Reverb 10-Let Go

What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?

I let go of 40 lbs because I decided it was time to do so. It was time to start living healthier. It was time to get ready to ride a bike with my kid. Now I'm signed up to rappel down a building next year. I've got to get ready for that too.

Reverb 10- Wonder

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

I learned to let the universe love me and to show others that the universe loved them. I took a few e-courses over the year that taught me a lot about myself & about what I wanted out of life. I learned to see the world as a place full of love and kindness and I am determined to put those two things out into the world. I find that the more I give, the more I open myself up to receive.

Reverb 10-Moment

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

It would have to be the moment that I regained control of my thoughts, actions, and breath while trying to snorkel. I just remember being so scared in that moment. When I suffered my congestive heart failure after the birth of my child, the most vivid detail in my mind to this day is feeling like I was drowning. The moment I hit the water with the fins and mask on I flashed back to that. In my head I was screaming, "I'm drowning!" "I can't breathe!" "I'm going to die!" I completely lost it to the point that I was kicking sea turtles and fighting my way back to the boat. I remember clutching the side of the boat with all my might and my legs were being swept under and no matter what I did I couldn't keep my head up. My child was asking "What's wrong Mommy!" and in that moment Karla told me I was having a panic attack. As soon as I could put a name on it I snapped out of it. I knew that I couldn't let my child see me like that and that I had to regain control. I grabbed onto the emergency flotation device that the dive master was holding, put my mask back on, and let him pull me around. I remember thinking "as long as I'm breathing, I'm alive" "as long as I'm breathing, I'm alive". I kept counting my breaths. Inhale for 10, exhale for 10, over and over. Being in the water and watching the fish and turtles was amazing. It looked like the reef was breathing under the water and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I wouldn't do it again but I am so proud of myself for being able to push through it.

Reverb 10-Writing

What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?
I'm not really a writer so I'm just going to say that life happens.

Reverb '10-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 world to be that captures 2011?

My word of the year back in January was beyond. I think I have done a great job pushing myself beyond what I'm used to. I've lost 40 lbs since April 5. I took a fantastic trip to Belize where I snorkeled & worked myself through a panic attack (thanks for identifying that for me Karla). I held a very large snake so that my child could pet it. I signed up to rappel down the Wachovia building downtown next year. I bought and now faithfully wear black boots. I embraced being a soccer mom. The list could seriously go on and on.

I'm currently working on my 2011 word. I can't decide if I want it to be transcendent which means extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience or if I want it to be balance because I could really use some of that as well. I still have 21 days to think about it.

I'm late by 10 days beginning these writing prompts but I'm going to try to answer as many of these as I can. You can read more about the idea here.

Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage And Bananas

Ingredients
2 cn (15 1/2 ounce) black beans
1 Onion, coarsely chopped
3 Cloves garlic, chopped
1 tb Olive oil (or more)
2 c Chicken broth
1/2 ts Ground cumin
1/2 ts Curry powder
1/8 ts Dried oregano
1 Jalapeno, minced
2 c Long-grain rice
2 tb Chopped cilantro
2 c Canned tomatoes, coarsely
1 pk (10 ounce) frozen peas
1 lb Smoked sausage, sliced
3 Underripe bananas
2 tb Unsalted butter


Instructions
Saute onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil until softened; add to beans along with broth, cumin, curry, oregano, jalapeno, rice, cilantro and tomatoes. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until rice is barely tender, about 15 minutes. Add peas, cover, and set aside. Brown sausage slices in a skillet, adding a tiny bit of olive oil if necessary. Remove from pan and mix into rice. Slice bananas; and saute in butter until lightly browned. Serve rice and beans surrounded by bananas. Serves 6

Linking this up to Eat at Home today.

What brings me joy

*messy bed head that actually looks good
*laughing with my son
*a good, long hot shower
*front porch conversations
*writing lists
*a long yoga class
*an hour and a half massage
*dancing like a fool
*reading a really really good book
*watching a great live music show
*napping in a hammock
*windows down, music blaring, singing at the top of my lungs in the car
*bonfires
*checking things off my lists
*my son waking me up every morning with a kiss
*soup
*30 minutes on the elliptical
*making something that tastes so good my hubby smiles
*hearing my hubby laugh like a little girl
*good music
*pregnant bellies
*walking on the beach
*pedicures
*coloring in a coloring book
*baking with butterscotch chips
*mixed tapes
*drum circles
*life changing conversations
*Natasha Wescoat's art
*exploring
*listen to someone talk about their passion
*witty banter
*solving a word jumble
*belly laughs
*smiles
*playing the piano (and oh how i miss it)
*tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches
*dining by candlelight

I could keep this up all night but I'll stop for now