Goals

The year 2013 is in the books. There is a common thought that goes through our culture about making New Years resolutions. There are all kinds that people try. While the options are totally up to the individual, there are some common ones that are often picked. Some people decide that it is time to stop smoking, or lose weight, or learn something new. The common driving force that I see in all resolutions is that people see in them selves that there is something that they are unhappy with and want to change.

I personally am not a resolutions kind of a person. I don't see the value in waiting use a new calendar as a trigger to make a change. I like to think that I am more of goals kind of a person. A goal is just a valid to start in the middle of March as it is in the beginning of January.
In 2013, I set for myself some goals that I wanted to achieve. I am happy to say that I successfully achieve one of the goals that I set out for myself. You read that right, one goal.
At one time, I would have found myself thinking that being 17% successful would be pretty disappointing. This is a line of thinking that I am making a conscious effort to avoid. I have come to think of it as sort of an eighth goal. Not really a goal in the sense that I have not come up with a way to measure it. I can define it, but not gage it. I have written before about goals. It has been a long time and I think that my real understanding of what constitutes a goal has changed.
The Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, from Star Wars Episode I said it well when he stated "Your focus determines your reality." Inspiration comes from all different kinds of sources. The recovering perfectionist inside of me would have preferred to go 7 for 7 this year, but, having completed one goal is better than not finishing any. I can focus on what I might have classified as failures, or I can be pleased with the success. Focusing on the success will drive more success. I may be tempted to say to my self that I cannot run a marathon, but, I can look back on what I did achieve and remind myself that I did accomplish something, so there is a precedence  for success. 
Another way of looking is, I already have some 2014 goals laid out in front of me.