A Time to Achieve Goals

I finished reading a book this morning. I am not always good at sitting down and reading, and I have always wanted to achieve reading one book a month for a year. I noticed after finishing the book that I had not taken a picture of the books I have read since July of last year. Now I do not have all of the books pictured that I have read; we are already half way through September, but I know that I at least read 12 books over the last year I just stopped keeping track!

I thought that this would be a good goal a long time ago! I have just now achieved it! I never gave up, I knew that it would be a challenging goal for me as I have never been super into reading, nor was I great at literature and English classes in school. I remember being tutored by my Grandma Loeck in 3rd and 4th grade. She taught me how to read without moving my head and just moving my eyes. It sounds silly, but I still have to remind myself of this as an adult when I get tired and am reading. I guess it is one way Grandma has stayed with me since she went to heaven.

It is easy to give up on goals that are hard or don’t go right the first time. I knew that if I wanted to achieve my life goal of writing a book, I would have to start reading more. (Grandma Loeck always wanted to write a book, but was never able to.) So I have continued to buy books, and read them one at a time. I tried reading 3 different books at the same time and it did not go well. I still have never finished one of those 3. I was able to read through the Bible twice, but I did listen to quite a few of the chapters rather than sitting and reading them.

I am going to continue to challenge myself to read more. I know that one or two chapters is all I enjoy to sit down and read. Only about 20 minutes to an hour at a time, and that is okay. Overtime, I can get through a book as I read a chapter at a time.

What is a goal you have had for forever that you have yet to accomplish? What is one thing you can do today to take a step closer to achieving that goal? As you make a long term goal, it is good to make an action plan to take smaller short term spots that you can achieve. Now, we all know that life happens, so within your action plans and goals you need to remember to give yourself grace and adjust as you are able. Don’t give up on yourself. You know what it is like to feel like others have given up on you. Be a friend to yourself. Know when it is truly time too quit something. Stick with your goal. Adjust when needed to make it more realistic for the season you are in right now.

Only you can make your dreams come true. It starts today. One step at a time. If you are not going to do something about it, it is never going to happen. Your dreams and goals are up to you to achieve. As they do in Big Brother, expect the unexpected. Keep on going. You can. You will achieve your goals and dreams.

“The harder you work on something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.” – unknown

“Consistency is more important than perfection.” – unknown

“You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.” – Stephen King