I would be very grateful to read various ways in which members of this list denominalize the word 'attention'.  When the word is used in the following contexts, there appears to be an overlap in meaning that I find interesting: #1...Gary focused his attention on the black dot. #2...Maria's attention was distracted from the horse. I am most interested in denominalizations that include the sense of 'will' that these usages of the word 'attention' carry.  I mean that, regardless of our philosophical outlook, when we are trying to attend to something, anything, we experience this attempt as something we 'we' are doing as opposed to when we feel shame we don't have the same type of creative experience...yes, I know, generalizations, but I'm sure there are those of you who catch my drift through this crude expression of my question...and I am somewhat amazed that you, in fact, 'get me'.  Thanks for your attention and I look forward to your responses. JR