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| Who needs a bell? |
Last year was a massively good year for me. It totally deserved a hearty end-of-the-year review. It could have certainly used a fitting description of all my wonderful travels, experiences and memorable birthdays. But I am afraid I am beginning to lose the lust for reviewing days gone past. I found myself actively avoiding all year end specials on the internet and television. Facebook even offered to review the year for me; an offer I happily refused.
Instead, I look squarely at the year and years ahead. I have been foolishly setting goals since I knew what a goal was as a child. Looking back I now realize that the reason that I haven’t been meeting my goals is because I word them in a terrible fashion. Each goal sounds like a burden, a challenge that needed massive amounts of inertia to overcome. With such a start, my mind tires out quickly. And by the first quarter, I start either modifying the goal or entirely give up on it.
I recently have learned that goals need to be formulated ‘As if now’. That makes it easier to be realized because they read like you have already achieved them. Taking that into account I figured it is worth re-phrasing my targets for next year. Here goes…
By the end of 2014, I am a serious runner. I have traveled to Greece and Spain and enjoyed the sun, sand and the history in between my fingers. My motorcycle gear looks like it is worn out. I am not hurt after trying my hand at skiing again. I enjoy a nice cold beer after a long hike in the Alps and a single-malt after traversing the Highlands.
While the above might seem like lofty goals, what 2013 has taught me that spending money for an experience is a possibly the easiest of all goals. All you need to do is scalp some free time and get off your lazy butt to actually plan the damn thing. Inconvenience often overrates itself to be an actual obstacle.
So make matters worse, I have chalked out a few more abstract goals where vacation days, bank balance and calendars would prove to be of limited influence. Where success will be dictated purely on my ability to make hard decisions and face the consequences there off. At the end of 2014, I have decided on a way of life between the current average-ness and the perpetual potential to be above average. I have plotted a future that is decidedly not singular. I have increased amounts of empathy. I debate less and hear more. I enjoy life and the finiteness of it.
And of course, I have blogged over 30 posts that document the meeting of all above goals 🙂
