(I was somewhat astonished that FOCUS has never been “my word” before… I am a photographer, right? You would have thought I would have STARTED with that one and then moved on 😉)

However, I had started this “Word of the Year” with a FOCUS on quilting…indeed I think where I first heard of a “Word of the Year” was in an online quilt forum. So, my brain didn’t go elsewhere. And as I have stated before, the word picks me.  If I consciously settle on “Abracadabra” as my word, some other word jumps out and says, “Not so fast, there, I get a say, too.” (here is last year’s post, and my entire word list since I started this exercise)

“FOCUS” is the opposite of “Rabbit Hole”, in case you were wondering…

And I think THAT is actually the point of this word.

I can’t have it all. (I know, what a bummer!) I can’t DO it all, either.  And I think there’s a lot of “ooh, shiny thing” in my world. …I am interesting, dammit! Or interested. .. or distracted, or something…

I need to FOCUS. (Which is a sneaky way of saying resolution, if you aren’t careful, so I will be VERY CAREFUL…)

FOCUS on essentials: Health, family, friends, finances, work-related.

FOCUS on topics of interest– Genealogy vs quilting vs photography vs travel vs gardening (Giving that one up as a focus…. Easy. …Because no matter what my intent is at the beginning of the spring, by late spring it’s too hot, too buggy and I stop- this does NOT mean you won’t be getting garden photos when I am enjoying it, by the by…)

I have a laundry list of THINGS I WANT TO DO. I really need to FOCUS on 2 or 3, accomplish them, having given them the time, FOCUS and energy they deserve and then, move on. Enough of trying to fit A, B, C, D, E and F into one day off…

But, also, I can’t do ONLY one, because I do tend to flit.  I need to have some A list/left brain things, AND some B list/right brain things so that I don’t burn out on any one thing.

Genealogically, I REALLY need to transcribe and scan and then disperse originals to a place that is capable of caring for them. And, of course, disseminating the information to family. I don’t need the TREE part done, I feel pretty confident there, at least back 8 or 9 generations and even off into various branches. But there is SO MUCH paper! (Thanks, aunt Gertrude!) Following up beyond that, I would like to consolidate some of the info into a bound photo book. This is a HUGE project overall. Will I finish in a year? Doubtful…. but I do need to get it moving.

Quilting?  I am embarrassed to express in numbers the quantity of unfinished quilts –(unfinished, in my lexicon, indicates the TOP isn’t done)– let’s just say I don’t need to be inspired by any new ideas, I have plenty of things to keep me busy.

Photography? Household? Career? Yep, this could grow unwieldy, and fast! I will be making similar lists for each of these topics, and will try to focus on completion…

I have settled on a list making, journal type thing…. The Happy Planner was too much– it seemed to me like the making of the page became more important than the list or the doing…

Yes, I took that lens and cleaned it after seeing all that dust!!!

“The best camera is the one you have with you,”–(Chuck Jarvis) and so I am sticking to that concept in choosing “One Note’ …. I auditioned many, read a lot of threads other friends  started on FB, took all their responses, loaded up my iPad with Apps and played for the last two weeks. (Anything that required monthly payments or such in order to unlock its magical real potential was an immediate NO)

I loved and liked a lot of features on a lot of different apps, but settled on One Note for a variety of reasons which are particular to my needs.  If you are looking for a productivity app, that is actually the best way to do it… ask people for recommendations but choose for your “learning style”.

I am also totally going to admit I hardly ever live up to this post. Quiz me in March about what my word was. I dare ya!

HAPPY 2019! It looks like it will be AMAZING. (here’s hoping, anyway!)