Best of 2009

The web world is so full of inspiring words and activities! I just found this one that comes in the form of a challenge designed to help you look back on your year. Every day there is a new “best of” topic that you share a sentence, photo or whatever to describe.  Here it is, from Gwen Bell:

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2009? Mississippi!

December 2 Restaurant moment. The night Adam returned from Italy we went on a double date with my roommate and best friend to S’mac (my favorite place to get gluten free mac and cheese). I hadn’t seen him in four months, and I loved sharing the night with Kat and Jon.

December 3 Article.

December 4 Book. The Shack by William P. Young. This book made me think about love and God in a new way.

Papa: “There are millions of reasons to allow pain and hurt and suffering rather than to eradicate them, but most of these reasons can only be understood within each person’s story. I am not evil. You are the ones who embrace fear and pain and power and rights so readily in your relationships. But your choices are not stronger than my purposes, and I will use every choice you make for the ultimate good and the most loving outcome” (125).

Jesus: “Remember, the people who know me are the ones who are free to live and love without any agenda” (181).

Jesus: “Who said anything about being a Christian? I’m not a Christian” (182).

Sarayu: “Mack, if anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again” (235).

December 5 Night out. Halloween!  THE CIRCUS.

December 6 Workshop or conference. I learned a lot about creating change and COA at the Ashoka conference.

December 7 Blog find of the year. Maggie Doyne!

December 8 Moment of peace. Exploring Mount Desert Island!

December 9 Challenge. Moving to Maine. Continuing life in a new place with completely new people. For thirteen years I went to school at Rye Country Day. Then I moved to the city to attend NYU. While NYU was a new beginning, I could always come home on the weekends or meet up with family and old friends in the city. My time in Kenya, while I was alone and in a new place was never something I thought of as permanent. Moving to Maine on the other hand is a new kind of new. I have a new home, and I love it.

December 10 Album of the year. I love Iron & Wine and Taylor Swift.

December 11 The best place. This is way too hard.

December 12 New food. This would have to be quinoa. Quinoa has a protein content of 12-18% and contains a balanced set of essential amino acids! I mix it in with everything-cheese, vegetables, salad… you name it. TRY IT. IT’S SO GOOD FOR YOU.

December 13 What’s the best change you made to the place you live? I really enjoyed decorating our apartment down in Union Square with an underwater scene in one room and the seasons changing in the other. It was funny because right after I finished doing New York City complete with a yellow submarine underneath it, Kat or Puj said, “Gosh, I HATE that song.” 🙁

December 14 Rush. Running naked into the ocean after finishing my first term at COA. (Yes in Maine. Yes, in late November).

December 15 Best packaging. Well, my friends all signed a watermelon for my birthday instead of buying a card. I loved that!

December 16 Tea of the year. Idk… but my friend Lucie brings her tea everywhere, and whatever tea she has whenever I’m with her is my favorite.

December 17 Word or phrase. Live with integrity.

December 18 Shop. Anthropologie. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive.

December 19 Car ride. Driving from Maine to New York through the night with a two year old baby (Nina). Unexpected. Last minute. Dark. Exciting. My friend Sarah kept me awake, and at one point we looked at each other and just couldn’t believe the journey we were on.

December 20 New person. Nina. So full of love. Accompanied me on many adventures. Would listen to me sing without complaining. Reminded me to relax, and play, and helped me find beauty and love every day in almost everything.

December 21 Project. My book.

December 22 Startup. Wrap up Africa! Parents struggling to pay for their hospital bills, pay a small fee to learn how to tailor these beautiful dresses. Wrap Up Africa then buys them back and sells them to people in the United States. Although it’s run by American’s and Ugandans, the American’s do what only they can do (create a market in the United States). I think this is a beautiful way for two people from different cultures to meet and work together in a FAIR TRADE sort of way. The money made from the dresses then goes to the hospital to treat more kids with cancer.

December 23 Web tool. GROOVE SHARK. I can make playlists and listen to any song ever.

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

December 31 Resolution you wish you’d stuck with. (You know, there’s always next year…)

0