Evaluating the Future - Hello friends and family. I hope that you've had a good holiday season. I most certainly did. December included a variety of celebrations with friends and family, with bright lights, small gifts, big gifts, joy, dance, song, good food, visiting, and even quite a bit of rest. Time to start ordering the return to my regular routines!

I mentioned in my last post that my theme word for 2012 had been DANCE. I was just starting to think about my theme word for 2013, and even if I were going to embrace a theme word again. I finally settled in on the idea of FOCUS for my theme for 2013. This will manifest in several ways: Reducing the clutter in my personal belongings, focusing down to just the materials I really need and want. Focusing my schedules and routines to effectively work on my main priorities. Working in a concentrated way on specific projects and goals. FOCUS.

When I first entered into an arts apprenticeship relationship with my friend Rae/Tonwen, friends would ask her what she was going to teach me as an apprentice? What art form would we pursue together? And she would answer them, "Focus." And although my apprenticeship with Tonwen was set aside formally when I was made her peer in the SCA as a Pelican (an award for Service rather than an award for Arts), I've never forgotten that I still require more FOCUS in life and in my projects.

There are several projects that run parallel to one another in my life, and focusing on one does not mean that I would need to lose focus on another. But I've often pondered the natured of how we prioritize in life and in our schedule and with our time, so I am continuing to refine my ability to focus and schedule time for projects and priorities.

My major paths of effort can be summarized as Relationships, Career, Dance, and Crafts. I am working toward some very specific dance *career* accomplishments, and so I am also thinking about (and researching) how that will affect my current money-making pursuits. My craft goals also have monetary impact, and so I have to research how this will unfold as well. But regardless how I pursue my living, my Relationships in life remain a priority. I continue to adjust my regular routines and schedules to put specific and *focused* time in with the people who matter to me.

I'm also looking at how my online presence continues to support and promote my priorities and focused efforts, so I am looking at ways to declutter and focus these, too.

What are your priorities in the New Year? What resolutions or theme words or pursuits are you focusing on?

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Today's Blessing That I'm Thankful For: My Sweetie and the Boyo. You made my Holidays amazing. Thank you.