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!
You sound wonderfully focused! That’s what I like about One Little Word, paying attention to it for a whole year, revisiting and starting again if we slip, until it becomes a part of us, just like you have done. I’ve been thinking about next year but I’ve still got two more months to be better balanced. Well done, Kat!
It sounds like focus has really worked as a word for you this year – I love it when that happens. I think I’ve got my word for 2020 picked out, too.
This has been a good word for you. Thank you for sharing your word and the work you are doing to pay attention.
I’m impressed with your focus Kat! Good for you.
I’m glad to hear that you’ve seen such success and such an impact by your (ha) focus on focus!
I’m right there with you on the book. Some books I read simply for the mental vacation, but this is one that demanded to be savored and thought about deeply. I think that it’s important to read a book like that ever so often.
My reading totally turned around when I stopped trying to read all the books as quickly as possible . . . and started savoring them more slowly (sometimes with a lot of notes, sometimes with just a few). It’s amazing what a bit of focus can accomplish! So glad you’re having a great experience with your word this year. XO
I can’t believe we are TEN months into this year already … it’s so uplifting to read how we are settling into and learning from our words. There’s a saying that we move through four phases – Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing – when we do things – teams, new habits, anything. And we are now coming to Performing!
For my spiritual growth reading, I follow that slow process, journaling along the way. It’s powerful. I don’t want to read all the books like that, but the ones I expect to learn from and really savor, well, I’m all about that process! I listened to Just Mercy the first time through because that was the quickest way to get the book from the library. But now I’m #1 in line for a hardcopy … just in time for the discussion!
I have read all of your focus posts and this one seems to be the most reflective and oozes contentment. I think you’ve hit your balance of focusing on the stuff that matters to you.