After reading “The Magnolia Journal” Spring 2020 edition, I felt inspired to write my story about my 2020 word.
Through each phase of my life, I always found something to focus on: "a fixed focal point," as mentioned in “The Magnolia Journal”.
When I was 16 years old, a sophomore in High School, I ran on the XC team and played the left outfielder on the softball team. But suddenly, I had severe back pain and was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease. I had a hard time accepting that my high school years wouldn’t be spent playing on teams like how I always dreamed of (those sweat sets with your last name, though). But then after much prayer, I felt that I needed to focus on what I can do and not what I can’t do: and playing my flute was something I could do! I used all of my free time (that would’ve been spent at practice or games) practicing my flute. I began competing, performing, and earning several opportunities that were unforgettable, like playing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra my Senior year (it was a one-time gig, but the best thing, ever!). (My focus in this season was music.)
Fast forward to about 3 years ago. As a young stay-at-home, working mom that just got her Bachelor’s Degree, I was diagnosed with thyroid issues. (It wasn’t until recently that I found out I have Hashimoto’s Disease). With chronic, debilitating fatigue and muscle weakness, combined with brain fog and depression, I had a hard time finding a purpose in life. It became increasingly difficult to do anything, and I would find myself falling asleep on the floor trying to play with my son (he was our only one at the time). I felt like I couldn’t even function as a mom. (This struggle went on for a couple of years.) After much prayer, I felt that I needed to focus on what I can do. It was trickier than before because in addition to my physical limitations from Degenerative Disc Disease, I now had mental and emotional limitations as well. But I still tried to focus on what I could do and that included small, simple tasks like cooking meals for my family (and inviting my son to join in), and playing school at home with my son when I felt up for it. My life didn’t venture too far from that daily repetition. But, I knew that my small efforts would go a long way, and I kept the faith that God would help me where I fell short. (My focus in this season was celebrating the mom that I was.)
Fast forward to last year, and my thyroid, yet again, caused me much despair. I prayed and felt that I needed to see a specialist for extra help. This endocrinologist helped me see the importance of focusing on my health, and making it a priority. With his recommendations, I started working out (simple walks at first), I started eating well (Whole 30, for the win), and taking the right dose of medication and supplements. I started focusing on taking care of myself and being in tune with what my body needed. To this day, this has been a primary focus for me, because if not, everything else seems to fall apart. (My focus in this season was taking care of my health: nutrition, exercise, medication/supplements. My focus also included being thankful for the health that I did have.)
Did you see that pattern, though? I had a trial, I prayed for help, and then I felt an answer to focus on something positive: something that I can do.
Since both Degenerative Disc Disease and Hashimoto’s Disease are conditions that don’t go away, it is a daily practice of focusing on the positive and important things in life. Each day is an opportunity to count my blessings, notice the good, and focus on what is important. The power of focusing on the positive is life-changing.
In my current season, my health is doing pretty well. My back and thyroid are giving me a break, and I have been able to resume a lot of my passions and favorite activities. I am focusing, again, on what I can do. This time around, I can do more than what I was able to do a couple years back! I can be a working, stay at home mom. I can be a photographer. I can be a blogger. I can do DIY projects at home with my husband. I can exercise (currently doing Kayla Itsines’ Sweat program), and I can go on bike rides with my family. I am choosing to focus on what I can do, especially knowing that any day that could change. I am focusing on the daily goodness I experience.
COVID-19 has given all of us an opportunity to focus on the good, and to focus on what makes us happy instead of what makes us anxious and worried. With all of this extra time, we can spend more quality time with family, read good books, clean and organize, call loved ones, write, create, reflect, the list can go on. What a special time this can be, if we focus. Let’s focus on the helpers. Let’s focus on the good that can come from this pandemic.
Just like Shannon Morrison said in “The Magnolia Journal,” “We can’t avoid the unexpected twists and turns life will bring in the months ahead, but we don’t have to drift aimlessly, reacting to circumstances as they come. We can give ourselves a fixed focal point…”
As life twists and turns, I always pray and ask for help. God helps me know what I can focus on during each season. (Sometimes, it is one thing I focus on. Other times, it is several things.) For this reason, I chose to make my 2020 word “focus.”
There is always something that we can focus on that will make us happy, and that will help us weather the storms in life. I have faith that amid the trials and uncertainties of life, there is always a tender mercy (or several) for us to enjoy and to accompany us on the way, and that’s what I focus on.
Part of the challenge from The Magnolia Journal was to display your word. So, I went to my favorite jewelry maker, “Made by Mary” and customized this gorgeous skinny bar necklace! (Click the link below to customize yours!)
This 16” chain is the perfect length to display my 2020 power word in the cutest way!
Now I can wear this every day and remember to find my focal point and focus on it; to think positively, and focus on what I can do in each season.
I am so thankful that God always gives us something to focus on to help us in our journey of life.
*** Update April 5, 2020 ***After watching the General Conference this weekend, my heart has been so touched, and I felt prompted to tweak my poem regarding my 2020 word, “Focus.”
I originally wrote this:
"Focus on the good.
Focus on the light.
Focus on your goals.
The future is bright.”
Instead of “goals,” I want to change it to say, “Savior.” It now reads:
"Focus on the good.
Focus on the light.
Focus on your Savior.
The future is bright.”
When our daily focus is on the Savior, what a beautiful life we can live!
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