Are we there yet? Life and Business Goals

I've been reading a lot about goals lately - life goals, business goals, all of that. People suggest writing your goals down; I don't really think that's necessary, but if it helps you understand where you are trying to get to, that's fine. Do what works for you.

I know what my goals are. I don't mean the little things like getting the house ready for guests or working on that website reorganization. No, I mean the big stuff: the happiness stuff, the self-satisfaction, fulfillment stuff. The Big Goals. I know what mine are. I know who I want to be as well as what I want to be.

While in the shower this morning I starting thinking "Am I there yet? Have I reached my Big Goals?"

The answer was "Yes". Not that I'm ever 100% satisfied with everything - there is always constant tweaking and adjusting - but overall, as I glance around the landscape of my life and business, yeah, I've reached my goals. I'm "there". Life is good, I'm PMR (Pretty Much Retired), I love my wife of forty-plus years.. it all fits and feels good.

And then as I let the warm water run (feeling both guilty for wasting water and yet luxuriating in the sheer physical joy of it), I had another question: when did I get here?

That's a little bit harder. Was I "here" fifteen years ago? No, definitely not. Ten years ago? Not quite, but getting closer. Five? I'm not sure.. maybe.

The Big Goals, the really important ones, are hard to measure. It's not like saying "I want $400,000 in my investment accounts". You know when you get there (and you know when half of it disappears overnight!). But happiness, relationships, satisfaction? Much harder. They kind of sneak up on you and worse, they can sneak away just as easily.

If you aren't yet where you want to be, don't despair. Just keep heading toward the goal and someday you'll be in the shower and realize "Hey! I'm here. I made it!"

But remember this: If you do get there, it's not going to last. Well, it might, but you can't count on that. Illness, financial stress, death of loved ones: all out there ready to drown us in misery. That's why I focused on my goals very early on and moved toward them with inexorable intent.

Don't trade misery now for future happiness. Live today. Plan for tomorrow, but live today.

I don't mean that you shouldn't invest for the future, ignore long range planning or anything like that. In fact, it's ALL long range planning. I just hate to see people miss their lives because they are looking forward to Someday.

Good luck to you. Now shut the water off!

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Mon Dec 15 20:21:29 2008: Subject:   BrettLegree
http://6weeks.ca

I tell you, if I could work from the shower, I'd already be the supreme (and benevolent) dictator of the world.



Tue Dec 16 12:53:04 2008: Subject:   TonyLawrence


I often think that a hot shower is perhaps the most wonderful thing about living today. Think about it: kings could not enjoy this luxury. Rich and poor alike walked around itching and dirty.. yeah, you could bathe, but that doesn't match a shower for pure pleasure..



Tue Dec 16 12:56:37 2008: Subject:   BrettLegree
http://6weeks.ca

You're right about that, Tony - it is something so simple that many might take for granted. I sure missed it when I was having the bath redone last October...

And I agree, it beats a bath most times.



Tue Dec 16 14:57:20 2008: Subject:   BigDumbDinosaur
http://bcstechnology.net

I often think that a hot shower is perhaps the most wonderful thing about living today.

I've worked out many a technical problem while standing in the shower.

Think about it: kings could not enjoy this luxury.

And by inference, they couldn't enjoy the pleasure of showering with a sexy female. <Grin> I guess the "good, old days" weren't all that good, eh?



Thu Dec 25 18:31:58 2008: Subject:   pearl
http://fresh-perspectives.net

love this post as I've been working on trying to live in the moment, and not thinking so much about the past or future!

And as much as I love my hot showers, they are harsh on my skin and hair so recently I've been trying cold showers LOL okay not really really cold water but just lukewarm to a bit colder - the best thing about cold showers is that when you come out, you actually feel warmer as the air outside the bathroom feels hotter than your body temperature.. :) does this make sense?

Oh, and I decided to try cold showers after reading this post http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/04/4-reasons-why-you-need-to-take-cold-showers/



Thu Dec 25 18:36:11 2008: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Sure.. but I still like hot :-)

Though when we had our summer place I'd go down at 6:00 AM and shower outside. The water was hot but the air was often cold. My wife wouldn't do it, but I liked it..

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