Soul Saturdays: #Manifestival

So, Manifestival is this very cool writer's prompt/reflection/moving-forwardness movement that you writers should definitely read more about. Anyway, here is my week one reflections based on the Manifestival prompts:
"Week One:  M a k i n g   S p a c e
As we move through our year, we occupy different spaces, moving, through them and with them. In Architecture from the Inside Out, Karen A. Franck and Bianca Lepori write, “We are not so much in space as of space....As we act, both we and the space are transformed” (55-56). This week, we will be making space for the new year by reflecting on the spaces we occupy. We will reflect on how we can guide our intentions and actions toward creating more space in our lives for that which we will work for in 2012.
The seven spaces we will explore in Weeks 1 + 2 are:
1. Nature
2. Home/ Objects
3. Sound/Music
4. Movement/ Meditation
5. Food / Sustenance
6. Family/ Friends/ Community
7. Education/ Work/ Purpose"
 1) Nature is a place that I only get out in when I workout, which is completely terrible. When I do go out and breathe the fresh air, see the clean water, and feel the sunshine, I feel like a new person. I know that I should spend more time outside, and even more, I should work outside more because it really inspires me. Especially water. So in 2012, I need to spend more time outside.
2) I like to say I'm "between homes" right now, so I can't really reflect on my home workspace. My husband and I have renters in our home and have been temporarily staying in my parents' beach house until we find a new place. So, right now, I work on a bouncy exercise ball when I am doing client work, blogging, or researching, a large recliner when I am working on my novels. I know that I need to cultivate a more inviting home workspace (yet another 2012 resolutions).
3) Ahh, music. The older I get, the stingy my ears get. I am a Pandora listener all the way, and my "home" station was created based on Dave Matthews Band. My latest obsession? Matthew Mayfield and Damien Rice (which both pop up on my DMB station). I am a slacker sometimes and watch tv while I'm working, especially in the evening when I am half-working, half-trying to show my husband that I am not working.
4) For 2012, I made a goal to get up and move every hour; more specifically, move for one solid minute doing jumping jacks or something similar. Yet, in reality, when you get in the groove, you do not want to stop writing. So, what ends up happening is that I do two walks with my dog (15 minutes each) plus workout about 45 minutes each day, and the rest of the day, I am butt-in-chair. But, I do try to sit on my exercise ball a lot (good for the core. Right?).  I also have a goal of meditating each night before I go to bed thanks to Stacey Cunrow's 30 Days of Peace. Rarely happens, but it IS helpful when I do, and it IS on my mind.
5) I kicked the year off with a cleanse because I want to feel my best in a few weeks when I go to a writer's conference and try to snag an agent. So, I have been drinking sort of gross breakfast shakes, salads for lunch, and meat and veggies for dinner. Light, light, light. But the hard thing is, I love food. I love craft beer. I love wine. And even when I eat really well, I am still the same (totally acceptable) weight. I am to the point of just either being sort of toned or not toned, and it really boils down to me just working out harder. But I do drink green tea every day, and try to drink lots of water. I have to admit, since I became a full-time writer, I drink more coffee than I ever have.
6) This is an area in my life that is sort of lacking right now (see #2). However, the great thing I can say about this category is that in about the last year, I have weeded out all the negative, hurtful, un-supportive, and just plain un-fun people in my life. Now, my life is filled with true blue friends that I love spending time with and support me chasing my dreams. Life is too short to be friends with people that feel like frenemeies or are judgmental.
7) Oooh, I feel good about this one! I feel like I learn every single day, which I would have never said in my previous jobs (education). I know I am on the right career path (work, purpose). This is definitely my strongest category.
Try this exercise. Definitely intense, eye-opening, and worth it. Would love to hear your reflections!