I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions. I find anytime a goal is forced by someone else’s time frame that it rarely works out. That’s not to say that I don’t regularly set goals or have a bucket list; it’s just that I realize for a goal to be meaningful, it has to have relevance. So, I have always just blown off the idea of new year, new goals.
I was intrigued, however, when I read this blog post from Bill Ferriter, In One Word, I Will Challenge. I hadn’t seen the One Word project before, but I liked it.
It seemed simple enough, find one word that would be my daily focus for the year. How hard could that be? Well, harder than I thought. I read Bill’s post more than three weeks ago, and I’m just now deciding on the ‘right’ word.
My first word was reflection. That seemed like a good choice until I realized that this is something I do naturally, reflecting on what I read, what I see, and what I do.
Next I thought about drive. I mean Daniel Pink’s book by that name is one of my favorites, and I love his idea that “mastery attracts precisely because mastery eludes.” I entertained this one for just a moment before realizing that I have always been driven.
Then I thought about balance. The idea of focusing on how to balance all the things I have going seemed like a good idea. But then I realized that I’m really not happy unless I’m busy, so maybe I already have balance that works for me. It may look like the circus guy spinning plates to other people, but for me it’s normal.
I finally settled on present. For 2013, I will focus on what is happening at this moment, here and now.
I will focus on being present for my family. Sometimes I’m ‘here’ but not really ‘here’. I will do this so that C doesn’t tell me again that Harry Chapin’s Cats in the Cradle reminds him of all the things I do instead of spending time with him. I will focus on listening with my eyes and my mind as much as with my ears.
I will focus on being present with the task at hand. This means paying attention to the subtle details of a plan, a lesson, a conversation rather than thinking ten steps ahead.
I will focus on the present moment. Rather than looking back at what might have been or looking forward to what might be, I need to look at what is.
I will focus on the present and heed the words of Emerson, who said, Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow
is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to
be encumbered with your old nonsense.
I also read that post but could not think of ONE word like you did. I’m so full of words!
I aprecciate your choice and will try to keep Emerson’s words in mind – that’s the attitude to have!
Naomi (@naomishema)
Naomi, I had too many words to start with, but it was a learning experience to whittle them down to the one. I love Emerson. He has a way of saying what I need to hear. One of my former students once told me that he always feels smarter after reading Emerson.
Jen wrote:
I will focus on being present for my family. Sometimes I’m ‘here’ but not really ‘here’. I will do this so that C doesn’t tell me again that Harry Chapin’s Cats in the Cradle reminds him of all the things I do instead of spending time with him. I will focus on listening with my eyes and my mind as much as with my ears.
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As heartbreaking as it is, I’ve been signing Cats in the Cradle to my daughter for years now — ever since she needed me to sing her to sleep.
She’s gotten to the point where she pretty regularly says to me, “I want to be just like you when I grow up, Dad.”
It makes me sad because I’m not as “present” as I want to be. The simple truth is we don’t make enough money off my teaching salary to pay our bills — so I’m always off doing part time work as a writer and a presenter. Always.
But what I have tried to do is listen with my HEART when I am present. If I can tell that something little means a ton to my girl — right now, it’s playing pretend with puppets — I do it no matter how tired I am or sick I feel.
Being present doesn’t have to mean being in the same room all the time, right?
Instead, being present means being aware of others.
I needed that reminder.
Thanks.
Bill
I can relate to that. Between teaching snd going back to school, my days fill up. I just want to make sure that when I’m present I am present 100%. Like yesterday playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii. It’s the balance between making a life and making a living.