by Kat | Jul 30, 2019 | General, Words
Joining with Juliann and sharing my word update again this month.
My key to dealing with stress is simple: just stay cool and stay focused. – Ashton Eaton
I should have looked for this quote earlier this month and I might have been more successful in refocusing myself!
Why?
Because I entirely lost my focus in July and I spent the month struggling and quite frustrated. I felt much like this Butterfly Bush – tossed willy-nilly in the blowing breeze…never quite in focus. And the harder I struggled to get back to focus the more elusive it became.
So, as this month comes to a close and I turn the page on a calendar, I am giving myself permission to move on. Start fresh. Begin again. Refocus.
by Kat | Jun 25, 2019 | General, Words
Joining with Juliann today to share an update on my word!
Over the years, I have tried a number of different crafts – cross stitch, embroidery, weaving, spinning, sewing, and knitting to name a few. But, in all things focus is important. and this year as I unpack my word and apply it to my life – I have come to the realization that more is not better. All is not needed and I don’t need to worry about FOMO at all. Knitting and sewing are more than enough to keep me occupied and happy. I don’t feel the urge to try every latest thing that comes along.
Yet even knitting and sewing do not mean successful projects if you do not have focus. And, I have come to understand that not having a focus means projects that seem like a great idea at the time, might not be so great in the end result. And so, with my thoughts on focus this year, I have been more mindful of what I am making. I have spent time thinking about my wardrobe and the things that I wear all the time. I have pondered my perceived “holes” in my wardrobe – which has resulted in actual planning in my making. Having a focused plan has shown me areas that I can perhaps try some new things as well as making more of my favorite pieces. Having a focused making process has also had an unexpected effect as well! It has buffered the desire to cast on a new project or rush out to buy some fabric to sew up something that caught my eye!
My in depth look at my wardrobe showed me that a few things would be a nice addition so when I saw Mary’s Screen Door, it was the perfect fit for a “hole” and I cast on, sans guilt!
And, this focused way of thinking has expanded beyond my closet to the lingering, unfinished projects on needles in various places. Are they something I am going to actually need or wear? It is a freeing way to think about things, because I really don’t want my making to be without vision and that has given me a much better focus!
Photo by Wendy van Zyl from Pexels
by Kat | May 28, 2019 | General, Words
Dandelions don’t tell no lies. – Mick Jagger
Nor does focus or the lack thereof!
May found me challenged with my focus. I learned that my focus was very much a routine-based focus. A change to that routine (i.e. vacation) and my focus was like a blown dandelion – at the whim of the winds that were blowing.
It was not a very good feeling. But, with all things – faltering causes learning and understanding, and simply put, sometimes it is okay to be unfocused!
It was not the best feeling, I admit – but it has made me appreciate all that I have learned and all that I have worked through since I began this journey way back in January.
Just like dandelion seeds, which sprout quickly, I found that getting back to feeling focused was far easier than I imagined, and I learned that it is okay to be unfocused occasionally too.
And then at the end of last week, a wonderful surprise arrived – a beautiful visual reminder of my word. Thank you so much, Honoré! You can see that it helped me focus on what was important yesterday!
by Kat | Apr 30, 2019 | General, Words
I am joining with Julianne today and touching base with my word.
You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. – C.S. Lewis
As the fourth month of focus draws to a close, I think I am ready to share some of the frustrations that I have felt with myself as I have explored being more focused.
Honestly, I should have done this word years ago – perhaps decades ago even! All sorts of things have been running through my brain about where I might be today if I had been more focused so long ago. There have been some extremely unpleasant (and highly critical) conversations with myself and lots of “what if’s” have filled my brain and I was spending a good bit of time dwelling on the “would of” rather than letting it go and refocusing on the now and, more importantly, the future.
And then I stumbled upon that quote from C.S. Lewis and a light bulb went off in my brain.
Despite how much I want to I can’t go back and change anything. Beating myself up for my lack of focus does no good but changing my focus today can make all the difference in the world. I have now been gently reminding myself that my start back in January has been very productive and I have learned so much!
This is a year long process of honing my focus – not a miraculous overnight change – and the purpose of this year with this word is to change the ending not the beginning!
Photo by Vicky Tran from Pexels
by Kat | Mar 26, 2019 | General, Words
Thank you all for your wished for Heidi and Genevieve yesterday. They are much appreciated!
I am joining Juliann again this month as I review my word and how I did in March.
In January, I spent my days focusing inward and in February, I focused on me.
March has been a month of questioning so many things. And, my thoughts have been turning around the “can you teach an old Kat new tricks” idiom. Yes, I have been focusing on the things I do (and don’t do) and the whys of them.
Things in my focus this month have been –
keeping my closet clean ✘
better dinner planning ✔
and moving more consistently ✔
One of those things continued to be an epic failure all.month.long. (Hello, closet!! I am looking at you!)
Being organized in the tiniest closet ever is not easy – but part of the problem might be too.many.clothes.
But help is on the way!!
Some Closet Kondo-ing is already underway and maybe some Wardrobe Styling are in order. But hopefully, next month my closet (and wardrobe) will have a new focus and stay that way!
What about you? Do you struggle with closet organization?
