The New Year Natty

Reeling and recovering from the NCAA National Championship, its hard not to think that something is holding me back. I watched the DAWGS fail to play their game. The Michigan Wolverines broke big runs in the first quarter, the Washington Huskies figured out how to stuff it, and after a brutal battle, Harbaugh won his swan song but stealing signs from other teams cheated the 'Blue and Maze' from the respect the university deserves. Absent for 6 games, the attendance at 'The Big House' was one short for a third of the season. Most wanted to spite him, and I wanted the Huskies to drool. However, a busted foot on the opening play of the game, and an interception at the start of the second half just didn't suffice on the scoreboard.

It was January 8th, and I had been putting off my New Years Resolutions until I had contemplated what I wanted. It felt like the ominous cloud that was hanging over my head began to rain, as I put down goals I want to pursue. I find setting goals to be an integral part of introspection and personal growth. I have a goal board that I update regularly to reassess what I want out of life. There is an important procedure to setting goals that makes the process manageable:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Achievable

• Realistic

• Time bound

First was a Washington win, but they came in second (KDB come back). Next I divided the dry erase board into categories. The left side comprised of life goals like live in a big city and own a Ford Explorer. Centered is daily goals. The rest of the board is filled with books I want to read and shows I want to watch. Corners are the things the provide the foundation for me to make my dreams a reality, but they are never finished.

One comment I often hear is how good it feels to cross something off a list. The satisfaction of attaining one of your goals provides motivation and momentum to carry out the rest.

My favorite goal is to learn languages. I'll start with Spanish, because based on the current population, it is the most applicable. Chinese seems to be the future. And baseline words to get by in other countries would help. Someday I would love to speak Canadian.