Isip: Bigger and bigger goals

Here’s a short musing I had about life and goals in my current situation.

As I was writing in my daily journal, I decided to add a page where I was going to list my fitness goals for 2018.

I stared at the blank page for a long looooong while. I didn’t know what to write. I didn’t have any idea what I wanted to achieve for 2018.

But just to have something to write down, I listed some goals that I think I’ll be able to do in the near future. After I finished, I looked at them one by one. It was when I realized that I have small goals.

I set super small goals.
I set goals that I am around 85-90% sure I can finish.

I set goals that I am comfortable with. And I think one reason is because I love to see this checklist of my goals to be all finished by the end of the year. I was afraid that if I wrote some bigger goals, they’d be left unfinished by the year’s end.

And I realized that this was pathetic.

I’ve never been much of a dreamer. I’ve always just gone with the flow and see wherever life takes me. My goals would be just that thing that’s right in front of me.

That isn’t necessarily bad. I’ve made progress in life through setting minuscule goals and achieving them one by one. It’s just that there hasn’t been any bigger goals behind them. I’ve lost sight of a destination.

It’s recently been the 2nd anniversary of my first trail run. That means I’ve been running in races for a bit more than 2 years. I’ve gone past the stage of joining every trail race I can get my hands on and now I’m choosing my races wisely.

I’ve learned that I don’t go to the mountains to get hurt. I’m not in it for the pain. And that has changed my target races as time has gone on. Goals can change and priorities aren’t permanent. Life happens.

So for 2018, my goal is to start making bigger goals. Rather, let’s start with medium-sized goals first and work up from there. It’s time to set goals that I am afraid of. Goals that I’m not sure I can finish or I can even achieve. Aim high, hit low. ;)

I don’t do resolutions, but I’m making an attempt at improvement. Here’s to bigger goals, whether they can be finished this year or not. I’ve always enjoyed the fitness process. Working out is my therapy and I am happy with just that.

But for 2018, it’s time to use the process and aim it at a certain target. A target that probably won’t be finished within this year. But what’s important is to keep my eyes on something.

Here’s to setting goals.
Here’s to having dreams.

And in the words of Laz, “and to chase those dreams, I train.”

-jgzn