Focus

"How about you pick a few things to do really well instead of trying to do sixteen different things some of the time?"

A valid question. A question that sounds like it was posed to one of my students, but in actuality, it came from husband, and it was directed at me. It was, well,  irritating.

Irritating or not, though, it was a gut check. It was needed. (One of the reasons I love Michael is that he urges me to be a better person.)

In the past few months, I've had a lot on my plate (despite my resolution to simplify). Most of it has been self-imposed. Co-chairing a charity event, teaching SAT prep classes 2 nights a week, creating a domestic/crafting blog, trying to cook at home everyday of the month, keeping up with my personal blog, not to mention "little" things like starting a business, teaching full-time, and being a wife, sister, daughter, and friend.  I'll admit, Michael was is right.

Focus is something we often take for granted. I realized this for the first time in my photography class as a high school sophomore. Before the age of digital photography, Mrs. Hastings (arguably the best teacher I ever had), set out to teach us hard work, patience, and a commitment to excellence; she handed us an Nikon SLR. There was a lot to learn, but how to FOCUS the lens was the first lesson. If you've every worked in a dark room (or on PhotoShop) you know that you can fix most things in there, but if your focus is off, what may have been a gorgeous shot, can be ruined. You can fake exposure, motion, and color. You can't fake focus. 


Last week, while Sarah was working on the computer in my classroom, she mentioned that my computer screen was blurry. Since she's bossier than I, she immediately sent an email to our tech department (from my email account) asking them to remedy this issue. They were there the next day, and I now have a perfectly in focus monitor and no longer have headaches when I leave at the end of the day.


Whether it's our cameras, computer screens, or lives, focus is so important. It allows us to see the picture clearly, highlights beauty, and brings order and peace. I needed to be reminded to find focus, and I plan on doing just that.


For me, finding focus means that I am... 


giving up the positions with my charity;


finishing the SAT classes I've committed to, but NEVER doing more than one a week again;


cooking at home when I can, but not feeling guilty when I don't;


blogging for Domestic Diversions when it's fun, but not pressuring myself to meet a quota;


blogging here often, but realizing that it's OKAY, even preferred if posts are short;


teaching to the best of my ability, but not getting irritated by the minutiae of it all;


working my butt off to get the new business up and running so I can forever do what I love;


checking in with friends often;


hanging out with my family to create memories;


spending quality time with Michael and our puppies;


and seeking God's guidance in all things so that I may follow the path He intends for me.