Focussed and Flourishing – My Word of the Year
Back in my cubby haven after almost 3 months. Boy! Does it feel good! ♥
I’m quarter late to the WOTY 2024 party. Yet, I believe, “better late than never.”
A calendar is also a social construct that we create for ourselves, but what the heck, it does helps us stay focussed.
Speaking of Focussed, that’s my WOTY 2024 and Flourishing also chose to tag along. After all, when we focus our attentions where we need to, we can’t help but flourish, right?
Focussed and Flourishing in 2024
In the past three months, I have been making efforts to practise (as much as I authentically can), unlearn and delve into a phrase that landed into my being, during the Yule season.
Ironically, even though my WOTY 2024 is Focussed, this is the longest I’ve taken to write and publish a post. Lol! I almost gave up on it, and then I didn’t! Well, giving up never existed in my scheme of things.
Before I get started on what my WOTY will translate to, I’d like to share how January-February 2024 panned out to be just the opposite of Focussed. If it hadn’t been so much about “unfocussing” I wouldn’t be where I am in March.
I’m WIP (work in Progress), on my way to walking the ropes of making the best possible efforts to turn Focussed and Flourishing into my sweet reality.
Leanne’s of Cresting the Hill writes in one of her blog posts: “You’ll realise that you need the tough parts to smooth your edges and to become wiser and more compassionate.”
The un-focussing has actually turned into building blocks that have helped me square back my attention back to Focus, so I can Flourish.
Discovering my WOTY
Focus on Focussed
The DH and I were on a vacation in the woods bidding 2023 a wholesome goodbye, and for all synchronous reason, Focus kept showing up.
Whether it was a book I was reading, a random social media message, our conversations, or just things I said; ended up bringing “focus” to the fore. It’s uncanny how it gently kept slipping into the aura of my being, unabashedly; without blaring out too loud. That’s how the universe works – silently.
On our vacation in the forests our attention was perpetually focussed on alarm calls, track marks, spotting various species of birds that flinted by. Clearly, the birds and all the wildlife taught us the importance of focussing our vision and patiently waiting for nature to unfurl what was meant to show up.
As we left the forests in the morning, to drive uphill into the mountains, we lost our way and went way too many miles in the opposite direction. That’s when Focus again came handy. Some presence of mind, and I guided the DH back (that’s what we women are meant to do, lol!).
As we drove into the meandering mountain roads, the sun sank into the horizon. We were led into narrow, steep mountain paths, plunged in pitch darkness and with no internet connection to boot (we are so dependent on Google maps, and this was a lesson to keep a physical map handy).
All we wished for, was to reach on time to enjoy the perks of a hot meal. We had barely any food on us and reached our destination, way past 8:00 PM. But not without the DH’s focussed driving, my asking the universe to manifest a safe ride that would get us to our “home” on time, and a few kind Samaritans helping us find the way. Thank you universe, thank you dear samaritans, thank you us.
It was also uncanny how on a day before New Year’s Day I happened to read Balaka’s blog (I was offline, most of the vacation, and being in limited network zones helped with the tech detox). And lo! Behold, I discovered she had a similar WOTY- Focus! It’s like the universe was conspiring to constantly nudge me towards my WOTY.
Abundantly Flourishing
There was another word that deemed fit to be part of my WOTY 2024 because it kept popping up time and again in the books I read, the words that stood out in a podcast, or someone randomly saying it out loud. The word was actually abundance which for me translated to Flourishing. After all when we flourish and prosper, we become abundant.
What you Focus on Flourishes
Here’s what it means to be Focussed and Flourishing:
1. Following Patterns, Routines and Rhythms – I strive to be a pattern follower, and at the same time love the randomness of life, and flowing with where my day takes me. It’s a necessary part of living life in flow. Flow also means adhering to our routines, whether it is fitness, work, or play. It gives our boat the sails and direction. I have seen how well I flourish, when I focus and stay aligned to a rhythm – both the circadian and life’s.
2. Completion – Finish what I start. I have been mostly doing that in life, yet I realised since this blog is a passion and hobby; there are a few sequels, I need to write of my earlier posts. Not just for my readers, but also myself. To give me that sense of completing the circle. This applies to a few of there things too.
3. Relationships – Invest more time and create valuable, quality pockets to nurture relationships which include one with myself and mi familia. When we have a healthy relationship with ourselves, we can have the same with others around us. And those who matter and add value to our lives.
4. Career Path – Channel my inner Goddess into my passion for wildlife, conservation, sustainability and Interspecies communication. To continue focussing on doing the best I can, to make a difference in this area of my calling.
5. To be – What I was born to be: a Human Being not Human Doing. In this day and age of hustle and go, I intend to focus on going with the slow, one day at a time. I Have began, yes.
6. Health, Wellness and Fitness – To be consistently focussed on my health and wellness goals. Including working on my overall well being – physical, mental and emotional. This translates to eating nourishing foods, consistent workouts- yoga, strength training, cycling and meditation for the soul.
7. Choosing Compassion, Kindness and Peace- Attract only those people who are focussed in making loving kindness (metta) and mudita (joy at other people’s success) their goal. Dropping judgements of any kind. Also to continue doing my bit for the homeless community animals, rescued wildlife, and the lesser privileged.
“It is not for me to judge another man’s life. I must judge, I must choose, I must spurn, purely for myself. For myself, alone.”
― Siddhartha
8. Attracting Abundance – Honouring the abundance that comes my way. Just the way I enjoy the process of giving, and doing for others, I wish to be appreciate and experience the valuable joy of receiving, minus any awkwardness. Most of us are conditioned to be just givers, and we forget that it’s pertinent to also receive with open arms and grace.
9. Balance – At 51, all I wish for is peace, simplicity, joy and equanimity of body, mind and soul. This also entails staying minimal and true to my pledge to do my bit for this planet, whether its is through my lifestyle of conserving the resources of this planet, or minimising my carbon foot print and living sustainably. All this, while making a difference to nature and wildlife at large, in a sustained manner.
10. Gratitude – I choose to focus and continue to be in a state of gratitude, for that which is. As we focus on gratitude, the gifts of goodness multiply manifold.
While, I walk this path of Focussed and Flourishing this quote by Leo Babuta encapsulates it all wonderfully:
“Instead of focusing on how much you can accomplish, focus on how much you absolutely love what you’re doing.”
Do you have a Word of the Year too?
If yes, how has it been for you so far?
Would love to hear from you and also to know what you think of my WOTY 2024.
Love, light and laughter galore.♥♥
Natasha
Here are my WOTY from years gone by:
2023: Kindness
2022: Balanced Flow
2021: Aligned
2020: Self Love
2019: Breathe
2018: Nurture
Since it’s Full Moon today and Anoushka Shankar is an artist par excellence.