Celebration

December 31 – Fiesta (Celebration)

What are you celebrating today? What will you celebrate in 2012?

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun. ~ Mary Lou Cook

December 30 – Karuna (Compassion)

What compassionate actions do you aspire to in the coming twelve months?

Finding the courage to go to the places that scare us cannot happen without compassionate inquiry into the workings of ego. The Buddha taught that flexibility and openness bring strength and that running from groundlessness weakens us and brings pain. But do we understand that becoming familiar with the running away is the key? Openness doesn’t come from resisting our fears but from getting to know them well. ~Pema Chodron

Gratitude and Poetry

December 28 – Agradecimiento (Gratitude)

What eleven things were you grateful for in 2011?

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton

December 29 – Poesia (Poetry)

Write a poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme.

A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom. ~Robert Frost

LovingKindness

December 27 – Metta (Lovingkindness)

The metta mantras are: “May you be safe. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be free from suffering.” To whom do you wish to send metta? (Don’t forget to send it to yourself, too!)

"Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, 'You owe me.' Look what happens with a love like that -- it lights the whole world." ~Hafiz

Gift, Wonder, Service

Catching up and planning ahead...

December 24 – Regalo (Gift)
What was the most cherished gift you received this year? What were the most thoughtful gifts you gave?

For it is in giving that we receive. ~Saint Francis of Assisi

December 25 – Milagro (Wonder)
Illustrate your own personal wonderland -- real or imagined. What’s the weather like? Who else is there with you? Use vivid detail.

"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about." ~ Charles Kingsley

December 26 – Seva (Service)
How did you serve in 2011? Who will you serve in 2012?

"Service is the rent we pay for being on this earth." -Marian Wright Edelman

Action

December 23 – Karma (Action)

Actions speak louder than words. What daily actions will you take this year? How will you begin your January mornings -- routine or not?

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing.  Action always generates inspiration.  Inspiration seldom generates action.  ~Frank Tibolt

Every day I will do just one thing, however small, working towards my goals of being a creative entrepreneur, owning my own studio, and teaching workshops. Every day...

Happiness

December 22 – Sukkha (Happiness)

Where did you discover sweetness in 2011?

Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Sweetness was found in the small moments: coffee/tea with my husband, workshop collaboration with friends, walking the DeCordova museum grounds with Mom, breakfast with Dad.

So much focus is placed on what we need to achieve, what our goals are, "The Master Plan." We think the destination is the bees knees, that when we've made it, everything will be just fine....life starts becoming the end result, when really, it's made up of all these small moments, intimate connections with other people that craft our story. And it's the story that interests me. How people have the courage to make small changes, the laughter shared over a silly joke, sharing a new recipe. Those things fill the bucket and make the journey worthwhile...that and a nice chunk of dark chocolate....

What's your story? Where's life's sweet spot for you?