So Shimelle started her February prompts yesterday- woohoo- Here is my response to yesterday’s prompt.

Let me tell you about this girl.
This girl loves her coffee, but is also an avid consumer of tea.
This girl used to hate pink, but now adores all its pinky goodness.
This girl is at times an english teacher, but she likes to make up words and when allowed she throws grammar rules out the window in favor of play.
This girl loves all creatures, but currently only has creatures of the stuffed variety in her home.
This girl has always worked since she was about 14, but is currently un-employed.
This girl is happiest looking out at the ocean, but has lived in several places where this is not possible.
This girl is trying, but sometimes she doesn’t think that is enough.

Thanks to Ms. Andrea and her Mondo Beyondo I have been inspired to complete the process myself this year.

1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2007?
(What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)
I am proud that I taught in another country. That Jon and I were able to move to the UK and live there.
I am also proud that when the time came we were able to leave and come back to the states.
I got paid for something I did creatively in 2007 and that was a first for me and a pretty big deal.
I was mostly able to teach and not let it take over my entire life…. which is also a big deal for me. I still took work home, but I got better at being able to let go of the things over which I had no control- focusing the majority of my energies on the things that I could have an effect upon.

2. What is there to grieve about 2007 (2006/2007)?
(What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)
It was scary and hard to give up all that I had in the states and move to the UK.
I grieve for the loss of my pets due to this move. They relocated to lovely new homes, but this is still one of the hardest things that I have ever done.
I forgive myself for finding new homes for these creatures- and I believe that it was in their best interest to find new homes instead of being in quarantine.
I am scared that I don’t know what comes after this… not that you ever really do… but I acknowledge the fact that at the end of 2007- I am completely unsure about what comes next- and while that is really cool it is also so fucking scary.

3. What else do you need to say about the year to declare it complete?
I must say- in order to declare 2007 complete- that I know that I did the best that I could. That there are a billion different possibilities and I will always be able to look back and say what if this and what if that… I acknowledge that I am exactly where I need to be. Truly. So, 2007 I declare you complete.

The final step is to consider your primary focus for the year to come. What is your primary intention or theme for 2008? Is it the year of joy? the year of self-care? the year of partnership?
Stand up and say it proud, “2008 is my year of…. daring joy. “