The Focus of My Attention

I spotted the morning sun shining on my jonquils and had to go take a few pictures. Although the sun was shining it was only 22 degrees and the wind was blowing. When I first stepped outside I was cold, but just a few clicks and I had forgotten all about it. It's fascinating how I can become so involved in photography that I loose track of everything that's happening around me. My focus is totally on what I'm seeing.  

 

 

 

I haven't addressed the fact that it's 2013 in my blog, maybe because I'm still back in 2012 somewhere struggling to catch up.  On this first day of February I wonder what will I do with this brand new year? A month is already gone! Have I used my time better? Have I accomplished anything?

So many of my online friends like to start the new year with "one little word." This project begins with choosing a word to concentrate on through the days, weeks, and months of the year. Last year my word was "moments".  I wanted to capture moments and  live in each moment.  I was pleased with my word and how keeping it in mind I took photos, blogged, completed scrapbook pages, and journaled about the important and the routine moments of my life.

 

My word this year is "focus."  One of the definitions of focus is: a point of concentration.  That's what I need to do, concentrate on specific goals that I would like to accomplish. I have a deep yearning to complete some projects that I've started and a yearning to try new things. In order to do that I need more focus in my life, more concentration. Here are a few of the goals that I'll be working on this year.

• focus on my journey this year, continuing to be aware of each moment
• complete a queen size quilt that I started a couple of years ago
• journal more and tell my stories
• catch up with my scrapbooks ~ probably impossible, but  maybe I'll at least scrapbook more!
• finish Project Life 2010 ~ you read that right 2010! I'm working on November
• print and add 365 photos for 2011 in an album
• paint and redecorate the living room
• declutter - I'm doing pretty well with this so far
• discover new places and take photos - I've already been to one new place
• complete online classes ~ I have a couple that I need to finish
• connecting with others ~ I spent too much time by myself
• read more ~ this is an easy one!
• try new recipes ~ I'm so bored with our meals!
• create ~ use some of those great ideas I've been pinning on Pinterest!

 

 I'm looking forward to this year!

I feel good about what I accomplished in January!

I just need to keep...

FOCUSING!!

 

Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives:

where we focus our attention.

~ Greg Anderson

One Little Word - February

I can't believe that I forgot to post my One Little Word assignment for February. The word I chose for the year is "moments". You can go here for the beginning of this project, why I chose the word and what it means to me. In February we were to take photos to illustrate what our word means. This was a little challenging!  As I thought about the word "moment", I began to think of the different kinds of moments there are. These led me to taking the following pictures. I've explained each picture below.

Here's how I decided to interpret "moments."

1. moments never repeated

2. moments of breathtaking beauty

3. moments of magic

4. moments that quickly pass away

5. moments of gratitude

6. moments with loved ones

7. moments of quiet and reflection

8. moments captured by my camera

9. moments where I am present

For the second page I chose to enlarge this photo of a beautiful sundial and write on the image the interpretations of the photos.

In March, we are to put our word into action. It will be interesting to see what I decide to "do" with my word.

"Let me tell thee, time is a very precious gift of God;

so precious that it's only given to us moment by moment."

~ Amelia Barr ~

Moments

Blessed ~ I am truly blessed.

Blessed with good health, a wonderful family,  and a quiet life. But, no matter how blessed we are, something can happen in a matter of moments that can rock our world and devastate us. I became very aware of this last year, which made me begin thinking about the moments we live each day. It made me realize that I could make better choices and not waste precious moments. I choose what I will do with my day. I can choose to live it or waste it!

 

I've heard a lot about choosing one word. A word that is kept in mind for the year. A word that brings awareness of what we want to embrace in our lives. I decided to take the One Little Word workshop at Big Picture Classes.  As I began thinking over words that I might want to concentrate on,  I thought about the word "moments". It kept haunting me, following me. It wouldn't leave my mind. It wasn't what I was looking for, I wanted an action word. So, I ignored "moments" and began to think about embrace, savor, and capture. These were good words, words I could easily focus on. But, they just didn't fit. I'm back to "moments" those little snippets of time. I'll be focusing on embracing the moment, savoring the moment, and capturing the moment.

 

Part of keeping this word front and center in our minds is creating a journal. This is the opening 4"x6" page. On the front is my word, on the back a self-portrait.

 Once a month we receive an assignment to keep us motivated all year. For January, I looked up the definition of my word and used a thesaurus to find synonyms. I wrote why I chose the word and what I wanted to invite into my life through this word.

I'll also be exploring ways to photograph my word and related words.

It's really surprising how already my word is in my head; how I think about it each day. It will interesting to see where it takes me through the year.

Every time you wake up and ask yourself,

What good things am I going to do today?

Remember that when the sun goes down at sunset,

It will take a part of your life with it.

                                    ~ Native American Proverb