in so many ways, i feel like i have already survived so many worst things that can happen and they have made me stronger and healthier, mind and body, than i have ever been.

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)

Drama. My life has revolved around so much drama over the past five or six years. I am done with it and even if it’s there i’m not going to tell you about it. Drama stays out for good.

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)

I don’t really understand how this would feel, so my gut tells me i have never experienced it. I know when i run long distances i have complete separation of mind and body. My body just goes, one foot in front of the other, and my mind races in a different direction. Cohesive me, alive and present – i think i live in my head too much for that.

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)

When i switched my blog around (twice) this year my feeds got all messed up and i lost most, if not all, of my subscribers. At first i panicked, but than i found it kind of freeing. Instead of thousands of people looking each day to see what mess i had made now, there was a small group of amazing and supportive people who have given me hope and wonder and joy without any sense of judgement or expectation. I am going to continue to reinvent myself and my blog and it is exciting and new. Something i needed after almost seven years of online writing.

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)

Time. Time alone, with friends, with family, with shane. I am so much more comfortable with all aspects of my life. I feel a balance that i have never had before. My life has the perfect mix of time well spent.

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