Zooming in & putting the focus on your life

This week’s #lifethisweek prompt is ‘Zoom’ so I decided to make this the topic of my latest Micro Monday Episode on the Women Living Well After 50 Podcast.

You can listen to the full episode by clicking on the link below:

Now what comes to mind when you think of ‘Zoom’? I would safely bet that since early 2020, we would automatically think of the service we all turned to, to stay in touch with family and friends during the lockdown periods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Would I be right?

I know for me, discovering and subscribing to the ‘Zoom’ online service opened up a new world and opportunities for me.

• A new career via Zoom – I started my new career as a Group Fitness Instructor with Strong Healthy Women, in the SHW Virtual Studio. I train Women 50+ in this Virtual World via Zoom. It is convenient because I don’t need to leave home and it was a godsend for many during lockdown to help these lovely ladies stay active and healthy.
• Friendships via Zoom – I developed existing friendships with some blogging friends as we formed what I like to call my ‘Women’s Circle’. We meet weekly, answer a question posed by one of our group and discuss our ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ of the week.
• Book Clubbing via Zoom – Part of our Women’s Circle group extended our Zoom meetings and introduced our Book Club. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading the Classics and we have worked our way through nearly all of the Bronte Sisters books. These beautiful women who are my dear friends scattered throughout Australia and Canada have helped me understand not only the book but the author. Our discussions are lively and interesting and I greatly value this.
• Baking via Zoom – our Book club extended the idea to baking. One of our group loves baking, so at the end of each book, we bake! Yes, we bake! We gather in our own kitchens and meet via ‘Zoom’ and bake together a recipe that is related to the book we have just finished. We also started the monthly What’s On Your Bookshelf Challenge? and each of us write a post about what we’ve been reading and encourage others to share what is on their bookshelf with us.
• Podcasting – I use Zoom to interview my guests for the Women Living Well After 50 podcast and I’ve met some wonderful women from all over the world, with interesting stories or information to share. I’ve just finished Season 2 and will then take a break until the New Year.

Zooming in and putting the focus on your life

In photography, Zoom can also mean

a means of producing an enlarged image (as in a camera)specifically : ZOOM LENS

Merriam-Webster dictionary

During the year, my Women’s Circle invited a guest, Debbie Flynn, a photographer, to take us through a short course on photography, predominantly using the features of our smartphones. I learned about zooming in or putting the focus on some interesting part of the image which may not be the obvious focal point.

Thinking about zooming in to focus on a specific area, brought to mind the idea of zooming in on my life. My Word of the Year has been SELF and because of a ‘dark cloud’ issue in our personal life which hopefully will be resolved soon, I found that I wasn’t living up to my WOTY. I was letting the ‘dark cloud’ issue take over and drain me of joy and energy.

That changed in September, when I pushed the Pause button and took a step back. I took October to undertake an October Overhaul and prioritise what I needed to do and what I could or should let go of for the moment.

Did I feel guilty doing this? Yes! I’m that sort of person who wants to please, inspire,motivate, achieve and be there for others. BUT, I needed to let go of that guilt and as time has passed I feel less guilty about many things. That’s a great step forward!

By Zooming in and focusing on what is important right this moment has helped me to cope with the ‘big issue’, feel less anxious and I’ve even managed to finish my Certificate IV in Fitness. I have one module to lodge but all the work is done and I’m pretty darn proud of myself. this certification will lift me from a Group Fitness Instructor to a Personal Trainer.

I also challenged myself to bring more colour into my life and put a daily focus on pops of colour through a 100 day challenge #bringmorecolourintoyour life. I share my daily colour on Instagram and other social media. Zooming in to focus on colour has certainly lifted not only my spirits but has brought joy to others who have commented on my posts.

As we near the end of 2021, the topic of WOTY has started to crop up and at this point I don’t have any thought on that. At this moment I am keep the Zoom lens on my life and looking daily for what brings joy and energy to me.

Have you Zoomed in to focus on your life lately?

Have you used Zoom to stay in touch with family and friends or activities?

Have you started thinking about your Word of the Year?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.