Try

December 18 – Try What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it?

When it comes down to it, I think all anyone can ever do is try.

Really, we have very little control over our lives and all we can do is try to handle what comes at us. Try to succeed. Try to make the best of it. Try to keep going. Try to get through it. Try to enjoy it. Try to find joy in it. Try.

Life is about trying, about effort and not, necessarily, success.

So, in 2011, I will just… keep trying.

categories life, reverb10 | Hezabelle December 18, 2010 | comments Comments (0)

Lesson learned

December 17 – Lesson Learned What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

Hard work pays off, but not as much as it should sometimes.

I’ve developed a philosophy when it comes to school work that I am hoping I can apply to life in general, when I someday find a career. It’s probable that lots of people will disagree with this, but it definitely works for me.

Sometimes, hard work and stress are important and worth it. These are the times that you really need to take things seriously and put your all into it. Like my Theseus.

Other times, it’s just not worth the stress and it’s better for everyone if you just do what you can and focus on the things that are important. Like, my museum studies class. That I got a merit in for a total of 4 hours of work.

Basically, sometimes no amount of hard work is going to get you any further than a medium effort.

It’s about balance. It’s about knowing when to slack off and when to get your ass in gear.

It’s not fail proof, by any means, and occasionally (aka often) leads to last minute assignments. But I think I’ve refined the system over the years and usually end up spending enough time on the things that matter.

On reflection, I’m not entirely sure this was a great lesson to learn… remind me not to reference this philosophy in a job interview.

categories reverb10, school, work | Hezabelle December 17, 2010 | comments Comments (0)

Friendship

December 16 – Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?

I’m going to start sounding like a broken record here. My friends are pretty amazing, and all for different reasons.

I don’t like people much in general, so the ones I eventually choose as friends tend to be quite awesome.

It’s a hard question because all of my friends have changed me and are constantly changing me. But since this is supposed to be about this year specifically, I’m going to dedicate it to one of my newest friends.

I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us must to grow, if we let them and we help them in return.

Chandra is the most optimistic, enthusiastic person I’ve ever met. Her love of life is contagious, and it was exactly what I needed this year to learn how to love life myself.

Chandra and I at the Parthenon

She taught me so many things: to bounce, to run, to eat dessert. Her infallible belief in me, her constant belief that I was a great person, let me believe in myself for the first time in a long time.

I believe that we meet people in our lives at the time that we need them most. And I needed Chandra this year, so that I could see everything as a good story. Every misadventure as an adventure.

Chandra and I made a pact to spend our year seeing new things and new places. We used to go somewhere new every weekend, whether it was somewhere nearby or a whole new city. Because of this we saw so much and learned so much, together. She was my partner in crime and we were, quite literally, joined at the head for the year.

Chandra and I in London

I love Chandra most for her hugs and smiles and her ability to turn almost anything into a positive. I love her for giving life to the optimist in me.

Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

Chandra and I in Delphi

categories Chandra, friendship, life, reverb10 | Hezabelle December 16, 2010 | comments Comments (2)

Five minutes

December 15 – 5 Minutes Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.

The moment I held my Theseus, bound and looking like a real book, in my hands and knew that I’d actually accomplished something in my life, something no one could take away.

The first glimpse of the Acropolis from the cab window.

The day I spent in Alnwick in October, in an adorable cafe with great soup and a good book.

The best brownie from the street vendor near King’s Cross in London.

The feeling I had while walking around the Christmas market in Manchester with Chandra - the anticipation of going home coupled with the excitement of a new place.

The smell of salt water and the crashing of waves. At the North Sea. In Crete. In Ocean City.

My best friend’s laughter, and how right it felt to see her every day.

The way the mountains looked at Delphi.

The best food I’ve ever had at a small restaurant in Rome.

Sunsets. Over bridges, mountains, hills, tall buildings, landmarks.

The sunrise over the Nile from a hot air balloon.

categories life, reverb10 | Hezabelle December 15, 2010 | comments Comments (3)

Appreciation

December 14 – Appreciate What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?

Come September, I had nothing. No money, no job. Just two degrees and no where to take them. I am so lucky that I had somewhere to go. Somewhere I can live and eat and wait for a job opportunity. Parents who will support not only my basic needs, but also the things I want to do.

I can’t imagine what it would be like not to have that safety net. To not be able to go home and live for free while I figure things out.

I appreciate my parents immensely for all that they’ve done to help me this year and for giving me everything I want and need.

Do I express my gratitude for it? I’d like to say yes but the truth is I don’t as much as I should. I think I should work on that…

categories family, life, reverb10 | Hezabelle December 14, 2010 | comments Comments (0)