I’m participating in Reverb 10, a 31-day online challenge to reflect on 2010 and mentally prepare for 2011. Feel free to read my previous Reverb posts, and follow #reverb10 on Twitter.

From Alice Bradley:

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

The above artwork from Hugh MacLeod was created for his book, Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity.

This piece really spoke to me as I reflected on decisions I made (or didn’t make) in 2010. I think adopting the mindset in Hugh’s art requires letting go of certain insecure, self-conscious thoughts, and trusting your gut more often. I’ve taken this message to heart heading into 2011.

Group Discussion:

How would you interpret Hugh’s art? What did you let go of this year?

I’m participating in Reverb 10, a 31-day online challenge to reflect on 2010 and mentally prepare for 2011. Feel free to read my previous Reverb posts, and follow #reverb10 on Twitter.

From Jeffrey Davis

December 4 – Wonder.

How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

Laura Kimball responded to today’s prompt by writing about networking and how she finds inspiration in building new relationships, no matter how brief. Sometimes the simplest conversations can set off the proverbial light bulb in our heads. This got me thinking about the awesome people I’ve met at networking events, meetups and tweetups around Phoenix this year.

A few of my favorites:

Buzzcation: Buzzcation was born out of an impromptu happy hour tweetup.  I’m sure you’re wondering what “buzzcation” means. Read the official definition here.

Commpose: I’ve been involved with this copywriting group for about year. The meetups are very relaxed and informal. We held a cool writing workshop (appropriately titled “Writeshop”) last summer.

Ignite Phoenix: Ignite is a unique event hosted in more than 100 cities nationwide. Speakers get five minutes and twenty slides to present virtually any topic they feel passionate about.  The topics topic tend to be very diverse, to say the least. You can watch past presentations here.

Group Discussion:
Where do you go to meet inspirational people? How have you cultivated a sense of wonder this year?

Photo Credit: Flickr-Michael Ging

I’m participating in Reverb 10, a 31-day online challenge to reflect on 2010 and mentally prepare for 2011. Feel free to read my previous Reverb posts, and follow #reverb10 on Twitter.

Today’s prompt comes from Ali Edwards:

December 3

Moment.

Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

This appeared in my inbox around 10:30 pm MST last night.  At the time, I was in a state of euphoria as my beloved ASU Sun Devils had just beaten our rival UofA in epic fashion.  I was pumped. I couldn’t sleep. So, I stayed up late to crank out some freelance work and ponder Ali’s prompt.

I struggled to single out a moment from 2010 that fit  in with the prompt.   Then, I thought about how I felt after ASU’s victory. I’m not suggesting a football game was the highlight of my year, but hear me out.

Sports as an Escape:

We all have at least one activity that lets us to mentally escape from the real world, right?  Reading, writing, cooking, traveling, reality TV, something. I’ve accepted sports as one of my escapes. When my favorite team loses, it doesn’t affect my mood too much.  But the moment they win, I always feel a boost of energy, which sometimes lasts for days.

Take a look at the following video. This is a collection of Team USA soccer fans reacting to Landon Donovan’s CLUTCH, game-winning goal against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup.  I’m not in the video, but my reaction wasn’t any less subdued.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Doesn’t that give you chills? OK, maybe not so much if you aren’t a fan.  I get it , it’s just a game. I do think the clip brilliantly captures the raw emotion people feel when the stars align and they’ve hit that perfect moment of bliss.

Group Dicussion:

What’s your escape? What’s makes you feel alive?

Photo Credit: Sports.Spreadit.org

I’m participating in Reverb 10, a 31-day online challenge to reflect on 2010 and mentally prepare for 2011. Feel free to read my previous Reverb posts, and follow #reverb10 on Twitter.

Leo Babuata provided Day Two’s prompt:

December 2 Writing.
What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?

I think this question can be interpreted a few different ways. I’ll respond by acknowledging what holds me back from my writing.

Twitter Junkie

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Twitter has helped me discovered many smart people who’ve inspired me to start my own blog.  Admittedly, I haven ‘t posted as I often as I should.  As I type this, there are four unpublished drafts sitting in wordpress account.  What keeps me from hitting the publish button?

I’m guilty of using Twitter, and other social media sites,  to procrastinate when I should be finishing a post.  This action alone isn’t what I’d eliminate. I use Twitter to find others’ blog posts for ideas and inspiration.  Unfortunately, I start comparing myself against other bloggers, which sometimes makes me apprehensive about publishing my own writing.

Clearing the Hurdle

This topic seemed to resonate among my fellow Reverb-ers today. I can take solace in knowing that I’m not the only blogger who struggles with comparison and self-doubt. So, what’s the solution?

Matt Chevy recommends letting go of your inhibitions and start shooting from the hip.  Stop obsessing over every sentence, and just write your raw, unedited thoughts. Eventually, the words will start to flow, and you’ll get more comfortable with the process.

Group Discussion:

Bloggers and writers, how would you respond to today’s Reverb prompt?

Photo Credit: ChipChick.com

I started this blog back in April, and it’s safe to say I’ve failed to post consistently. While I never had a concrete plan my blog’s content, the overall goal was simple: share a little about myself, improve my writing, and promote a lot of awesomeness.  Reverb10 is the prefect opportunity to do all three!

Reverb 10 is a 31-day online challenge to reflect on 2010 and mentally prepare for 2011. Participating is easy.  Just read the daily prompt and post your response where fellow participants can see it  (a blog or Twitter update).  Follow the #reverb10 hashtag for inspiration.

The first prompt is courtesy of Gwen Bell,  one of Reverb’s masterminds.

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?

It didn’t take long for me to find the right words.

2010: Resilience

re·sil·ience Noun \ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s\

1. the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.

2. ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.

I’ve spent the majority of 2010 searching for a job. In fact, my entire post-college career has required lots of buoyancy so far. In the tireless pursuit of a digital marketing career, I’ve worked part-time jobs, contracts jobs, freelance gigs. All valuable ways to build experience. All of which I’m grateful for. Maintaining dedicated isn’t always easy, but I know the bending, compressing, and stretching will payoff soon.

2011: Resilient

Yep.  My situation likely won’t be much different in a month, so I’ll still be grinding in the new year. At the end of next year, though, I hope I can look at and truly appreciate the lessons I’ve learned so far.

Group Discussion:

What one word defines your 2010? How do you hope to define 2011?