Author: shelleyshockley

#reverb10 – Wisdom

What a weekend! I’m late in posting my reverb10 reflections so today I’m posting two. Maybe three because it is my plan to do all 31 even if I didn’t start on time!
First let’s look at the December 10th prompt – Wisdom, “What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?” When I first read this prompt I thought it would be difficult to write or to determine, because let’s face it – most people don’t think they are very wise especially in a day-to-day way. Or at least that’s how I am. However after thinking back on the past year I was able to come up with a response fairly quickly.
Throughout the years I have been very good at advising others that you can ‘only do what you can do’ and that you are not in control of the emotions and actions of others. I thought that I did a pretty good job of this myself – that is not harping on the reactions and attitudes of others. My philosophy has always been “if you know in your heart that you have done the best that you can” in any situation then let it go.
This year has presented a number of situations when I have been engaged in heated exchanges with others because of their perception of an event, action or something similar. It was becoming a serious problem, one that left me angry, aggravated and just not in a good state. That is until I took my own advice and realized that there problems were not mine.
So, how has this worked? It has limited my level of anxiety and frustration, but it has resulted in strained relationships. I am not happy that some of my relationships with people that are very important to me are in dire straits, but at the same time I am not constantly stressing either. I can’t always put others before me and my mental and physical health. Phew I said it, and I really mean it. Hoping for a stress free ’11!

#reverb10 – The Ultimate Party!

I don’t do a lot of partying these days – much to my dismay. I guess it has to do with growing older and being more selective in the situations you put yourself in. That being said I would say that the year started off with a great party!
For the past three years we have gathered with a group of friends to bring in the New Year and each year the party gets better. It is a house party held at the home of some dear friends and it attracts a large gathering of friends, family and neighbors. The basement is small, but not tight and has a great layout complete with an area set aside for the bar. Because it’s a house party the attire is usually casual with a little glitter added via tops or jazzy bottoms. Attire is so unimportant I can’t actually recall what I wore.
My husband sometimes moonlights as a bartender and each year he adds this party to his portfolio, but this year I took over the bar. I don’t quite remember how this happened, but it did and I had a good time and the attendees enjoyed my mixology.
The food was a mix of standard house party mix – chicken wings, ribs, pasta salad, spinach dip, and I believe there were greens too! So we had a good spread to fill the belly and a full bar to lift the spirits. Top that off with DJ Vince and the house was jumping.
We danced, ate, drank and talked well into the early hours of 2010 and a good time was had by all.

#reverb10 – Beautifully Different

This is my fourth entry for the reverb10 challenge. The challenge is all about recounting the year and looking forward to the new year. It is also meant to help you write daily and become reflective – at least that is my take. So today’s prompt is:
Beautifully different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.
Wow, what a challenge and if you didn’t believe me when I said this challenge motivates you to become reflective I think you’re with me now.
I don’t know if some of my better points are things that make me different, but I think that most of my friends and associates would say that I am considerate and giving. When thinking about gifts to give I really try to think about the recipient and come up with things that reflect them. I don’t look at quantity or value but at the sentiment associated with it, or the personal value the recipient will place on the gift.
I’m sometimes blunt to a fault, but I believe that in recent years I have learned to curb the tongue a little understanding that what I feel is not always what someone else wants to hear. Lately a number of people have indicated that they admire my confidence and I think that’s a good thing, although I’ve heard some call it arrogance – which is so far from the truth. I have a strong confidence in my abilities and if I believe I can do it – no matter what it is I won’t back down.
Finally and probably most important is that I strive to find the good in most everyone. Each of us has some redeeming quality – it just may be buried and you have to dig to find it.

Playing in the Snow!

Today I have been channeling my mother as Cleveland, that is the city proper, received the first snowstorm of the winter. My mother loved the first snow and being a part of the glorious beauty that God has given us in the form of snowflakes. Now I don’t dislike snow, but not since my childhood
have I really reveled in just being a part of it. I like to watch it from the window and I love to see the fresh snow on the trees, but to just hang out in it – Not!
Today was different, I re
ally think she was egging me on so out I went to take photos and just enjoy the beauty of it. The weather reminded me of a snowstorm we had in I think in 1999 or so. The city
was basically shut down and when I looked out of my house there was a couple of feet of snow in the driveway and on the streets. At the time I lived down the street from my parents and at the height of the storm who comes traipsing down the street but my Mom. She’s wearing her fur coat and trying to get me to come and walk with her. I was not game. Now, she really wasn’t a dog person, but that day she asked me to give her my dog – CoCo so she could take her for a walk. That was one of the funniest things I had seen and today it was a wonderful memory! I now only wish I had gone out to play with her.
One advantage I had today was that I did not have to drive in it! So I’m writing this post at 6:15 p.m. and although I don’t have to drive in the gridlock that is Cleveland right now, I am becoming impatient. I have been waiting for my husband for over an hour, but there is n
o need to be angry because he has been trying to get from E. 21st St. to E. 13th street for over an hour. What a mess! This storm really caught the City of Cleveland by surprise. Hopefully I will arrive home before 8 p.m. and upload the photos that support this post. So it’s now 10:32 p.m. and I have only been home
about an hour!
I just received a message from my brother in Virginia telling me to come down for a visit. I think I will soon, but as I said I’m not one of those Clevelanders crying about the weather. The snow
will get old sooner than later, but I love living in an area with four distinct seasons and hey the cost of living is good!
Below are some of the photos I captured.