Life goals are complicated and they certainly change from time to time. Why? Somethimes things don't work out, sometimes things work out so well that if you don't modify your goals (raise your expectations) you will innevitably miss out. When I was younger I wanted to be an olympian, a world record holder, and an important person. As I grew I realized that somethings are not possible and other things are not desirable. I found out that it is very difficult to be an olympian and even though I showed enough talent in some areas of athletics I learned that I would have to give up some much more important things in order to chase that goal. I learned that faulty science can lead to a false positive doping test-thereby shaming my family name, and let's face it I never really was that competitive. Most hops on a pogo stick or the worlds longest movie marathon attempts seemed pretty cool until I found out how much paperwork, logistics, and personell would involved in the verification of something that to be honest is quite trivial.
Throughout my existence I have always maintained a few core goals. Stay true to my heavenly father, get married in the temple, raise a family and keep learning. I am always working on the first and last but I have managed to get married and I am now the proud father of a beautiful daughter. The major goal I have been working on since starting my family was providing for my family, a difficult task as a college student in this economy but one in which failure, my friend, is not an option. Most of my daily goals are tied into that goal and few long term goals are not.
Short Term: In the short term I have a few intrinsic things I would like to check off my bucket list. Graduating from college with a plan for the future. I hope to be in this position in five years. Recieve an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps and go on my merry way. I have three years in and three to go. Run a marathon and get my wife to run one with me, hopefully we can knock this one out this year and next. Establish myself as a professional in my field of choice, and I'm not entirely sure what that is yet and yes finish writing my fictional book. Maybe I will have the chance to do that in the next year or so.
Mid term is pretty simple. Keep my budget balanced, and save up enough money to purchase a home. My wife and I are not sure exactly where we wish to live, work will dictate much of that but I would love to see myself buying a home and retiring (partially) before I'm fifty- if my wife and I want to drive around the US for three months taking pictures I want to be able to do that. I want to save up enough money to take the family on a cruise as the kids are graduating from high school/college (I plan on taking one cruise).
Long Term: See my grandkids have kids and be able to horse around with them as well. However long I am going to live I want to stay healthy. I want to be able to interract with my family for as long as I possibly can and I hope I can convince my family to do the same. Don't get me wrong no matter what shape I am in at 90 I will still never let go of life until God himself picks me up and takes me home but if I can I would like to be standing up proud and alive when he calls.
