Balance of love (part 1)

Think of all the things in your life. There are things that you love, things that move your heart in some way.  There are also some things that you dislike, and some things that are just there.  Within this whole picture, how much space is occupied by love? What proportion of your time, space, and attention is taken up with things that you love?

This week's theme is the things you love.

Public and private

Some enthusiasms are very public, as demonstrated by a cheering crowd at a sports event. Other enthusiasms might be fairly private, such as keeping up with a favorite novelist. In your life, which of these patterns is more common?  And which do you feel more attached to: the things that bond you to a crowd of people, or your own personal obsessions?

This week's theme is the things you love.

How to find a treasure

Thinking of all the things you love, did you mostly come across them accidentally and unexpectedly, or did you actively go searching for them?

This week's theme is the things you love.

The things you love

Think of all the things you love, the things that make your life seem rich, the things that bring you pleasure, the things that bring joy to your heart, the things that are unique, special, and beautiful.  What kinds of things came to mind first: material possessions, sensory experiences, events that you share with people, or some other category of things?

This week's theme is the things you love.

Tell us a story: this year's entry

What is something special that you do once a year — something that takes more than a little planning and preparation?

How many years have you been doing this annual tradition?  And how did you get started on it?

Lost my groove

What is something that still bothers you, because you think you should have been able to do it better than you did?

A second thought

According to psychologists, people typically think about a problem only long enough to think of one possible solution. We then stop thinking, even if that first solution turns out to be unworkable.  What is one continuing problem of yours that deserves more than one thought?  And what are a few things you could do to get some fresh ideas about that problem?

This week's theme is problems and solutions.

Twofer

It's a beautiful thing when the same action can solve two separate problems at the same time.  Is there an example from your own life where a solution took care of two problems at once?

Think of two problems you have right now.  If there were a solution that addressed both problems (however fanciful or unlikely it might be), what would that solution look like?

This week's theme is problems and solutions.

When people are problems

Who is your biggest problem-maker?  Who, more than anyone else, shows up in your life with problems for you to handle? 

And who do you turn to when you have problems of your own?  Who sees you primarily as a source of problems?  

This week's theme is problems and solutions.

Newer and better problems

Life never runs out of problems for us, but we can say we're making progress if we've graduated from a basic level of problems to more interesting problems.  For example, an aspiring photographer once struggled to find the money to buy a camera; years later, she struggles to find fresh angles in her routine photography assignments.  Which current problem of yours best demonstrates how much progress you've made?

This week's theme is problems and solutions.

Problems and solutions

When a problem shows up in your life, is your first response more likely to be active (for example, doing something to try to try to resolve the problem) or passive (for example, waiting to see if it goes away by itself)?

When dealing with problems, is your focus more inward (observing the details of the problem to try to understand it better) or more outward (researching all the tools and techniques that other people have used to solve similar problems)?

This week's theme is problems and solutions.

Tell us a story: fired

Tell us about a time you were fired from a job, cut from a sports team, kicked out of a group, or removed from a position of responsibility. Did it come as a surprise, or did you know it was coming?  What was your immediate reaction? How did you respond?  How did things work out for you in the long run? 

A proud moment

This week, what made you feel proud?

Improving on nature

What is your natural weak spot?  What personal shortcoming or handicap of yours requires a little artificial help?

This week's theme is your natural self.

Looking all the way back

What comes naturally and effortlessly to you now, but only because you spent years learning, practicing, and repeating it?  Though this skill is now part of who you are, can you remember what it was like, years ago, being an awkward beginner at it?

This week's theme is your natural self.

It runs in the family

What is it that shapes your natural self? One important factor is the genes you inherited from your parents and ancestors. What are some obvious physical traits that you have in common with one or both parents? And what are some not-quite-so-obvious personality traits, habits, or tendencies that might also be the result of your genes?

This week's theme is your natural self.

If the shoe doesn't fit

It's risky to force yourself to carry on in shoes that don't fit. You can hurt your feet, your knees, even your back.  What thing in your life feels almost like an ill-fitting shoe?  What are the goals or circumstances that force you to twist yourself into unnatural and uncomfortable shapes?

This week's theme is your natural self.

Your natural self

When or where do you find yourself easily and naturally fitting into the flow of things?  What are the times and places where simply being yourself seems to work out well?

This week's theme is your natural self.

Tell us a story: an accidental lesson

What is one lesson your mother taught you, without necessarily meaning to? 

Alternative fairy tales

If you were the author of the fairy tale, what would you do about the wolf at the door?

A dream like no other

What is one dream that sticks in your memory because it's so distinctive and unusual?  Which dream of yours stands out as different from all your other dreams?

This week's theme is dreams.

Good dream karma

Do you sometimes dream of helping out someone else?  Do you dream of rescuing, protecting, advising, teaching, encouraging, or assisting other people? 

What kinds of people do you help in your dreams, and what kinds of problems do those people face?  Do you see any similarities to the problems you yourself face in your waking life?

This week's theme is dreams.

Dream allies

Who shows up in your dreams as your ally, friend, supporter, or rescuer?  Do your dayworld friends show up in your dreams, or do you have dream allies who don't play any role in your waking life? 

What's an example of a recent dream in which you relied on someone else's help or guidance?  

This week's theme is dreams.

What dreams are made of

Dreams sometimes seem to improvise with the details of our current lives.  What is one relatively new item in your daily life that has already made an appearance in your dreams?

This week's theme is dreams.

Dreams

Do you keep a dream journal?  When you wake up, how often do you remember at least part of a dream?

What is one theme or story line that seems to come up frequently in your dreams?

This week's theme is dreams.

Tell us a story: after hours

Tell us about a time when you were allowed to stick around after a place closed its doors to the public.  What special behind-the-scenes, after-hours activities did you have a chance to see or participate in?

Things that make life better

What are you thankful for today?

Calling it done

What is one thing you're almost ready to cross off your to-do list and admit you're never going to do it?

This week's theme is unfinished business.

Who is it for?

Are you good at getting your own stuff done, but not so good at completing things that you've promised to other people?  Or are you the opposite, the person who jumps up to take care of everyone's requests, but who never finds the time for your own personal stuff?

This week's theme is unfinished business.

Great idea!

What is your great idea that would make things better — an idea that you plan to take action on someday?

This week's theme is unfinished business.

Grudges and complaints

Who do you remain tied to because of negative feelings about things that happened in the past?  Are there people who aren't a part of your life anymore, except for the moments when you think or say negative things about them? 

This week's theme is unfinished business.