Life goals

It's a question I've thought about a few times too. Some ideas I've floated around:

- learn a Slavic language
- learn a martial art
- learn how to throat-sing (polyphonic singing)
- teach myself chess theory

This is a topic that I have actually been thinking about a lot lately....today I was driving to meet a friend and I drove past this lake near my house and there were a bunch of people sailing what looks like "learn to sail program" type boats. I thought "hmmmm" that seems neat! I actually bought a little notebook to write this stuff down in but haven't really gotten far with it. (In fact the notebook is empty and I don't know where I put it). I had been thinking that maybe if I wrote this stuff down I would get around to doing it.

some things so far:
always wanted to go to New Zealand - never had the $$
lately been wanting to up and move somewhere new where I don't know anyone

Ok this list I have is lame...gotta really think about this one....

Only once did I come up with a thought for a life goal...to visit a tropical place/island with every letter of the alphabet (I was trying in alpha order).

Aruba
Bahamas
Cancun
Deerfield Beach
E???
Fort Myers
G????
H????
I????
Jamaica
Key West
L????
Maarten (St)
N???
O???
Puerto Rico
Q???
R????
South Beach
T????
US Virgin Islands
V????
West Palm Beach
X???
Y???
Z???

That's about where I am.

My life goal is to find some life goals.

Life Goals? Um, that's my favorite topic. Not only do I think setting life goals and striving to reach out to them is an integral part of my life but I love to write on this subject too. I have just submitted an article "The Power of Goals" to an e-zine and waiting for the editor's response.

Hmm….my life goals….
I have set long-term goals ranging over 5 years and regularly set monthly short-term goals. A new introduction to my list is a set of mid-term goals (spanning 1 year) to help me keep focused on the long-term ones.

My long-term goals are rather private and I don't feel the propensity to post them out here.
But in a nutshell: ( 5 years from now)
1. I have 500 writing credits, 2 works of fiction and 2 works of non -fiction to my name.
2. I live with my family in a palatial bungalow overlooking a beautiful garden in Chandigarh. (India's best city to live in)
3. I have an advanced degree in Neuroscience.
My Mid-term goals include: (Deadline April 2007)
1. Make 50 writing credits (international, national and online)
2. Getting 80 % in my final exams
3. Growing 2 inches tall (Though I have told myself if I fail to achieve this one I wouldn't be disappointed)

I am ambitious, huh? I'm just drawn that way!

Here I would like to reproduce an excerpt from my piece on goals.


Born into a poor family in Tennessee, Wilma Rudolph was ambushed by serious ailments like Double Pneumonia and Scarlet Fever right in her early childhood. As she grew a little older, the girl developed Poliomyelitis that had emanated from her previous illnesses. Doctors despaired that she'll ever be able to walk.

Yet, the disabled and downtrodden girl harbored the dream of being the fastest woman on earth. At age nine, defying all medical assumptions she flung her braces away and started to walk.

Upon entering teenage, she took part in the first sprinting event of her life and finished last. She kept loosing in races until one day she finally won. That was the Rubicon of her life. Next, she went to the Tennessee State University where she confided to Ed Temple, the sports coach," Ed, I want to be the fastest woman on earth." He assured she could make it if she keeps faith in her goal and follows it unperturbed. "Go ahead." he encouraged.

At the 1960 Olympics, a polio victim made history by clinching three gold medals and surpassing Jutta Hein, the then champion. This polio victim was none other than Wilma, Wilma Rudolph.

India's freedom was first conceived as a goal. A little bespectacled man from Porbunder, having been thrown out of the first class train compartment by the British in South Africa, got so agitated that he formulated his life goal something like this - India's freedom. Yes, Gandhi too had a goal. It was the charisma of this goal that almost two billion civilians were provoked to mutiny.

Even those harsh imprisonments after the famous Dandi March in 1920 and the revolutionary Quit India Movement in 1942 could not dislodge him - or his goal.

The Champaran violence, however, did prick his heart and his morale slid down. But, the goal did not die. Finally, it was achieved. India was liberated at midnight on August 15, 1947.

THE MAGIC OF GOALS
What propelled Wilma Rudolph and Mahatma Gandhi to achieve near impossible ends? The power of goals. Now, what's so magical about goals?

Every accomplishment in the fields of medicine, sports or business begins with a vision - a goal. It can do wonders for your life if you can commit your powers completely to the attainment of your objectives. Psychologically speaking, when one surrenders to a goal, an array of complex psychological processes is initiated. When you have capitulated to your goal, this germ of a goal penetrates deep into your subconscious mind. The germ is implanted and begins to germinate leading to a perfect tuning between your conscious and the subconscious mind. As this harmony is established, you are no more hesitant or confused regarding your actions.

In a nutshell, a powerful goal brings with it a package of spontaneous instrumentation that provides you with sufficient enthusiasm to set about, wisdom to take right decisions all the way through and ample of perseverance to slog on till the end despite setbacks.

-To take the bad things that have happened in my life and use them to help others. (still being worked on)
-To do a therapeutic horse training program with foster kids. (not sure how feasible this one is)
-To own my own horse someday. (I'm determined on this one)
-To see every state in the US. (Only 9 more states to see)
-To visit Australia. (Not sure how feasible this one is either)
-To write a book. (about halfway done on this one)
-To live by the mountains- (accomplished though brief)
-To live by the ocean- (accomplished)

Mine are:

- to continually work on my deficiencies
- to continually learn/experience new things
- to work at attaining peace and acceptance
- to get really good at something

To sleep with Angelina Jolie. Perhaps I should aim for loftier goals.

Yeah, maybe you should

To be skilled enough in many fields to be considered a "renaissance man".

I've also thought about the perfect year - where would I be on any given day, 1 Jan to 31 Dec? I know I'll never have the time or money to do it all in one year but maybe in my lifetime, I'll be able to:

- see the New England Fall (done)
- see the cherry blossom in Japan (someday)
- see Mardi Gras in Rio (someday)

etc.

KP

I failed geography A levels but here are my suggestions anyway-
Haiti
Tahiti
Lanzarote