One Little Word in July

I was trying to think of what photo I could use to go along with this post about Focus, and I decided that these things I grabbed from my bedside table might work. Here's what I've been focusing on in July:

• Reading - poetry and that wonderful Hal Borland book, Twelve Moons of the Year. This is a book that Vera recommended and I'm so glad she did. It's a collection of Borland's nature editorials from the NYT, one for every day of the year. I've been reading one each day, and just that simple act focuses and grounds me. I've also got two great books on my Kindle, The Pull of the Stars and Here in the Real World that I'm finding real pleasure and focus in reading.

• My Health - I've had some issues but have also been focused on doing what I can to improve them. I used to think that pill containers were only for "old people" but call me old because my pill minder and alarms on my phone are keeping me on track. 

• My Switch Lite - I have to include that because it's so easy (and fun) to focus on Animal Crossing. It gives me a way to connect with Ryan as we can visit each other's islands, fish together, and be happy for each other when we catch coelacanths and mahi-mahi. 

• I don't have a good way to include meditation in the photo, but that is really what has been keeping me focused throughout this month. A friend gave me the Ten Percent Happier app as a birthday gift, and it has been one of the best gifts I've received. I have meditated every day, and it's beginning to have some positive effects on my life, with increased focus, more patience, better sleep, and fewer morbid thoughts and days when I just don't care. They are currently running a Summer Sanity Challenge and you can try the app for free if you are interested. We each have to find what works best for us, but this is working for me and I intend to keep focusing my energies on meditation (and in turn, meditation is helping my focus)!

Please visit Honoré to read what she and others have shared about their words.

One Little Word: It's The End of June Already!

When I first thought about writing an update for my word, I had to try and remember what word I had even chosen for 2020 (and search posts back to March to find out what it was.) That gives you a pretty good picture of how things have been going with Focus. 

The pandemic has made the months since March an especially hard time for me to focus, and I think that might be the way that many others are also feeling. But there is a very valuable lesson in that, too. Like breath during meditation, Focus isn't something you attain and you are able to focus happily ever after once it's achieved. Some days and some months have made it feel almost impossible, but each time I am reminded of Focus, during daily meditations, asking myself "Is this how I want to be spending my time?", and (hopefully) monthly blog check-ins, I can re-focus and calm my unsettled monkey mind. (And stop throwing stones at every dog that barks.)

Please visit Honoré to read what she and others have shared about their words. 

Looking for Focus

I wasn't going to write a One Little Word post today, mainly because I have been such a failure at Focus. I have left my poor little word sitting by the wayside. I have no focus. Sometimes not even enough to know what day it is, since each day is just like the others preceding it, and all I can see is more misery and climbing numbers in the days ahead. 

This is how I have treated poor Focus. I think I have been waiting for it to magically return instead of making a concerted effort to focus even a little bit, on Focus. After reading your One Little Word posts this morning I've been inspired by your efforts, struggles, and honesty in dealing with your own words. 

So thank you. Starting right now, I'm going to make a return to Focus. It may be just a little, but I am making the effort. Today is Tuesday. I am going to focus on meditation, mopping the kitchen floor, holding those dear to me along with some good friends close to my heart and in my thoughts, taking a walk even though the weather is poor, and maybe even some knitting tonight. That is enough for now. It will have to be because it's all I've got. 

Now, please go visit Honoré and see how others are doing. 

Sometimes Monday ...

... is a good day to choose a word. My one little word for 2020 is

How handy for me that Justin's girlfriend drives a Ford Focus!

For me, this is a logical progression after exploring Balance in 2019. It was a real aha! moment when I read an extraordinary post from Kym and it became clear to me that I needed to change my word to Balance. I paid attention to regaining and remaining in balance throughout most of the year, and it has been life-changing.

Kym's diagram Balance ==> Focus ==> Intention seems so well-reasoned and logical to me that Focus was my obvious choice this year. (Guess what my word will be next year?!) I'm looking forward to putting Focus into action, but I'm also not quite ready to let go of Balance. (I'm not sure I ever will be.) So while I intend to explore Focus, I also want to make sure that I continue to maintain an equilibrium between work and leisure, fun and serious, physical activity and rest, thoughtful consideration and spontaneity. I'm recommitting myself to daily meditation, which I know will help with both Balance and Focus.

Exploring things almost always begins with books for me, so I am reading Indistractable by Nir Eyal, and I have several other books in my Focus queue. I feel like I'm off to a good (and focused!) start. I hope to join Honoré on the last Tuesday of the month and hope you will, too, to share and read where others' words are leading them.

I'll leave you with a quote that explains why I think a bit of focus might be a good thing for the whole world:
The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.
― Rachel Carson