Set 1 massive goal. Keep it. Tell us about it.
 

Here's the deal with this thread. We all talk about doing something for ourselves. We're all in different stages of doing this and I realize that for many, including myself, this is a daily chore. We all talk about what we do that makes us feel good. Baths, shaving, listening to music, etc.

I want to tell you about a major goal I've made and I'm interested in what other people want to do. These are things you've never done before but always dreamed of doing.

For me, I wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument. My goal is to learn how to play an acoustic guitar. I know nothing about them. So far, since setting this goal the other day, I've found a class. It's 6 months long and taught by someone who already does music classes for my son. I know her. Small world eh. I've sent her an email regarding the availability of an upcoming class. If it's open, my first class will be in April. So to refine this goal a bit. I will have completed a beginners course in acoustic guitar playing in 2011.

I suspect between now and then, I'll have saved enough money to buy a guitar and perhaps even a beginner book. Something to keep me entertained until class starts. I'll keep you posted and I'd like to hear from a few other people.

I am typing this, and as I look over my shoulder to my left, I can see the TWO beautiful Yamaha acoustic guitars I purchased, one gently used off Craigslist, and one 3/4 size new, perfect for 9yo little girls, over a year ago.

I had the best of intentions, to do some father/daughter bonding. Bought a cd to teach ourselves. First session on the cd, about 10 minutes in, we looked at each other and agreed, "this is hard". Haven't picked them up since.

Maybe you will inspire me. Oh, BTW, DO NOT buy a new guitar, CL is FULL of like new ones for very little $$. Mine is beautiful, holds a tune great, $75 bucks, cause the kid bought a better one. I looked all over the net and found the same one from $150 up. So shop around.

Currently looking for a bicycle, I already KNOW how to do that!

Thanks and God bless us all,
Coyote

What a great idea! I'll add my goals to this.
Maybe by posting here I can actually accomplish these.



I have set three giant goals for myself.

Pay Off My Debt. Due to XABF's spending habits, and me bailing him out all the time, I went from a completely paid-off college loan and a credit car that I paid in full to three maxed out credit cards, a furniture loan (from when I moved), and two loans (the maximum number allowed) from my work's 401(k) equivalent. I am making plans to pay these off, I figure I can be at least nearly debt free in two years, and so that is the goal I am giving to myself.
GOAL: Pay off all loans except my car by 1/1/13. Wish me luck!

Pilot's License. I have wanted one ever since I was little. I used to "borrow without returning" books from my neighbor across the street, who flew cargo planes all over the world. There's a flying club at work, and once I get a couple of these loans paid off, I intend to save up some extra money and go take some lessons. This was something I had all mapped out before I started dating XABF, and just like how I put the rest of my life on hold, I had decided to resign myself to never achieving this one.
GOAL: Begin pilot's lessons sometime in 2012, and finish up my pre-exam this year. (I purchased an online course three years ago, I hope it's still active.)

Publish My Book. This has been an ongoing thing since High School. It's a science fiction novel, I keep fluctuating between being really active writing it, then taking a giant break. My break this time had to do with working part time and still going to college full time, but I never picked it up once I had more free time.
GOAL: Publish this book before I'm on my deathbed, so at least I can have a nice picture of me on the inside "About the Author" page and not feel guilty that I'm lying. :lmao

I am going to choose one room in my house each month to completely clean, purge of cr@p and organize. Years of living in unacceptable mental chaos has led to (at least for my comfort) living in unacceptable physical disorganization.

Last month I did my youngest son's room. This month, it is my room. I was going to do my oldest kiddo's room first but then I realized that I deserve a haven, not a laundry pit...and I come first. YAY!

ETA: Great post, Crusher! TY!

I am saving for a house of our own, since the one I left belonged to the RAH and my financial investment in the house didn't get to come with me when I left it.

My goal is to have enough by May 1st set aside for the down payment, and some extra to replace the furniture and appliances I gave up to move in with him after I sold my last house.

I never want to experience the feeling of being "homeless" again. I work too hard to face something like this!

Good stuff you guys. Accountability is important but more than that, writing your goal down makes a huge difference between those who accomplish them versus those who just talk about them.

I try to set goals using the SMART concept. I did a quick google search for any easy write up on this concept if you're not familiar with it. SAMRT

S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Timely

Keep em coming and help me keep this post current. I think a little good forward thinking is needed among all our questions and troubles.

Anyone remember my old TGIF thread?

To start my own private client base business as a Naturopath. I apprentice now as a practitioner, but need to gain more experience and then open my own business.

Right now, that's all I care about

Already doing it.

I'm in school.

Goal this semester - Chancellor's List.

What is chancellor's list?

to become a translator and go home.

My goal is to focus on what's really important for improving my life and self confidense and that is losing weight.

I joined a slimming group at new year and found a great weight loss forum and so far I've lost 16lbs in 4 weeks. I'm completely determined and focused and am feeling so much happier and healthier already. Still a way to go yet but I'm not phased at all. So that's my thing to stick to!

I am planning a small business to begin when I retire December first. It is a freelance writing and editing business--copywriting, brochures, web content, etc.

I have registered my business name, and am applying for my home-business permit. I had business cards printed up and have been giving them out. I got permission from my boss to begin the business now, so I can have some writing samples for my portfolio.

I will have to learn to make "cold calls" to potential clients without freaking out. I AM good at what I will be doing (I was a journalism major and a technical writer before I went to law school).

I am scared to death and extremely excited at the same time. I CAN DO THIS!!!

I was just thinking about this today! Goal setting!

After years of chaos and 7 months alone but constantly depressed, I set a few goals, and now this timely thread.
Two of mine match starcats!

1) In one year have my major debts paid off and be working on the school loan that I'm behind on.
2) Write my novel that I've recently started. (a lifelong goal--time to do it)
3) Attend to all my relationships that fell by the wayside during the dark years
4) Make healthy new friendships
5) Keep up the work on the most important goal of all--rediscovering and tweaking where needed on me.

A very high honor at a university - higher than a dean's list - usually means you have obtained a very high GPA - I think a 4.0 or higher which is straight A's. Way to go Barb!

But I also have to giggle - I remember the line from the Star Wars movie where Natalie Portman's character calls for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor something-or-other. Everything I see my university's Chancellor on campus, I want to say that to her so bad...!! Juvenile, eh?!

Pay of debt is my biggie.
And it's definitely doable for me to be debt free by the end of the year. It will take working two jobs, but I will be able to do that AND go on vacation. :)

1. I've set a goal to get more exercise. I'm working up to walking 40 minutes a day and I'm really enjoying it.

2. Have to loose 20 pounds. I'm down two pounds with 18 more to go. I'm really not on a diet as such. I'm just changing how I eat. It seems to be working. If it takes a year that's okay. I went to a health fair, got some screenings done and got a wake-up call.

3. And, my really fun goal is my women's craft group. Every monday I get together with several of my neighbors and we bring our mending, embroidery, crochet, knitting, scrapbooking stuff--or whatever else we do and visit and work on our projects for three hours. I want to do everything I can to keep this going. It's a lot of fun and we learn from each other. And, thanks to this time with friends, all the girls in my family are getting Mom-made birthday cards this year. They are decorated with lace and paper filigree.

* keep up with guitar lessons (and regular practice) through the year
* cook more meals (eat out less)
* plan ahead for fun things and invite others to join
* keep an open mind with going to therapy with my AH
* work as close to 40 hour/wk as possible (going under is okay)

That's not really one big goal...
I have a few, I guess! :)

Start a massage therapy/esthetics business when I graduate in May.

Shellcrusher- you are right! Writing it down does make one more accountable to actually do something!! I'm terribly afraid to start a business, but I think I'm more afraid that I will drive myself crazy with the "What if"'s if I don't!! So, writing it down is one more step in the process...

Thanks Shellcrusher for this post...

1. Continue allowing myself time out to go to the beach and swim with the kids while it's still Summer.
2. Continue walking on days when it's not stinking hot.
3. Continue getting up every morning at 7am, no excuses.
(The above 3 are things I've been doing regularly for the last 3 weeks and they're big achievements for me).
4. Keep praying to God to mend my broken heart.
5. Learn to be easier on myself
6. For my 40th birthday, treat myself to a month long cleanse/detox which I've been wanting to do for years.
7. Pay off at least half of my credit card debt by the next financial year.

Beaches, I got a couple of terrific books for home businesses: "Home Business Deductions: Keep What You Earn" and "Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants", both by Stephen Fishman. I believe he also has a similar book for "professionals," which would seem to cover your massage business.

I happen to be a lawyer, myself, but tax and business stuff gets my head spinning, and these two books are VERY readable and helpful. I'm taking care of one step at a time so I won't screw myself out of any business tax deductions and so I can plan properly.

Ditto for me. I am so looking forward to this, I can't believe I actually have the energy to clean now.

I am also working on living in the moment - I bought a Thich Nhat Hanh CD "The Art of Mindful Living" and am practicing this.

In some of my other readings, I recall that it said if you have goals made and you clear your mind of stress and worry and live in the moment you will have clear thoughts to help you move toward your goals.

Thanks SC for getting this thread going to get those goals down and ready to be worked on.

I am also going to make a list of all the activities I said I wanted to do but didn't do in the last 10 years and decide which ones I really want to do and make those goals and say goodbye to the ones I don't want to do. (may be some I was thinking about doing for the wrong reasons)

I am going to keep my job for now but am putting aside some $ in case I decide I really do want to work independently and will have some cushion to get that started.

Thanks, LexieCat! I requested them through my local library tonight. I have a degree in business from long ago, but I seriously need all the help I can get, especially with taxes.

Oh Goodie. I Love Goals.

1. Lose 37 kilos ( not sure what that is in pounds)
I joined weight watchers online started on jan 9th and have lost 7kgs already.

2. Exercise.
I wear a pedometer and take a minimum of 10000 steps per day

Great thread!

Shell Crusher might I suggest, buy a good acoustic. A common mistake with beginners is to buy a starter guitar and many can be very difficult to play, often times discouraging beginners right out of the shoot!

I set a goal for myself a few years ago to get open water dive certified and since doing so I'm living my dream on dive trips twice a year. My current goal is to continue with certification levels and put that to use when I start my second career. My next cert. level is rescue diver and I'm planning for that in July.

I gained 30 lbs when I quit smoking and I'm down 10 so far, another goal is to loose the other 20.

Learn to drive by the end of the year so i can cruise about the place with lady gaga full blast ha ha !

Well thats my major goal,and im determined to see it through! good thread,for once i dont dodge the less negative titles!! (if you get my meaning!)

For me my most massive goal is a home of my own again. I was a homeowner once before and a long saga later I am down to renting a room in the back of a house packed in with my two dogs and three cats like sardines in a can.

It started out with a wish to rent an apartment late last summer. I got up the moxie to call a realtor about renting a house they had for sale and that led to looking into renting to one day own the place. Got that door shut in my face, but I had the fever and couldn't give up so I got another opinion and found out about a government program to help me buy a place. I enlisted the help of a loan adviser and from there I waited 3 whole months and all I got were empty promises so I summoned up that old moxie again and when the new year struck I decided to go right to that government office myself and ask them directly what I needed to do buy I house of my own.

Now, I am a little bitter that I could have done this months ago and bought a place by now, but I have faith that my path has been as it should be.

I am now a month into what is rumored to be a 3 or 4-month long process, but so far so good.

My goal is to be in a new place of my own before October 31st. That will give me time to make it my own before spending the holidays in a new nest.

I have set so many goals in the last 4 years from quitting smoking, improving my health, losing weight, furthering my new career working from home, seeking recovery and the 12 steps, and finally leaving my EX and striking out on my own.

Looking on that list I remember how insurmountable they all seemed at the time. Buying a home again seems entirely impossible, too, but it's my faith in myself and my HP that tells me to get out there and try anyway.

Great thread!!

Good luck to us all in the goals we have challenged ourselves with!!!

Alice

Update:
The guitar instructor responded, has a spot open.
I paid the whole tuition.
It's a done deal now. Starts in April.
I can't wait.

Make sure I do not fall for the manipultation this time. Almost 1 month!

Buy myself a house in two years.....so far I am figuring out what I want ; not too far from town....5mi. from town or closer, 2 bedrooms, fireplace, wood floors, a little land for pets to run safely and to grow my own food, trees, privacy,.......nothing big or fancy......affordable.......sunny.......I am waiting 2 yrs. so I will have Social Security money. I sold my old house and have a downpayment but with health insurance so high ( and I am on a retired teaching pension) I want social security $ to kick in. In the mean time post divorce I am living in a cute basement apt. of my best friend's house. After I get my house I want another King Charles Spaniel. I had one who I had for 14 yrs. (Portia). I have two cats and a bird.

Hooray! That's so exciting. :a122: