#oneword2012

I've never been great at making or keeping New Year's resolutions. That's why I love the idea of coming up with one word to guide my year. There are a lot of fabulous folks coming up with their #oneword2012 and I finally chose mine last week. 

My word for 2012 is going to be stretch. 

I want to spend this year stretching my mind, my body, my spirit. 

I also want to stretch my budget, stretch my creativity, and stretch my time.

I want my body to be more flexible (Sarah, remember when you could put your palms flat on the ground when touching your toes?), but I also want my attitude to be more flexible (put away some of those MBTI "J" tendencies, Sarah!).

[source, red line added by me]

I can't wait to see how 2012 stretches me.

Better than most...

#reverbbroads11 prompt for day 13 from Catie at http://catiecake.wordpress.com/ : What are three things you are better at than most people?

  1. Solving Sudoku puzzles. Perhaps it is because I was a math major and I enjoy puzzles, patterns, and logic, but I am pretty darn good at solving Sudoku puzzles. I especially love the "Samurai" Sudokus like this:

2. Making people feel like they matter. My top strength from StrengthsQuest is Relator, which essentially means that I love being around people who mean a lot to me. One of the ways that Twitter has changed my experience at professional conferences is that I have an opportunity to build relationships before the conference, that way, when we meet IRL (in real life), it already feels like I know you! I'm not one for much small talk, so already having a relationship formed allows me to start conversations about more meaningful topics and learn more details about you. 

3. Avoiding the mall. Seriously, I have a huge aversion to shopping in stores. I dislike the hustle & bustle. I don't like how every store sizes their clothes differently so you have to try everything on. People drive crazily in the parking lots. I think part of the problem is that I usually have some idea of what I want, and if I can't find it in a store (or if they don't have my size left in stock in the store), I get frustrated. Online shopping is a much better choice for me.

Peppermint patty therapy

Day 12 #reverbbroads11 prompt via Neha at http://whereyouarehere.blogspot.com/:

Name and explain the one guilty pleasure you can't live without. ie: that cupcake shop you visit weekly, a book you repeatedly read to find solace in, etc). Then explore the idea of how you would feel if you gave that thing up for a year. 

 

  These small dark chocolate, creamy round mints are my weakness. I almost always have a bag of them in my desk drawer at work. Tear open its little silver cellophane wrapper, admire its smooth, round, chocolate cover. And that first bite? That little "tthss" sound that they make when the white minty goodness separates from itself? Bliss.

Just one little patty in its silver package can change an afternoon. In my previous position, my coworkers knew that I almost always had peppermint patties in my desk. Stressful appointment? Swing by Sarah's office for a peppermint patty and momentary vent session. Survived a painstaking meeting? Peppermint patty and processing. Excited about a new opportunity? Celebratory peppermint patty.

They're so satisfying, even in its the miniature size, that I don't know if I could give them up for a year. Besides, it says right on the package that they are a low fat food. A serving size is 3 patties, but usually I am good with just one. I'm willing to sacrifice 50 calories per patty to build relationships with my coworkers or make it through a stressful afternoon.