by Kat | Dec 24, 2019 | General, Words
What you stay focused on will grow. — Roy T. Bennett
December is drawing to a close and so is my word for 2019 and I confess, I am sad to see it end! I started with an idea of how focus would change me and over the year my word took me on a much better journey than I ever imagined!
Your life is controlled by what you focus on. — Tony Robbins
At times during the year, I lost my focus but I learned how to refocus and how to improve my focus. I learned what was important to focus on. And, more importantly – what was not important to focus on.
Always remember, your focus determines your reality. — George Lucas
But even as I join with Juliann to put my word away for 2019 and make space for a new word, focus has become a permanent part of me! A part that will continue to adjust my days – and it will influence the New Year and my new word!
You can revisit my yearlong exploration of focus:
Photo by Sindre Strøm from Pexels
by Kat | Nov 26, 2019 | General, Words
I am joining Juliann and friends to share my word – Focus.
I started the month off strong with Michelle’s Gratitude Week – her reminders were so perfect and in hindsight, it turns out that start was crucial to surviving a very challenged month for me.
I am grateful that my normal focus carried me through the month – being in the moment, focusing on right now and moving. Bad days are infinitely better when you move your body and get outside for a brisk walk. Fresh air really clears out the doldrums and it is hard to do anything but focus on Pilates when you are doing Pilates!
Add to that my usual knitting focus – and making some impromptu gifts really helped as well. I also learned that rhythmic knitting (read mindless stockinette) sometimes allows you to dwell on problems – but seed stitch keeps you focused on those knits and purls and not on worrisome thinking!
And all of those things have helped me to stay in the moment rather than being consumed by worry beyond that moment. And for that I am holding on to those tiny bits of gratitude.
Photo by Irina Iriser from Pexels
by Kat | Oct 29, 2019 | General, Words
Happily joining Juliann to share how I did with focus in October!
Maintaining my focus has become part of me – it is something that I think about each day and life is absolutely improved because of it. I have never had such amazing success with a word, and it is causing me to begin the process of thinking about where I should go from here.
Yes, I have begun focusing on my word for next year. Why? Because I have learned that all things are a process and sometimes that process is not quick. I want to continue with the impact that focus has had for me this year! However, that process did not diminished my focus in October.
I have savored the days – appreciating the longer shadows, the changing colors, and the shifting temperatures.
I have found a good rhythm of moving my body even when its raining or I don’t really feel like it. I might even say that moving has become a habit and that feels so good!
This month I also did something profoundly different in my reading – I took almost the entire month to read, ponder, and make notes about Just Mercy. Honestly, I am not sure I could have read this book any other way – it needed pauses and lots of thought. But, that process has me thinking about making a change in how I read…I am not sure I would want to do that with every book I read, but maybe? It is absolutely something I am sitting with and tumbling about in my brain.
And, that was how I focused in October!
by Kat | Sep 24, 2019 | General, Words
Joining with Juliann today to share how I did with my word in September.
It was a good month, perhaps the best month yet for my focus. At times it felt like I was moving at a snail’s pace, but if you watch a snail – even though it moves slowly, it does move, and so did I!
My focus this month was to move my body more…AND not let all the other things I have worked on getting into focus to become out of focus.
I think I managed to do that fairly well – not perfectly, but good enough that it feels like I have figured it out and it is beginning to feel like a routine *again*!
My list of accomplishments this month might not have lots of “visible things” in the completed column – but sometimes the things that only you can see are the ones that make the biggest impact on your life!
What about you? How did you do with your word this month?
Photo by invisiblepower from Pexels
by Kat | Sep 6, 2019 | General, In This Moment
I have been spending a good bit of time thinking about how to reinvigorate me as I contemplate my blog. I keep circling back to the less is sometimes so much more concept as I have contemplated this space. I know that we all have a finite number of minutes during the week and frankly, time spent on a computer or digital device sucks a great number of those minutes from our lives each day – so do you really need one more blog post to read every day? Truthfully, I just don’t have anything edifying to say every day! I don’t have a million fun little anecdotes to share nor have I gone to any exciting places to fill you all with travel envy! As you can see in my monthly “looking back” posts – we are truly homebodies and are most comfortable in our home. But finally – and perhaps most importantly – the tipping point to these blog changes is a result of my word – focus – this year. That word is having such a dramatic impact on my life as I have spent the year working through how to focus on my life, my days, and the things I do!
I do so love TGIF posts, but lately I have found them to feel a bit rote at times. So, Friday’s are going to take on a bit of a different theme here at AsKatKnits. I am going to use them to share things that will close out the week – my week, and usher in the weekend.
This week brought lots of changes – visually and physically:
I eased back into walking. My ankle has been feeling better, not perfect – but better enough to take modified walks.
I picked the last of the raspberries on Wednesday morning and made the final bit of raspberry jam for the year.
Signs of a fading summer are everywhere – the green of the trees is fading, and some of the leaves are beginning to dry and curl. The burning bushes in my front yard are beginning to show signs of the coming color around the edges of some of the leaves. I wish I could say that the grass is showing signs of slowing its growth pace, but as yet, that has not happened. Even the skies look different in these waning days of summer.
The Farmer’s Market is also slowly changing as fall fruits and vegetables are beginning to show up!
And, amidst all of these gradually changing things, I am spending my days welcoming these tiny changes – being aware of them – and reveling in them. And, those three things have helped me appreciate, and stay focused on the immediate rather than wishing for what comes next.
Yet, to tell you that I am not thinking about “that next thing” would not quite be true. Last month Joji published this pattern and I have not been able to get it out of my mind. It has filled my creative thoughts as I ponder what I have in my stash that might work. It is also keeping me focused on finishing Reagan so I can cast on sans guilt! I also don’t have Morinne Short and Sweet out of my system yet and have plans to knit another one this fall!
All in all, I feel very accomplished as this week draws to a close – which is just what I need to welcome a “list free” weekend! I hope your weekend list has little on it as well! Have a great weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
