Saturday, December 31, 2011

On pause

What's the big unfinished thing that you're reluctant to let go of, even though you don't see a way to move ahead with it?

Friday, December 30, 2011

Problem solved

What long-running issue did you finally resolve this year? Who helped you find a solution?

What old questions did you finally answer? What helped guide you to the answers?

This week's theme is year-end inventory.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Plot twists and transformations

In 2011, who or what went through fundamental changes? What changed its name, changed its form, changed direction? Who changed their role in your life? Who is starting 2012 from a completely different place than their starting point in 2011?

This week's theme is year-end inventory.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Beginnings

What was new in 2011? What appeared or emerged during the year? What already-existing things crept into your awareness or became part of your life this year?

This week's theme is year-end inventory.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Endings

What faded away or came to an end in 2011? What was part of your world at the beginning of the year and gone by the end of the year?

This week's theme is year-end inventory.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Year-end inventory

Think of the resolutions or goals that you set for 2011. Which of them did you carry to a successful conclusion? And which of them did you fail to complete?

This week's theme is year-end inventory.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Tell us a story: holiday menu

What is one food that's part of a specific holiday tradition for you, that you never eat at other times of the year? Tell us a story of going to unusual lengths to make sure you could serve the right traditional foods for Christmas or some other holiday.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Private playlist

What is one song that you sometimes sing when you're all by yourself, or when no one is listening?

Friday, December 23, 2011

Favorite ______ of the Year

Where did you find the most fun this year: in books, movies, TV, music, games, theater, or some other form of entertainment? And within that category, what was your personal favorite this year?

This week's theme is highlights of 2011.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

In the history books

Thinking of all of this year's events, inventions, and new developments, which of them, in your opinion, is likely to have the biggest impact on the future?

This week's theme is highlights of 2011.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Hero of the Year

In 2011, who saved your life, prevented a disaster, or went above and beyond the call of duty to help you out when you needed it?

This week's theme is highlights of 2011.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Gold medal

What was your best accomplishment of 2011 — the one that showed you at the top of your game?

This week's theme is highlights of 2011.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Highlights of 2011

Of all the things that happened to you this year, which do you think will stand out most vividly in your memories, looking back ten years from now?

This week's theme is highlights of 2011.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Tell us a story: I forgot to bring one thing

It can be awkward or calamitous to arrive at your destination and find that you forgot to bring the tickets to the event, or your toothbrush, or something else equally indispensable.

Tell us a story about something you accidentally left behind. Did you have to make an extra trip, buy a replacement, or try to manage without it? Or did you completely miss an opportunity because of your mistake?

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Dream trends

What's the big recurring theme in your recent dreams? What setting or situation has shown up repeatedly?

Friday, December 16, 2011

Sounds like home

Which noises help make your home feel like home?

This week's theme is your world's soundtrack.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

When all is still

In the quietest moments, what sounds can you still hear?

This week's theme is your world's soundtrack.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Beep beep

Think fast: Besides car horns, what are five sounds in your everyday environment that are intended to get your (or someone's) attention?

This week's theme is your world's soundtrack.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Feelings and sounds

What noises do you find comforting and soothing? What noises make you feel anxious or unsettled?

This week's theme is your world's soundtrack.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Your world's soundtrack

What's an everyday sound that is so familiar that you don't notice it anymore, even though visitors often notice it and remark on it?

This week's theme is your world's soundtrack.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Tell us a story: fixed it!

Tell us a story about a repair that you successfully completed by yourself. What did you fix? What obstacles or difficulties did you run into along the way? Did you have to improvise because the ideal tools or materials weren't available?

Were you working under time pressure? If so, did you meet the deadline?

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Daily slump

At what time of day do you find your energy at its lowest point?

Friday, December 9, 2011

Signpost

If you had to pick something -- some person or object in your environment, or some recent experence -- to serve as a symbol of what you want your future to look like, what would you choose?

This week's theme is pointing the way.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Early symptoms

Think of one of the recent problems that erupted in your life and suddenly required a lot of your time and attention. What warning signs could have alerted you to the problem ahead of time, if you had known what to look for?

This week's theme is pointing the way.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Turn left at the baseball stadium

What's the most obvious, can't-miss-it landmark that people pass on their way to your home?

This week's theme is pointing the way.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Clues

Looking back on your younger days, what were some early hints of the direction that your life would later take? What childhood events, experiences, and choices foreshadowed the major themes of your adult life?

This week's theme is pointing the way.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Pointing the way

Who provided an example to follow, practical advice, or inside connections that helped lead you to one of your first jobs?

This week's theme is pointing the way.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Tell us a story: parade

Tell us as story about an experience at a parade. Have you ever marched in a parade or helped someone prepare for a parade? Did you ever have a trip interrupted because the road was closed for a parade? What was something noteworthy or unusual that you once saw or did at a parade?

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The winter season

A maple tree abandons its leaves as it pulls energy into its center to survive the cold winter. Is there something that you similarly let go of or set aside with the changing of the seasons?

Friday, December 2, 2011

Bright spot

Life is full of trade-offs. For example, you might accept a longer commute if it gives you a better-paying job. This means that most parts in your life, when looked at out of context, will seem less than ideal. But what is one piece of your life, however small it might be, that really does seem ideal — something that's working so well that you can hardly imagine any way to improve it?

This week's theme is ideal circumstances.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The shoe doesn't fit

Well-meaning advice can be useless if it's based on overly rosy assumptions about your situation. For example: "Too busy? Learn to delegate more tasks to your staff!"

What's a less obvious but equally unhelpful piece of advice that you still try to follow, even though it completely doesn't fit your circumstances?

This week's theme is ideal circumstances.