The Hit List - Attention, please

I’ve been thinking a lot about attention. As in where mine goes. Sometimes I think I am an undiagnosed ADHD person. Other times, I blame my Gemini nature, which wants to experience it all – all at once.

But after much reflection, I don’t think that’s it.

We are living in a time when our attention is the most precious commodity and every day it’s bombarded by breaking news, social media, influencers, blah blah blah. Our phones are with us all the time, which means instant availability – and too much temptation to doom scroll our days away. Is it any wonder most folks have trouble focusing when we’re under a constant assault?

Over the past year or so, I’ve dialed many things back. Mainly, the phone. I don’t answer most texts. If it rings, I don’t bother unless I know I’m expecting a call. Sometimes, I turn the sucker off so I can resist scrolling.

I’ve also taken a different approach to email. I have an assistant who takes care of most requests. The only emails that get my attention are anything from my publisher – or current business situations. Everything else – I’ll get to it when I can…or feel like it. While this may seem harsh, it’s created breathing room and sanity.

I opted out of drama, too. That means not getting involved in the latest dustup between this person and that one. Also: avoiding events that put me in the company of haters and frenemies. Plus, strict limits on people who seem to thrive on constant conflict. I don’t need this shit. It eats up too much time and energy. Keeping these types out of my orbit keeps me healthy and happy. It also leaves room to focus on the relationships that matter.

These small moves have been helpful, but I am still in the process of eliminating attention-sucking everything. Recently, I’ve unsubscribed from a million newsletters (not really a million but it sure feels like it). I got sick of wading through them every morning. How many sales can one business offer? And how much crap do I need?

I think that last question sums it up perfectly. It’s time to reclaim our time, money, and space. That begins by taking back our attention. So where is yours going?

Theresa

A few books that have influenced me:

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell

Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier

Please Unsubscribe, Thanks!: How to Take Back Our Time, Attention, and Purpose in a Relentless World by Julio Vincent Gambuto

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Intermediate Tarot Techniques. Join me for this live online class! This four-part series begins September 8th. Classes will be recorded.

Chicago Classes:

Celtic Cross Workshop. SAT, APR 5 · 7:30 PM CDT. Cost $40. For decades, learning the Celtic Cross has been a rite of passage for many tarot readers, and it quickly turns into a go-to spread. With ten cards in predefined positions on the table, a reader has a ton to explore. But behind those fixed positions are intricate relationships and interactions happening across the spread’s landscape. Learn how to rock this spread like a pro!

Navigating Difficult Conversations: A Workshop for Readers. SUN, APR 6 – 7:30 PM CDT. Cost $40. Everyday, tarot readers explore challenging topics asked by their clients. Broken hearts, From broken hearts to layoffs to indescribable grief, clients bring many challenges to the reader’s table. As tarot readers, we have a responsibility to handle these delicate topics professionally and compassionately. Navigating Difficult Conversations: A Workshop for Readers provides the tools you need to appropriately and skillfully handle hard but common questions brought by clients. In this workshop, The Tarot Lady will demonstrate how to build a compassionate practice that’s prepared to handle a client’s challenges.

Both classes are limited to 20 people – first come, first serve. Masks are required.

New York Classes:

Writers, are you ready to unlock new inspiration? Pens And Cards is a tarot-infused writing workshop with Theresa Reed and Sarah Selecky. Discover how tarot can spark fresh ideas and deepen your storytelling. May 3, 10 AM – 2 PM, Balance Art Center, NY. Register now. https://www.thetarotlady.com/pens-and-cards/ Limited seats