The importance of writing down your goals!

About 5 years ago I sat down with my older sister, Elena, in a local coffee shop in Raleigh. She wanted to help me figure out where my life was going, I had just recently dropped out of BYU and moved back home to be closer to my family. We talked about my future and where I saw myself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years... I really didn't know, I had not put too much thought into it. Together she and I compiled a list of goals for myself, a list to complete within 5 years and a list to accomplish within my lifetime.

Fastforward to now... Last week I was cleaning up from the tornado aftermath and gathering some important papers and I stumbled across the goals list my sister and I wrote 5 years earlier. I had kept it with some other important documents, but had not looked at it in over a year. When I read over my list I was very pleased at what I had accomplished and I would like to share with you what we came up with in that little coffee shop, where my sister helped me find direction in my life...

In 5 years:
  * I see myself happy, married and living comfortably - (not necessarily with kids)  - Check
  * I want to be working in a job that allows me to travel, perhaps as an even planner - Check (pretty much)
  * I want to be on the east coast, near my family, in a warm place - Check
  * I want to have an associates & technical training  - Check

Before I die, I want to:
  * Go to Denmark
  * Learn another language
  * Go skydiving or hang gliding
  * Help build a house
  * Get married
  * Have kids
  * See California
  * Have a flower & vegetable garden
  * Write a book
  * Travel Europe with a friend, tell our story through photos
  * Visit South Africa
  * Learn about different religions and cultures
  * Spend $1000 in one shopping spree

Over the years some goals of mine have changed and that is ok it happens, but the point is to write them down! Until they are written down, they are only dreams!

New 5-Year Goals (by 2017):
  * Establish and run my own business
  * Travel to Europe with my husband
  * Purchase a new car
  * Start to expand our small family (kids)
  * Get back in shape, maintain a healthy weight of 135
  * Finish decorating and organizing our house
  * Starting writing a book