December 20, 2011: If you had 30-90 seconds to describe yourself (give an elevator speech), how would you sum up who you are? #resound11
Ah… the much-praised elevator speech. It’s one of those things I’ve always meant to create. Considering how many conferences and networking events I attend you’d think I’d be better at it. Not so. I should probably get Adria Richards to help me. She’s excellent at things like this.
Anyway, here’s a draft of a “professional” version:
Hello, I’m J. I’m a front-end web developer for [the web's leading provider of health information]. Most of my days are spent interpreting client goals and balancing them our business needs to deliver the best user experience online.
It’s tricky to get the right formula with tight deadlines. So it helps that I’m fast, passionate, detail-oriented, and love doing it.
Nice to meet you.
December 19, 2011: What was your life like a decade ago? How has your life changed since then? If you’re not feeling wordy today, why not show us some then and now portraits of yourself? #resound11
I can barely remember what I did 10 days ago, let alone 10 years ago. So, just the facts.
10 years ago, I…
was in better shape (but not great shape by any means and then it got much worse over the next 10 years), was in love, had an active social life, hated my job, blogged like I got paid for it, lived with my boyfriend, actively tried to make a positive impact on the LBGTPOC community, didn’t have control over my money, created websites in my spare time (for free or little money), thought I’d made a great choice by moving from Chicago to Atlanta, was developing online relationships, laughed a lot.
Now, I…
am trying to get into better shape than I was 10 years ago, am in love again (but it’s complicated), don’t have a social life to speak of, love my job, blog so seldom I don’t use the title ‘blogger’, live with housemates, passively watch the LBGTPOC community and shake my head most days, control my money like a boss (hyperbole), create websites in my spare time (and charge much more), think I made a good choice by moving from Chicago to Atlanta (but ‘good’ can be improved upon), have met most of my online family and love them to death, don’t laugh enough.
December 18, 2011: This is the time of year when families are upholding decades old traditions and working to create new ones. It doesn’t matter what you celebrate (or don’t) … please share with us your December traditions: how they got started, why you continue them, and why they are special to you. #resound11
This is super easy albeit, sobering. I have no holiday traditions. None. I don’t celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Winter Solstice (well, maybe a little Solstice).
I’m not sure how I got this way. Probably because most holiday traditions are linked to religion. And I am not a religious man. I’m not Christian, Jewish or Muslim. I’m Buddhist but I’m not obsessive about that either. Buddhism is more of a philosophical practice for me. Besides, there aren’t any real Buddhist Christmas traditions.
Overwhelmingly, the commercial/consumer aspects of Christmas really bother me. The advertising (which starts in October), plethora of bad music, “black Friday” sales… It’s all too much energy on the wrong things. It puts me off and I usually retreat so I don’t bum out my friends who celebrate.
If I have a tradition at all, it’s to reflect on the past year and beat myself up over things I didn’t accomplish. Oh, and obsessing over the
mistakes I’ve made; I do that too. Not really a tradition worth keeping. I’m hoping to create some one day.
Sidebar: I’m fascinated by the idea that Jesus studied (or was at least influenced by) Buddhism during the “dark years”.
