What Focus Means to Me

FOCUS means saying no. It means giving up the things that eat my time but no longer -- or maybe never did -- seem worth it to me. It means giving up something I'd like to do for something I'd love to do -- or, yes, something that just has to be done. It means logging off LibraryThing forever so I can spend my time on sites I like better (or even offline entirely.) It means turning down a book review offer, no matter how great the book, because I already have a stack of unread tomes on my nightstand.

FOCUS means living now. I will focus on what the pastor is saying, not on my Sunday afternoon to-do list. I will hear what my friends are saying and not formulate my response before they're halfway through a sentence. I will log off the computer before my blog post is complete to play a board game with my brothers. I will attempt to slow down and actually enjoy the novel. “In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” (Mortimer J. Adler)

FOCUS means knowing my priorities. It means my devotions come before Literature homework and the research paper. It means the research paper's notes come before the next scene in my latest novel. It means said novel comes before fanfiction or my blog. It means fanfiction or my blog come before Facebook surfing. And sometimes, it means dropping everything with neither warning nor complaint to spend the weekend with my family for the few months I'm still a high school kid.

FOCUS means saying yes. Yes, I'll log off the computer to play Life with Nicholas. Yes, I'll put down the book to help Mom bake all day. Yes, I'll finish my homework tonight, even though the latest episode of my favorite television show expires from Hulu Free. Yes, I'll set aside my craft project to go on a last-minute family weekend errand run.

Basically, FOCUS means ouch. Because it will take work. It's not how I'm used to living. But when your friends barely know you and your whole family just knows you as "the girl behind the computer"...

Was that really living, anyway?

One Word 365: 2014

It's that time again, my lovely readers. Time to pack up the tree and toss out the wrapping paper. Time to find homes for all those Christmas presents. Time to get ready for New Year's Eve!

Along with a new year comes new year resolutions. After a whole year of honing in on just one little word, dream, I've decided to keep up OneWord365 as a tradition. So for this year, my one word will be...

What to Do With Your One Word

Originally posted December 30, 2012

Claim your word - with free blog buttons made by Melanie, personalized with your word to match your blog design (the images above? those are buttons she made for me!).  You  can also share your word on www.myoneword.org, and link up a post about it on Melanie's blog here.

Wear your word - on personalized jewelry from Etsy!  You might know of an Etsy shop that makes personalized, hand-stamped jewelry.  If not, here are a few I've found: Tiny Tokens Designs; Bee Baubles Jewelry; WSayle Silver and Stone.  I think this particular necklace would be perfect: personalized mini tag necklace.

Write your word - with ink, pencil, crayons, paint, markers, tape, in dust, in sand, in dirt, in the steam on your mirror, on your computer, on a typewriter, on a wipe board, with magazine letters, with newspaper cutouts, in a letter to your future self, in letters to friends and family, and any other way you come up with.

Find your word - on billboards, in television ads, in a magazine, in a newspaper, in books, in movies, in daily conversations, at work, at home, at school, in brand names.  Just keep your eyes and ears open; you'll find it.

Journal your word - why did you choose this word?  What do you want to get from this year?  How do you want to change, to grow, to learn?  Activities, overheard conversations, realizations and lessons, magazine and newspaper clip outs, Pinterest images - it can all go in the journal.  A blog or other online journal works just as well.  If you're not a blogger but you want to share your word with others, email me at newyorksnowflake @ gmail.com.  I'll be considering OneWord365 guest posts throughout the year, although I don't promise anything.

Share your word - let those around you know about your word.  Have them join you in the journey.  They can each choose their own words, and you can all stay on the lookout for the words in daily life.  When they hear your word in a song, they will share that song with you.  When you find their word in a magazine article, you can clip the article and mail it to them.  And on it goes!  Even if they don't join you, they can still help you with your journey this year.

Post your word - around your house.  Use post-its, bulletin boards, dry erase boards, computer backgrounds, refrigerator magnets, and anything else you can find to display your word and keep it in the forefront of your mind.

Quote your word - maybe you sit down one day and find a few random quotes on the internet, or maybe you keep a one word quotes journal through the whole year.  Regardless, seek out the inspiration that others have found through this word and take hold of it yourself.

Study your word - find book(s) and/or blog(s) that talk about or focus on your word.  Set out to learn as much as you can about your word.  Look into its origin, etymology, uses, synonyms, and antonyms.  Find out how this word has changed, grown, or taught others.  Learn what it means to other cultures.  Memorize it in as many languages as possible.

Create your word - write, paint, draw, photograph, collage, compose.  Take advantage of the freedom in art, whether or not you're a creative person, to capture your word and what it means to you.  You know that wall art where photographers write a name with images of things that resemble letters?  Make one - or several! - that spell out your word.  Have fun with it!  Another idea can be to write your word - on an index card, in the dust and dirt on your car, on a handmade banner or shirt, etc. - and then take a picture of you with your word.  Do this with friends or family and their words.  Just be creative!

Sources:

http://oneword365.com/what-to-do-with-your-word/

http://alwayswellwithin.com/2011/12/12/one-powerful-word-2012-a-simple-approach-to-new-years-resolutions/

http://aliedwards.com/2010/02/one-little-word-february-2010.html

http://melbreeland.wordpress.com/