Attention Divided and Undivided

"Remove your attention from the things you do not want while you give your undivided attention to the things that you do want." This is the final line from an inspirational email I opened today. How perfectly timely. I spent much of the last few weeks focused on things I do not want in my life or on situations that are not pleasing to me. Now, I can return to my regularly scheduled focus! I can simply move my attention to that which I desire in my life.

How many times each day do we focus on that which we do not want or approve of? How often are we faced with the unpleasantness life has to offer and feel that is all we can have? A quick shift of focus can easily bring life back into our endeavors making them once again joyous.

My current cardio-knit project is a perfect example of this unpleasantness. I completed my second round of Chart A on the Lakeside Socks. The first round I had to rip back a portion to insert the missed yarn overs. As I came close to the end of my second go of the chart I found I had committed the same error in a different portion of the lace. I fear I spent too much of my time knitting this lace while my thoughts were focused on what I do not want in my life at this moment. I was frustrated during the first go through of the chart. My frustrations were focused on current familial issues. I was again frustrated during my second go through of the chart. However this time my frustration was with my inability to get the first go through correct. In my focus on what I don't want in my life I proceeded to recreate that unpleasant outcome! Knitting lace while performing cardiovascular exercise is not the easiest task in the world. It is not the simplest project I do in my life. However, it is not as hard as I have made it on myself this week.

With the beautiful opportunity to look at my life from a different perspective I am anxious to begin anew with my knitting. I am looking forward to shifting my focus on the familial issues. I am full of optimism with respect to my financial obligations. In short I feel the world has just opened itself to me. There are ever-so-many opportunities to serve my community and to receive the financial rewards for that service.

I end this week in gratitude for the obstacles it presented to me!