Reality shows like “Caribbean Life” or “House Hunters International” are fun to watch, and they can cause us to dream of living in a faraway paradise. Something that I have learned from watching these shows is that such a dream may be within reach. Sure, some of the houses you see may cost millions of dollars, but not all of them are that expensive. I saw one house on a lovely island in the Caribbean, just a few steps away from the beach, sell for a fairly reasonable amount. When I learned what the people paid for it, I couldn’t help but point out to my wife that we could probably sell the house we’re in for about that same amount. It showed that living in “paradise” is a goal that could definitely be achieved. Such a dream is not so far-fetched after all!
Let me point out that, although it sounds nice, I really do not have a desire to go live on an island. I enjoy the fact that I live in the same area where I was born and raised. My children and grandchildren are just a few miles away, and almost all of my relatives live within an hour’s drive. My dad, brother, grandparents and other loved ones are all buried nearby. It’s nice living here. It’s comforting. It’s home. That doesn’t stop me from dreaming about living where warm breezes caress my face and beautiful blue water sparkles in the sunlight. The thought of sipping my morning coffee while watching the waves roll in, or of walking along the beach as the sun goes down each night, has quite a bit of appeal to me. Knowing that such a life is actually possible is comforting in its own way.
Goals in our life can be like the thought of moving to the Caribbean is to me. Some goals can, and should be, the kind that we know that we will never actually achieve. They should be more like a dream or wish that makes us feel good when we think about them. Knowing that we could possibly achieve such a goal makes thinking about them even more pleasant. For instance, I would love to charter a bus and take my entire family – kids, grandkids, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, etc. – to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It would be so cool to set up such a trip for anyone who wanted to go. We could play games on the bus, see some new places, and enjoy all the fellowship along the way, then we could all immerse ourselves in the history of the sport that we’ve all enjoyed for so many years. Is it possible to set up such a trip? Absolutely. Will I ever do it? Probably not. But, the thought of it makes me smile. It also helps motivate me to work on my finances so that I could, at some point, arrange such a trip. In other words, this is a goal that motivates and inspires me even though I am not committed to making it happen. It gives me something to work toward without causing me stress or making me feel like I failed if I don’t achieve the goal.
It is important for us to have solid goals that we are committed to achieve. These are the goals that we know we are supposed to achieve and we get up every day with a determination to work toward them. These are the goals that take us through the hard times and inspire us to overcome any obstacle or setback. Such goals ignite our passion and give us energy to keep going. They influence our decisions and determine our habits. They are our Reason. Everyone needs to know what they are doing and why they are doing it. We all need to have goals like this. However, not every goal has to be like that. Some can be like the dream of an island home – something that we love to imagine but don’t really plan to achieve. Why do we need such goals? Because these are the goals that bring a little more fun into our lives. They help lighten our mood and provide some relaxation. They serve as a mental escape of sorts while still moving us forward. They remind us that life should be enjoyable while we are working toward our goals.
I encourage you to take time to think about your goals. Determine what your solid, must-accomplish goals are and what you must do to reach them. But also think about your “island home” type of goals. Call it a dream or a fantasy if you like, rather than a goal, but make sure you have at least one. Life is so much more fun when you are working with both kinds of goals in mind!
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