Benefits of Daily Goals.
All my life I had dreams to dream and goals to reach. Some were unrealistic and only a miracle would get me there. Some were reachable in a short period of time. This gave me a quick satisfaction and enough fuel to keep me moving.
As I grew older, I dropped those New Year’s resolutions because I didn’t see any reason to reset goals each year. Why reset goals again and again? Realizing this approach was unrealistic for me I started setting daily goals. And as I set daily goals, I tweaked then as I went.
When I reached my 80th birthday I started setting a goal for each birthday. For my 80Th birthday, I walked a 5K on what I called my “training wheels”- my walker. With the help of my daughter, I started training for the 5k. This gave me a reason to get up, get dressed, and show up each day. On race day, I reached that goal as I crossed the finish line,
The 81st birthday I set a goal to organize a book club at my local Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Club. My daily goals were filled with research on “How to start a book club” I completed my research paper and presented my suggestion to the Senior Center Director. Imagination Traveler’s Book Club is 3 years old.
What next was the question I asked myself for my 82 birthday goal? To answer the question I had a profound realization that volunteering was the answer. I volunteered to lead the book club. My goal was set for 100 hours. On National Volunteer Day I received a Volunteer certificate at a recognition breakfast for 132 volunteer hours
My 83rd birthday goal was made by setting a higher goal of 500 volunteer hours at the Senior Center. My need to promote seniors and keep them in the loop and not isolating them became a goal within the volunteer hour’s goal. The Executive Director, of the Senior Center, assigned me to the Marketing Committee. So, I began an increase in volunteer hours. Met the goal with 565 hours and was in the top 8 volunteer group.
84th birthday goal was a natural goal for me, for now, I was on a roll and enjoying my volunteer hours, Then too, I felt comfortable and needed. 1000 hours goal was set! Adding to the list of things for me to do me I added knitting and crocheting for charity and becoming a volunteer social media poster on Facebook, Twitter and three networks in my area. On Volunteer Day, which coincided with my birthday, I sat and waited for my name to be called. The Top Ten were announced and I began to think did my volunteer sheet get overlooked? Then it happened! My name was called for Top Volunteer Award for 2015. I was so happy because I worked daily and reached my goal of 1047 hours.
What is my goal for my 85th birthday? Continue my volunteer hours for the senior center and add a new goal to it. God willing I will be walking the 5k race in the National Senior Olympics in Birmingham, Ala. in the year 2017. This year I qualified by walking the 5K for The Tennessee State Olympics and win a goal medal in my age bracket. It is a personal goal in promoting “Keep Seniors Moving” for a healthier and happier life any way I can. "Lead by Example".
