Goals

The first goal I remember having as a child was to grow my hair out as long as Crystal Gayle's.






A rather girly goal, to be sure. Yet, I was satisfied with it. I grew my hair out until it was almost as tall as I was. Granted, I was six at the time, so that wasn't all that much hair because I was short. Yet, I was proud that I'd accomplished my goal. I lived with it for a while, then I think my parents made me cut it. I don't really remember who's idea it was to cut it: mine or theirs. I didn't care either way. I had it in my head that I'd look prettier with a new look.

This is all not to say that I choose goals that are easily met with the least work possible. I mean really, how difficult or challenging is it to grow hair. You could be in a coma and accomplish that goal. (In fact, that should be everyone in a coma's New Year's resolution: to grow out their hair. At least everyone would be able to meet their goal. Then they'd feel good enough to go after a secondary goal, like waking up.) No, I say it to illustrate how I delight in setting goals and achieving them. If the goal is relevant to my life, I'll make it happen.

With the new year, and my birthday fast approaching, I tend to re-assess my goals. Two years ago, I was ice-skating with a few friends on my birthday, and someone asked me what my New Year's Resultion was. I think that resultions are simple a means to getting what you want. If you want to be healthier, your resulution might be to loose weight or quite smoking. At the time, I didn't know how to get anything of the things I wanted, but I defenately wanted some things. Here's what my goals were two years ago:

-Have solid, lasting friendships
-Have a job that I liked and found worthwile
-Be financially secure
-That my family would be financially secure
-Be seriously dating someone I liked

Not bad stuff, to be sure. Last year, I didn't make any new goals because I was still working on the old ones. Currently, I have some very strong, solid friendships that I treasure, I have a job that is making me more financially secure, but its probably not what I should be doing forever. I'm not seeing anyone, but my Grandma said I can't get married for two more years - so at least I have an excuse.

Right now, I don't know if I have any specific goals. My goals are more abstract. I'd like to love other people better - seek out their best interests instead of my own. And, I like to act in such a way that shows my security and freedom. In the last year, I've lost a little bit of my awe and wonder, and I'd like to relcaim that. I guess I'll never have a resolution, as I never have a plan of attack on what I want. I'll just have to stick with praying about it and trusting in God. And, maybe someday I'll have something to specifically work towards again. :)