The Gift of Goals

So, here I am, turning 35 today. Haven't accomplished what I thought I would accomplish, and have already accomplished what I never thought I wanted. Life is sort of like that.

Now that the hill approacheth --that yucky-ish one with the big 40 on the top of it-- I've begun thinking about what I want for the next milestone year-- what it is that I want to have done, or helped, or begun. Here's a small list.

1. Trip to Holy Lands: Okay, so I know this is sort of a really vulnerable area right now, but it doesn't change the fact that I want to go. I've wanted to visit for the past five years, and figure I have another five to get there. It is rather difficult trying to scrape the cash to get there with children's private school tuition, a college education savings fund, and pay cuts, but I'm not giving up. Mark Twain wrote fondly of Israel. And if the witty and cyncial author loved it, no doubt I will too. Someday, I will get to Jerusalem.

2. Book: So, I'm going to be really vague here, but I want to have a book published. That is to say, one of my own. Yes, I sort have been published already. And that's super cool. But, I want a book that I'm not only proud of (with my name in small letters), but one that says something great. Again, I'm being vague. And I'm sorry. Let's just say, that as the years have passed with the desire to be published, all I can really think about now is making sure that what is published is worthy, helpful ... and semi-coherent. I really don't care if it doesn't makes a dime, as long as someone gets something valuable from it. Having said that, I wonder if any publisher would ever take me on with that kind of goal? Sort of "not their type of client," I'm thinking.

3. To be Happy: Wow, this is a broad goal, isn't it? But it's true. We all want to be happy in our work, in our family and in our living. This is extremely possible, and all the time too - despite the bad economy, despite the miserable mess I feel our America is turning into, and despite the fact that the very people we should protect are being targeted by others all over the world. To be happy means that I give up what I think I want for what I actually need (or what God wants to give to me.) And right now, I have everything in the world that I need: husband and kids. Don't need that published book or the trip to the Holy Lands to be happy. (But, it sure would be nice.)

Getting older does make one think more ... at least it should. And listing out goals, as I've mentioned in a previous post, means we want to do something meaningful with our lives- even if it's, say, losing five pounds. I only hope that my thinking --and goals--will eventually help others and myself, every day. And this is a perfect gift for me, today.