I might be a tiny bit insane signing up for yet another monthly challenge, but I kind of found my blogging mojo again last month and I want to keep it going. I am not going to promise 31 posts in December, but we’ll just see how much I can fit in.
Feel free to join in. Reverb10 is an online initiative to reflect on this past year and manifest on what’s to come in the next year. There will be prompts for every day of December.
Today’s prompt is: 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?
YOU
If I had to sum up 2010 with one single word, it would be “you”. I think this year I have lived my life a tad too much for other people. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because I like other people and I like to help them and be there for them.
I am actually all about that. However, sometimes when everything is revolving around other people (and their joys and sorrows), I tend to forget to take care of myself.
I try to make people feel good, make an effort to connect and get disappointed. More often than not, I take on way more than is good for me and only realize much, much later that I can’t fix certain things and that I can’t take over other people’s problems. Stepping back would be a much better choice sometimes. But that is hard, because it makes me feel like I am abandoning you. What I need is to find balance.
ME
For 2011, I’d like the word to be “me”. Not because I suddenly turned in a terribly selfish person and don’t care about other people and there feelings anymore, but I think I need to re-focus on myself a bit and try to figure out what it is that I want and need from other people. I need to make sure that my life is balanced and happy, because only then will I be able to spread this happiness to others. I need to make sure to cut people out of my life that keep sucking the life out of me (figuratively, heh.) I just need to stop caring so much and set my own boundaries.
* * *
You & Me = balance.
This is my equation for transitioning to the new year.
Maribeth
December 1, 2010 at 7:11 pmI like it. I think perhaps I’m going to strive for the same!
Suburban Sweetheart
December 1, 2010 at 7:33 pmCreative. I like this start!
.-= Suburban Sweetheart blogged this: Topanga- I Never Knew! =-.
@stevenadamswv
December 1, 2010 at 7:37 pmI’m happy to be part of this balance.
.-= @stevenadamswv blogged this: The Christmas Bike =-.
mandy
December 1, 2010 at 8:18 pmIt is a balancing act isnt it? I think that sometimes you just need to pull back and focus on you. If you give and give to other people, eventually there’s noting left to give. You have to take care of yourself!
.-= mandy blogged this: Exploration and Advancement =-.
Andrea
December 2, 2010 at 12:02 amThese are great words. I can completely relate to the desire to be all things to all people, at the loss of yourself. Balance. It’s tough.
.-= Andrea blogged this: The One With A Word =-.
Emily Jane
December 2, 2010 at 6:41 amPerfect. I have to agree with Mandy; it is totally a balancing act. Although for some reason I have such a hard time justifying spending time on me, because I feel like I could be spending it on other, more productive things – but I think you definitely need to take care of yourself if you want to be able to take care of others :)
.-= Emily Jane blogged this: Going to the Chapel =-.
Manderz
December 2, 2010 at 12:55 pmI like your equation. Here’s to finding the balance.
Karen
December 2, 2010 at 5:12 pmIt’s so important to keep a healthy balance between these two.
I signed up for Reverb10 as well, after reading your post! :) My December 1 post is up already as well.
.-= Karen blogged this: Reverb10- One Word =-.
Habbala
December 2, 2010 at 5:15 pmSo the best way to explain the Me vs. You balance that I’ve heard is the “airplane metaphor”. Before you can take care of others, you have to take care of yourself.
I kind of like it.
I am SO bummed you won’t be joining us! Where are you living?!
.-= Habbala blogged this: Writing- Eliminating Doubt reverb10 =-.
Stephany
December 2, 2010 at 8:22 pmI feel like I’m one of the few people who actually finds it easier to focus on myself than other people. It feels so selfish to say that, but it’s the truth. =/
I think it’s so important to focus on yourself. It just makes you feel better!
.-= Stephany blogged this: Ten on Tuesday 25 – The Thursday Edition =-.
kim
December 3, 2010 at 7:22 amamen, lady. AMEN! HDGGGDL!
.-= kim blogged this: things i love thursday =-.
steph anne
December 3, 2010 at 10:08 amI think this is by far the best post I’ve read today because I agree with you on this 100%! You’re amazing and we’re all behind you on this one.
terra
December 3, 2010 at 11:24 amI love the equation. Finding balance between all the different parts of my life is something I struggle with a lot. I’ve gotten better, but I’m not quite there yet.
.-= terra blogged this: The Not-Turquoise Kitchen =-.