Focus

Just so you know, I've been trying to write this for a couple of weeks but I just can't seem to find my focus. There's so much I want to say, examples to throw in, but perhaps short and sweet is the way to go.

So.... Focus

I need it
I want it
I don't have it yet, though it is improving, albeit very slowly.

I can't help it. I'm the kind of person who likes to be busy, and likes to multi-task. And I'm good at multi-tasking. Yesterday, just to keep my brain engaged after a rough no-sleep night, I managed to have laundry going, pumpkin bread baking, paint drying, and the dishwasher running all at the same time, while I finally sat down to enjoy my cup of coffee, before repeating the process throughout the day. But did I focus on any one part? Not in the slightest.

I am totally in awe of people that can just leave the world behind when stepping on the training mat; some days it can take me at least half the class to forget about all the other things that I have going on. Perhaps that's why I like doing forms the most, as I am finally usually ready to focus when we reach that part of the class -- plus I need to focus to remember all of the steps. When I can finally concentrate, I love the feeling of getting the stance or technique just right, and I can practice over and over again without getting bored. Quite often I amaze myself with what my body can do. Still, even during that zen moment there's always that multi-tasking part of my brain that clicks on when class is nearing the end -- time to pick up the girls or make lunch or run the errands that have to be run -- and at that point I need to mentally drag myself back to class to focus on being a dedicated student.

I've lately been thinking that the forms that we do might be named the way they are on purpose, with Focus being the first. The first step toward so much more in the Martial Arts. So here's my challenge to myself for the rest of this month. I will do Focus form every single day, and here's the real challenge: I will actually focus on making each and every move. Maybe if I can improve on my Focus, I'll be ready to move on to improving my Power and Intensity as well.