graciespeaks

Best of 2009: Resolution I Wish I'd Stuck With

Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge: New Year's Eve Question:

    December 31 Resolution you wish you'd stuck with.

It turns out that I did not make any New Year's Resolutions in 2009.

I realized in late 2008 that I had a long history of resolving to change myself for the better so that "everything" would be all right.  That didn't quite work for me, so I took a year off from making resolutions at all.

So rather than a resolution I wish I'd kept, the resolution I wish I'd made would be one to be kinder and more compassionate, including to myself.

Greater kindness and compassion: the first of the resolutions I will make for 2010.

Happy New Year!

Best Ad of 2009--Not "Your Wife is Hot"

Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge next-to-last question:

December 30 Ad. What advertisement made you think this year?

I have driven past these billboards a lot:

and its successor

The first time I saw the first "your wife is hot" ad, I thought it was clever.  It got my attention. And when I saw the response a few weeks later, I thought it was funny for a few seconds, too.

Then I got hot.  I try not to take life so seriously, lighten up, let things go.

But I wondered why it's amusing for billboards to evaluate and announce the hotness of wives.  Why no billboard that says "your husband is hot"?

What do you think?

Best Laugh of 2009: Gracie's birthday

Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge:

December 29 Laugh. What was your biggest belly laugh of the year?

I've modified this question to be "Smile.  What was your longest-lasting smile of the year?"

Gracie turned fifteen in May, and while I know I was grateful for her prior to that milestone, I've been particularly aware that she is now really old for a Weimaraner, and every day she is with me is a gift.

So I smile every time I think of her or see her.  And if I'm at home, I give her a kiss.

Best Stationery of 2009 from Kate's Paperie

Gwen Bell's Blog Challenge next question.

December 28 Stationery. When you touch the paper, your heart melts. The ink flows from the pen. What was your stationery find of the year?

I discovered Kate's Paperie's SoHo store while on vacation a few years ago, and I have shopped the website ever since.  Everything I've bought has been special and beautiful.

My favorite 2009 find was deckle-edged ivory notecards by G. Lalo Borghese.

The paper is heavy and delicious, and the size is perfect for a quick thank-you note written with a wide-nib fountain pen or a longer communication, tiny print using a Sakura Pigma Micron pen.

Best Social Web Moment of 2009: Discovering Twitter

Next question from Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge:

December 27 Social web moment. Did you meet someone you used to only know from her blog? Did you discover Twitter?

Yes, I discovered Twitter.  I was a late adapter, and a resistant one, but I joined, waited a few months, followed a few people, started tweeting announcements of blog posts and oh, so tentatively joined in a conversation here and there. 

All of my childhood training held me back: we hadn't been properly introduced, what if I were interrupting, these are strangers for goodness' sake.

But the conversations were fine, and safe, and satisfying.  I started thinking of people in terms of names which began with "@."

@deepakchopra refers to his "Twitter family."  @whollyjeanne refers to her "Twitter tribe."  @gwenbell has formed a community of people writing and reading these Best of 2009 questions and answers.

I think maybe they're on to something.

I've been blessed with affirming blog comments, satisfying email exchanges, and enriching long-distance friendship because of Twitter.  Definitely my best social web moment (ever).

Best Insight of 2009

Best of 2009 Challenge continues:

December 26 Insight or aha! moment. What was your epiphany of the year?

My repeated epiphany of the year has been handed to me on a few silver platters, most recently by my friend Bindu: I am still hiding out.

Like this figure in a New York park,

I stand back just far enough to remain less than completely visible.  My resolution for 2010 is to come out from behind the vegetation.

Best Gift to Myself of 2009

Gwen Bell's Blog Challenge continues for me for about ten and a half hours, and the catchup posts on this last day of 2009 will be brief and to the point:

    December 25 Gift. What's a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving?

I allowed myself to ignite some fireworks this year, before, during and after the fourth of July, and some of them are still sparking, beautiful, illuminating, explosive.

 

Best Learning Experience of 2009: Houston

From Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge, the next question:

December 24 Learning experience. What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?

The whole experience that I think of as "Houston," an experience that is ongoing, really began toward the end of 2008.  Out of the blue, Michael, who could always swim, run, you name it, more quickly, easily, and happily than I, got tired.

Rounds of tests and doctor visits finally revealed an aneurysm to be repaired and a heart valve to be replaced, as soon as possible.  His cardiologist recommended a surgeon in Houston, so we flew to Texas for his open heart surgery about six weeks later, in April.  Here's what I learned (much of which I thought I knew, but on which I apparently needed to have a refresher course), in no particular order:

• I don't know what's coming next
• since I don't know what's coming next, I have to savor every moment and show love to the people in my life
• if I am open to receive love and support, there's plenty for me
• I can only take care of someone else if I am tending to myself
• there are ways in which we can only care for ourselves--no one else can do it
• prayer affects change
• nothing stays the same
• bodies heal amazingly
• hearts, physical and metaphysical, are intertwined

Best Web Tool of 2009: Ubernote

Best of 2009 Blog Challenge Question:

December 23 Web tool. It came into your work flow this year and now you couldn't live without it. It has simplified or improved your online experience.

I work on at least two different computers most days: a PC at work and a Mac at home.  If I'm traveling, I take my Mac laptop.  I fantasize about having all my stuff in one place, accessible from any computer or operating system. 

Sometimes I bookmark a site on my PC at the office, but then wish I could remember what it was when I'm home with my Mac in the evening or somewhere with my laptop ready to blog.  Post-it notes and notebooks work, but become disorganized if I don't use the notes right away.

I've tried with varying success to understand delicious and digg and stumbleupon.  I'm going to give delicious one more try, but so far, as much as I like to be listed on it, the process of creating my own lists has eluded me.

I have had the most ease with Ubernote. I don't think I use anything close to its potential, but its "clip" feature makes it easy to file a website under a tag one day and get the link when I'm ready to use it.  

I'll revisit this "best web tool" question in 2010.

Best Startup (helper) of 2009: Kiva

Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge continues and I continue to work to finish by then end of the year:

December 22 Startup. What's a business that you found this year that you love? Who thought it up? What makes it special?

Kiva, a non-profit organization that accepts donations via the internet and makes loans to intermediary lenders who then make microloans to small entrepreneurs around the world, is not a 2009 startup, but it funds some of the smallest startups on the planet. 

Kiva has been around since 2005, and the only new thing in 2009 is its lending to United States small entrepreneurs.  Over the weekend,The New York Times ran an article about Kiva and other microlenders, explaining some of the misconceptions about the way they work.

I like funding these smallest startups, helping people, women especially, start businesses to provide better lives for themselves and their children.  I've made 8 loans through Kiva since July, and all of them are current, performing, being repaid, and, I hope, improving people's lives.