We’ve watched a lot of superhero movies along the way. I asked my boys when they were very young if when they grew up, did they want to be good guys or bad guys. They both emphatically told me good guys. Along the way, when they’ve made choices that indicated otherwise, I’d remind them that their actions didn’t match their intended identities. It was a simple strategy to try and get them to recognize and identify their actions.
Being good isn’t always easy. Sometimes I’ve found that goals are better reached when I can imagine my acceptance speech or eulogy. How do I want people to know me or remember me? Then I can make choices accordingly. Perhaps that makes me goal oriented?
It’s like training for a marathon. You plan your training schedule backward from the date of the race you want to run. You set goals for the mileage you need to reach every week. Some runs are longer than others. Some runs feel amazing and others have you feeling like you’ve set an impossible goal. You have to work them into your schedule. They become a priority. And on race day, if you’re well-prepared, the race will feel like a victory, regardless of time. Some people don’t finish. Others get injured. Medals are handed out to finishers. This is more than a simple participation trophy. This is an accomplishment that required effort, planning, strategy and endurance.
I suppose by living life with this same methodology, I’m planning what I want imprinted on my “finisher” medal. I want to be known for that which I am passionate about. I hope that people see me as a life-lover and a funny girl. Overall, I hope that people understand, I’m one of the good guys.
Auda Here 