Goal Keeper

Year 2, Task 1, January 3 to January 10

“You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward.” James Thurber

Welcome to 2025 and carefully consider the quote from the eminent Mr. Thurber, which in my estimation is a not-so-gentle encouragement for us to beware of acquiescence, be disdainful of apathy; and do not buckle in the face of adversity.

Our lives, unfortunately (and I speak from the perspective of age) is made up of a series of battles with brief respites of wonder and happiness; but fortunately, most of the battles are skirmishes, often ignited for petty reasons, but battles nonetheless, and they take a toll on our spirit.

To prepare for this year’s slog, I suggest that one should have goals—not resolutions, mind you—but goals.

Of course this is not a novel concept. After all we’ve been badgered about our goals for our entire lives from our parents, our teachers, our bosses, our significant others, our counselors and priests; but for the most part we were being encouraged to summon up lofty goals, i.e. “what are you going to do with your life?”, or “what do you want, career-wise?” or the dreaded, “where are we going with this relationship?”

CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, “OLD PEOPLE THIS WEEK” ON YOUTUBE, SPOTIFY AND APPLE PODCASTS.

I’m suggesting we create goals for this year only.

Now here’s the wrinkle. Most advisors (like a psychologist) would recommend that one only conceive of goals that are achievable, so that one does no become discouraged if the goal isn’t attained. I don’t buy that. I believe that goals, like dreams, should be lofty and elation-inducing.

So my goals are divided into BIG ASS GOAL and EVERYDAY GOAL. Under BIG ASS GOAL I wrote: Buy a home in Lanikai Hawaii. Now, a home on Lanikai beach, even a shoddy lean-to would cost millions, but (to steal the motto of Tottenham Hotspur) TO DARE IS TO DO...and for EVERY DAY GOAL I put: save twenty dollars a day for the year. So far I’ve saved sixty dollars, and if I keep it up I will have a formidable stash of $7300.00 by this time next year. I will use that money to buy two airline tickets to Oahu and a couple of days at a hotel near Lanikai for the wife and I.

Goal achieved.

So again, welcome to 2025. Take a deep breath, gird your loins, and step boldly forward.