Looking Back . . . On 2008 Goals

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo

Research shows that people who write down their goals and look at them often are more likely to actually achieve them. With this in mind I came up with a list of goals for 2008. I like goals more then "resolutions" as resolutions seem more final and are more devastating when not achieved. I did not achieve all my goals but I did complete a few. Here are my goals (and what happened):


My 2008 Goals

o I want to be able to run 4 miles without having a heart attack.
-Nope, not even close. I gave up on this one around March. No excuses!

o I want to have three 24 hour "solos" (spiritual renewal).
-Did one near the end of the year. Perhaps of all my missed goals, this is the one that hurts the most. I feel like I made 3 dates with God but only kept one. Still, the one solo I had was so beneficial for me.

o I want to take my wife on a romantic "10 Year Anniversary" trip (prioritize my marriage).
-Did it - went to Belize for 10 days. An almost perfect vacation! Just a little bit left to pay off.

o I want to buy one new investment property (taking action).
-Did it - kind of. I bought a property but sold it for a small profit. Really I should be buying and holding so I guess I get credit for achieving this one on a technicality.

o I want to buy one small business (for profit and for fun).
-It was close but I now know what my next business will be - a website producing monthly income. I expect to fulfill this goal a little late (sometime this month).

o I want to graduate with my Masters in Counseling Psychology.
-Did it! Yay, I have a very nice piece of paper to display in my office.

o I want to do two multi-day adventure trips.
-I did one excellent bike trip but it was only a day. So I guess I failed on this one. Sad as this is probably the first year in a decade where I haven't at least had one multi-day outdoor adventure.

o I want to put siding up on my house.
-We signed the papers in the Fall and they company still hasn't come to do the work yet. I'm giving myself a point here - I set it all up, it's the company's fault for being over 3 months late!

Stay tuned for my new goals for the upcoming year . . . displayed here to keep myself publicly accountable for my new year's intentions. Remember as C.S. Lewis said "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”