Gotta Get Goals
Stephanie West Allen at Idealawg has tagged me and eleven others to respond to Alex Shalman's Gotta Get Goals by "list[ing] and writ[ing] about the top 5 to 10 goals that you gotta’ get so that you can truly say you have achieved your wildest dreams in life. These have to be your best, most exclusive, and over-the-top goals that you can pick off your goals list."
I'm thinking, SHOOT!! I already write about myself too much, but Stephanie is one of my favorite people so I hate to disappoint her on this meme. Therefore, you can skip this post as more blather from the most narcissistic person on the planet or read my top ten.
The casual observer may not think these goals much to hope for, but if I achieve them, I will have achieved more than I ever believed possible and will die a happy woman.
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to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety; this is my primary purpose; everything else is gravy.
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when I say "stay sober," I mean, to maintain a peaceful and loving balance in my life no matter what my circumstances -- to be content and of service in a war zone, a jail cell, a hospital and on my death bed.
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to make a difference in the world, every day, one person at a time.
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to be awake, present, to my experience and compassionate to that of others.
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to continue to overcome those defects in my character that keep me from being of service.
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to be self-supporting through my own contributions.
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to be humble and more even-tempered.
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to express myself creatively without pretense, desire for fame or hope of financial reward.
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to know myself, my strengths and my limitations.
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to contribute to my family, my friends and my community at the highest level possible without self-aggrandizement or need of reward.
In the words of the poet Mary Oliver, I want to be able to say
all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.
If they haven't been tagged yet, I tag Michael Webster, Blaine Donais, Diana Skaggs, Cassandra Lawrence, Jan Schau, and, Geoff Sharp.
As always, Michael Webster says something incredibly provocative in response:
Gotta Get Goals. Why? Why do we need goals? This is not a flip response to what appears to a very successful meme/linkbait project.
For the surprising answer, click here.
