There is a video going around on FaceBook or one of the many social media sites that uses jelly beans or skittles to show how much time we actually have to enjoy things in life. (http://youtu.be/BOksW_NabEk) I watched this video and it is (in my opinion) a rather pessimistic way to look at how you spend your life. The video rips right on through many things that I find enjoyable and shoves them off into a bucket of lost time leaving you with the feeling that those things are not enjoyable. For example there is a quick reference to caring for pets, I believe found in the middle of a list including house chores. I for one probably spend a lot more time than the average person (according to this video) caring for my pets. In fact my dogs are a huge part of my life. There is one message that I did agree with from this video, Do we spend to much time worrying about things that we can not control and how could I focus on the things that I do enjoy and live those moments more fully?

Thinking about focusing I found myself going back and reading those “How to meditate” blogs and “How to Manage Your Time” articles to get into the right mind set when it dawned on me. Dirty frisbee in hand and Border Collie at my feet staring and waiting for the next throw “I need to be like this guy!” Border Collies have tremendous focus! In fact Border Collies are one of the few breeds of dogs that are bred for their behavioral characteristics instead of there physical characteristics. (http://www.bordercollie.org/basics/characteristics.html) And when many herding breeds have a great amount of focus only the Border Collie carries all of the best traits in one package. Just to name a few they have the “Stare”, this behavior is the work smarter not harder trait in the herding world, instead of using a method of flanking, physically moving from side to side to coral sheep, the Border Collie simply stares down the herd in order to keep them in line. This tactic takes a huge amount of focus. You try staring your work down and see how long you can keep your job!

While being inspired by a focus machine such as the Border Collie is a good start you still have to get to that level where you feel that you can effectively focus on your tasks, your being, and what you are doing this moment to feel the benefits. (If I could bottle up that Border Collie Stare I would be rich or not because someone would have beaten me to it and we would all be like Border Collies.) And what are the benefits of being able to Focus more effectively? Some researchers at Berkley found that individuals that have a low level of focus tend to experience all of those things that we dislike. Anxiety, Depression, Sexual Disfunction, and I’m sure the list goes on. (http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_focus_a_wandering_mind)

That’s when I had another thought. My Border Collie practices this focus all the time, that’s why he’s so good at it. Sometimes he even looks like he sleeps hard! But what it really all comes down to is first practicing how to Focus, I find that basic meditation practice can help most of us accomplish this goal. Start here (http://secularbuddhism.org/meditation-support/basic-meditation-instructions/).
Once you have mastered (or at least improved) your ability to focus you can do anything, which will also take practice but you’re half way there already! I also found the words of a drummer that I follow JP Bouvet to be very inspiring. His video on youtube really hits the nail on the head. (http://youtu.be/4LZeK2aqVeA) Also see JP rip it here if you are interested (http://youtu.be/tXAtv3MhsAo)

I guess all I’m getting at here is that we could all use a little time to breath, stop and think about what we are doing, take a little time to get to know your self, and commit fully to something your are passionate about! A lot of people say that focus leads to happiness but I guess you have to figure that out for yourself. All I really know for certain is that one of the most focused creatures in my life is also one of the happiest!