Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “focus”
Pay Attention! We hear those words a lot, don’t we? Maybe someone says them to us … or maybe we’re the ones trying to get someone else to listen up, to focus … to pay attention to what we’re saying or what we’re doing. We give our attention to what — and to who — is important. And so I think José Ortega …
There are times I get to the end of the day and I think, “What did I accomplish today?” Actually, I usually think, “I didn’t get anything accomplished today.” Somewhere along the way I lost my To Do list. Or circumstances ran over my plans for the day. I want to find a red pen and mark the day with …
“The fatal metaphor of progress, which means leaving things behind us, has utterly obscured the real idea of growth — which means leaving things inside us.” G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936), English writer I came across this stop-me-in-my-tracks quote as I read author Ann Voskamp’s A Holy Experience blog. I was reminded of it today as my husband measured the pencil …
“One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it.” ~Sidney Howard, American playwright This is spring break week for my youngest daughter. And yes, we are having some vacation fun. Sort of. I am the “sort of ” part of the equation. I have several major deadlines looming. I’ve learned that …
“Joy is the best makeup.” ~Anne Lamott, novelist & nonfiction writer Sometimes I don’t want to look in the mirror. Well, really, sometimes I look too closely in the mirror and I get all uptight about this wrinkle and that wrinkle and that one there! and there! and there! Sheesh. I’m surprised I don’t go running through the house with …
“It is wise to direct your anger towards problems — not people; to focus your energies on answers — not excuses.” ~ William Ward, English missionary & author There came a time in my life when I had to face a harsh reality: I was an angry mommy. I had a lot of aspirations for myself as a mom — …
“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” ~Unknown When you think about it, that quote makes a lot of sense. Focus on the past? There’s no way you’ll achieve forward motion into the future. Keep looking back over your shoulder? You’ll miss the opportunities waiting for you here and now. You …
Some days the writing road is lined with ledges. Ledges perfect to climb up and then stand and ponder the “why” of my existence in the writing universe. And yes, these ledges are ideal to throw myself off of when my hopes are dashed, my dreams seem nothing more than taunting specters, and my efforts seem … wasted. (I need …
“If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet & educator A few years ago, my two oldest daughters and I experienced a different kind of “girls’ night out.” Instead of heading to our favorite restaurant for dinner, conversation and laughter, we spent four hours at Whistling Pines, the local gun …
I know, I know. I am deviating from my normal pattern. It’s Thursday. This is my “other” day to post something with the heading “Contemporary Romance Writer.” (The other-other day being Tuesday. What? You never noticed? Tsk. Now you know: MWF: quotes. T/Th: contemporary romance writer thoughts.) Back to today, which should be contemporary romance day but isn’t. I’m not …
