Challenge: Give Yourself a Present!
So, it's October 1st. I think if I had to pin myself down, October is my favorite. Summer, with all of its fun is behind us and the craziness of the holidays is still just out of reach. The weather is generally good and the leaves are turning brilliant colors. What's not to love? In honor of October and the inevitable flow and change that is life, I'm issuing a challenge today (with the help of LOTS of blogging friends) to as many people as possible, and here it is:
I want you to give yourself a PRESENT. Look first and then I'll explain ...
For a description of these photos, see the My Present photo album on the right.
You have everything you need right now to be vibrant, happy and fully engaged in the creative process of life. Sometimes you just have to slow down, look around and realize it!
Here’s what I want you to do …
• Snap ten or twelve photos of your life right now. Or find recent photos that you've already taken.
• Compile these photos in one of these super-cute Bazzill Mono-Mini albums (keep reading)
• Keep or carry this album with you, tucked in your purse or desk drawer for one full year.
• Promise to glance through the album every time you stumble upon it or pull it out.
• On October 1st, 2009, create a scrapbook page about your experience.
Don’t worry – I’ll remind you. Just keep reading my blog!
I think you'll find that regardless of what you choose to photograph, be it nature, your children, your pets, your home, your current projects --- anything and everything, that life is in flux. We and our surroundings are constantly changing (even when you don't see it or believe it) and this little challenge/project is designed to STOP you, in the throws of your busyness and show you in an instant ALL that have and can choose to be grateful for -- ALL that is here NOW and very likely fleeting ...
As you may know I've been teaching a class online called Have More FUN! Our last official day is today and we have just wrapped up an exercise and project in present-moment scrapbooking, called 30 Days Hath September. I did something similar back in 2005 -- loved it, wanted to do it again. It has been as I expected a life-altering process. In fact, I simply cannot keep to myself, so hence the challenge today and the reason I told lots of friends and fellow bloggers --- so we could get as many scrapbookers involved as possible. You may notice as you make your blog rounds that a few others are already on board ...
NOTE: I of course decided to pursue this idea just prior to leaving for South Africa, so I didn't have much time to be ultra thorough in extending invitations or in following up. If you have blogged the "Give Yourself a Present" challenge, email me and let me know. With the craziness of last week (and let's be honest the fact that Jenna is now on her honeymoon) I know things have fallen through the cracks. It was NOT my intention to leave anyone out -- I want EVERYONE involved, so spread the word and then let me know!
Now, if you would like to receive your very own Bazzill Basics Mono Mini album to house your PRESENT, be one of the first 50 comments and I'll send you one. I'll post winning names later today!
I'll leave you with these words, from Sunny Schlenger, author of Organizing For The Spirit ...
When you slow down and deliberately take notice of your surroundings, you're in the present moment, and being in the present moment brings things into sharper focus. It's as though you're on a nature expedition, but you're using your binoculars to observe the details of your own life ... much of our day-to-day business can be done by rote. But when we're fully engaged, active participants in moment-by-moment creation, we're in the state linked most closely to "living" our lives.
give yourself a present today!
