Several days in, I’m still loving the Reverb10 prompts each day. They’re wonderfully thought-provoking ways to reflect on the year.
However, I’ve already let go of the illusion that I’ll be perfectly on schedule – which is OK, since this is the time of year to focus on what’s important, not on slavishly meeting deadlines. (Though deadlines are helpful, indeed.)
Anyway. Here are my thoughts on this weekend’s prompts (if you missed my post about the beginning, you can start there if you like).
Day 4‘s prompt asked how I cultivated a sense of wonder this year.
In some ways, this was so easy to do – especially since we’ve moved to a new place that’s full of wonder. I’m always finding new things to marvel at in Boston, whether it’s the autumn color, the afternoon sights on Boston Common, the Christmas decorations downtown, the taste of clam chowder or Mike’s cannoli, or the community at Brookline. I’ve carried my camera everywhere since we arrived here, and spent hours browsing the shelves at Brattle and other shops, searching for hidden treasure and finding lots of it. It’s been easy, on most days, to marvel at this new life and how lucky we are to be living it.
Even back in Abilene, though, wonder abounded – mostly in the faces of my friends. I’ve long marveled that an otherwise unremarkable Texas town can draw such brilliant, compassionate, fun, kind, creative, diverse people from all over the world, and keep many of them there. We were and are so, so lucky to have the friends we have in Abilene. (And we’ll get to hug some of them at Christmastime – I can’t WAIT.)
Day 5 asked a hard question: What did you let go of this year?
I let go of a job, a church, a house, a routine, a rhythm of daily life and so many friends when we moved to Boston. I let go of certainty, predictability, financial security (though we’re making it) and the comfort of a steady paycheck. I let go of health insurance (and the peace of mind it provides) for a while (though we’re back on it now). I let go of living near my parents, of semiannual trips to Kerrville and Midland, of being able to split holidays between parents and in-laws. I let go of the stability of the town that has held and sheltered and loved me for eight years – and that has been both challenge and blessing.
Of course, letting go of all that enabled me to embrace a new life in Boston (see above). I’ve been able to sink into a new rhythm, new friends (and some old ones who moved here with us), new sights and sounds and tastes, new wonders all over the place. That, too, has been both challenge and blessing.
What has made you wonder this year – and what have you let go of?
cakes, tea and dreams 
Leave a Reply