2011 Intention: Presence

Instead of making resolutions which I never seem to keep, then follow up with a ton of guilt, last year I chose a word that I wanted to focus on for the year.  Simplify was the theme of 2010.  In retrospect, it was a pretty big deal.  My life is (or was) by far, simple.  With a dozen obligations, a full and part-time job, two kids, a basement full of hobbies, and an entrepreneurial spirit, simple is not a word I've ever used to describe my daily activities.  So it indeed was a challenge.  But it was a guiding principle in a lot of the decisions I made throughout 2010, and was a nice seguay into 2011's theme for me:  Presence.

Again, for me, this is a biggie.  I'm a multi-tasker.  I pride myself on my efficiency because I can do a thousand things at once.  I've never been one to have idle hands.  In fact, it's really hard for me to sit and just watch television because I feel like I could be accomplishing something else at the same time. I really don't know the true meaning of vacation since I tend to pack a ton of to-do's with me to complete inflight, on the road, or on the beach.  All of this go go go has made me extremely productive, and also a bit mindless at times.

When you're engaged in several things at one time, your brain can't focus on just the one.  It's constantly moving back and forth, not giving each individual activity its just attention.  I actually just read an article by John Freeman (geared more towards email but timely, none the less) on this phenomenon of how we communicate, and how we are becoming more and more like the machines that have delivered all of this technology to us.  It reminded me that the more we do at one time, the less we are really present in what we need to do.  So what, really, are we doing?  And what/who are we doing it for?

Enter the theme of 2011 for me.  Presence.  I really want to be present when I'm working, when I'm creating, especially when I'm with my family.  It is so convenient to get online on the laptop during breakfast, when I'm half-way engaged with listening to my kids and surfing some activities for the weekend.  It's very easy to think about all the tasks on my to-do list while I'm reading books to Kate, rather than really watch her while I'm reading and notice how she stomps her feet and claps her hands to certain parts of her new favorite book. 

I want to be more engaged in my life.  Really be more involved.  And that sounds funny considering how active I am right now, but I plan on it being a different type of involvement.  I want to be one of those people who, when you're talking to them, they make you feel like you're the only person in the world.  You know those people?  I have a few friends like that, and when I think of presence, their faces come to mind.  I want to be more like that. 

When I'm at work, I want to focus on work.  On getting the job done.  On really understanding and diving into what I'm doing.  I do that a lot now, but my mind is prone to drift onto other daily tasks that need to be completed.  One. at. a. time.

Now, don't get me wrong.  When I'm sitting in carpool, I'll likely still write thank-you notes, or call my mom on my Bluetooth on the way into work on Monday mornings.  But my goal is to really take stock in the little (and big) things in life that I tend to combine with all the others ... and make each moment something that I can remember and be proud of. 

What about you?  What are you focusing on for this fresh, new year?  I pray that 2011 brings you all the best, and that your intentions/resolutions for the year give you blessings and happiness!