One morning last week, I woke up flooded with memories of the last few years dancing in my mind. As I re-lived certain parts, various emotions ebbed and flowed. Slowly and without a thought, I began a process of evaluation.
When examined over one year to the next, the core elements of my life stayed the same. A recursive history of family, work, hobbies, travel, etc., fell into place. But when I started looking at our lives (my husband and I) over a decade, the view was very different.
Ten years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, paints a picture of different lives, from a not so apparent evolution. In fact, like so many things that age brings, there are things that I do and have today that I never anticipated doing, having, or even desiring to have a decade ago!
This view, of where we started from to where we stood today, was humbling. Instantly, I was full of gratitude and a little wistfulness in thinking about my children being so young (and us too!). But mainly, I felt ensconced in quiet joy and appreciation.
Who’s Evolved?
The evolution of our lives is not a straight line. When I was 21 living in NJ, you could not convince me that I would be living in Texas. Or that I would live in Hawaii someday. Because year over year, not much typically changes. But now, examined under a different lens, because I know that my life can jump from leaps and bounds, we have the ability to chart our evolution going forward more aggressively.
Having that view of my life in decades opened my eyes to a novel approach to personal goals ~ not what’s on the radar for next year but rather, where will I stand by the time a 10-year period ends?
It was eye-opening.
There is something so freeing about looking that far in advance. It allows us to open us our mind to possibilities that otherwise would feel difficult to achieve.
The Future is Now
How will your life look different on October 12, 2029? Take a minute to be there.
- What do you plan to have accomplished, achieved, enjoyed?
- Where will you have traveled?
- What dreams will be crossed off the list?
- What financial situation will you be in?
- What big, audacious goals will you have met?
- Where and what will your family be up to?
- From where exactly will you be reading my blog? A sailboat, a place with an incredible view of the mountains, from your ranch, where?
This freedom (of time) eliminates worrying about the feasibility of achieving these goals and instead puts the focus on the goal itself. Whether we like it or not, many of us have a tough time setting a goal if we think it is unattainable, in the time frame of one year. And then we stop there. But given the parameter of an entire decade, anything is possible!!!
This “decade” approach allows us to envision without worry or attachment but simply for the vision – that is the gift.
And if that doesn’t light a fire in your belly… as I drafted this blog, a friend of mine sent me this message:
“There are three months left in this decade.
I think you should go for it!”
The line in the sand has been drawn – it’s time to decide whether the goal that you want to accomplish is for this decade or the next!? Whether you are pursuing a goal in the next 3 months or visualizing one for the years 2020-2029, the time is now because the clock is ticking!
Every second is of infinite value.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe