The Challenge: Spend 10 minutes visioning yourself 10 years from now as having accomplished one of your biggest dreams. Be as detailed as possible; imagine in all five senses.
Kim:
One of my biggest dreams involves having a family, owning my dream home in the woods by a lake, and having our company growing and affecting peoples’ lives in a positive way. I spent my time visioning “moments” of this life. One moment was a late summer evening and my family and I were out on our deck watching the beautiful colors of the sun setting, As we all lounged in our chairs, we could hear the crickets chirping and the soft waves from the water. I was sitting in a chair holding one of our kids, both of us wrapped in a soft fleece blanket to stay warm from the soft breeze off of the lake. I was holding a warm mug of hot chocolate. I could smell the pine trees, my child’s hair, the fresh air. As I sat there and took in the evening I was thinking about how blessed I was. I thought about our business and all that God has allowed it to become. I thought about the fun and creative office space we had just down the road. I thought about how much I love having kids and how much fun Jason and I have with them. I thought about how grateful I was to have this moment with my family on such a beautiful night. I can’t wait for that night!
Jason:
I used the 10 minutes to imagine my dream home studio, located in the upper level of our dream home. One of the walls is almost entirely lined with windows, providing a breathtaking view of a shimmering lake. It’s a late spring day, warm but not hot; a fresh spring breeze slipping through the open windows. The floors are hardwood, which feel cool to my bare feet. I’m sipping on a lemonade, sitting at my large drafting table. A few Kim & Jason strips sit finished next to a half-eaten cinnamon raisin bagel. Music is playing softly; a mix of Tom Petty, Jars of Clay, and Toad the Wet Sprocket, which reminds me of my college days when I dreamed of making it as an artist. The latest Mac is nearby — my guilty pleasure. Most of the other walls are lined with bookshelves, dotted with framed pictures of me and some of the people I’ve met over the years. A Reuben award (for best cartoonist) sits proudly next to some handmade handiworks from my children. I’ve always loved the way the inside of Jamba Juice smells, and Kim and I make it a habit to keep fresh flowers in the house, which is why the studio emanates a citrusy floral aroma. There is a smooth oak table near the center of the room. It serves as a spot for impromptu meetings, but is currently overrun by crayons, fingerpaints, and artwork made by my five-year-olds (yep, we’ve got twins!)
Ahhh…after a long, busy week, that’s not a bad way to spend 10 minutes.
Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason
So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!
Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek
I dream that in 10 years, I will have found the man that I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with (with the Lord’s help)…I can see the colors in the church, the dresses, hear the music, feel the tears of joy….we will honeymoon on Prince Edward Island (see challenge #6), I can feel the soft, warm sand under my feet as we walk along the beautiful beaches, hand in hand, with the soft smell of the water, and beautiful orange and red painting the sky with a sunset. We will live in a quaint “country style” house with a wrap-around porch, complete with a swing….where we will sit together in the evenings (after our kids are in bed), and enjoy a peaceful moment in one another’s arms….and we lived happily ever after….
Since it’s often difficult to picture 24 hours from now, 10 years really threw me for a loop. I thought first about “the kids” and realized they would be 11 years old and 9 1/2 years old – fifth grade and fourth grade. I am so proud to be their mother – they are kind, loving and lots of fun to be around. They are serious at times, but have a fabulous sense of humor. When I wasn’t volunteering in their classrooms or trying to keep the house in some sort of order, I wrote a book to help out moms – how to enjoy motherhood AND maintain your sanity with THE best publisher out there, JBiRD iNK. The book was selling well and I was off to New York City for a book signing. We decided to make it a family trip. We got dressed to the hilt for the signing, I could smell my perfume, my husband’s cologne and the kids’ hair care products. I used my favorite pen for the signing. Afterward, we went for New York City pizza and Cokes. We saw the sights, including the Empire State Building and Rockefellar Center. I can hear the life of the city – car horns honking like crazy. We enjoyed every second of it.
One of my goals for 2006 is to get into shape. So I spent my time visioning myself working out. I envisioned gaining strength and flexibility and enjoying the sports I play. Like Kim, while I was spending time visioning, I didn’t want to stop. I felt energized by what I saw and since I had done my vision time right before bed, I woke up energized. It was this energized feeling that helped me start off today and hopefully this journey to building up my body in the best way in a great way!
By this time my book will have been in print for a number of years and I hope to be enjoying the fruits of my writing, my legacy to my heirs. I will be at our vacation home along a quiet stream full of fish. My grandchildren will be around me asking questions only grandpas can answer. As I take in the fresh earthly smell that kids acquire when they are outside I’ll close my eyes as I listen to their laughter. And I’ll smile. The smallest of the bunch will be on my lap ready for a nap. It rests it’s head on my chest as I inspect the traces of dirt under it’s nails and I marvel at it’s tiny beautifully formed fingers. As I close my eyes again a tear of happiness rolls down my cheek and I’m reminded of the song, It’s a wonderful world!
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In ten years from now, Doug and I see ourselves in a house compliments of Doug’s gift for the funny. We can hear our children playing in our big yard (including a mini-golf course). Katie is cooking some fancy dinner. (hopefully filet mignon helper). The kids, and Doug, come in from outside smelling of the fall air. The night ends with a fire outside and some smores while we talk about our recent vacation.
Ah, 10 years from now. House out in the country, sitting in the backyard watching the sunset. Kids get home from school. grill is started, best friends are coming over for a bbq. Smell the grill a cookin’, feel the gentle breeze, see the colors of orange, red, yellow fill the sky, hear the children laughing & playing – creative imaginations at work, taste the sweetness of warm cookies for dessert. Sounds like a perfect evening! I can’t wait!
In 10 years, I will have a retreat house somewhere in the country near a nice, cool lake. It will be universally accessible and host retreats for the Deaf and hard of hearing, plus other people too. There will be a chapel as part of the building so we can pray anytime we want to. I will be actively sharing God’s gifts with other people, teaching them that God loves them exactly where they are and as they are. Each night I will slip out to the lake to watch the sunset and enjoy a game of catch with Molly. I will be greatly blessed.
I was going to envision my wedding day, but, boy I’d better be married before these next 10 years are up! Also, I’ll be over 40, so I couldn’t envision giving birth – I want to have kids before the risks get too high. So, I thought of something else I would love to do one day!