Goals and Responsibilities

I keep starting entries, writing about how things have gotten better in the last week; and they have: friends are wonderful, dance is actually happening, work is good, life is busy, and gas is cheap… but I don’t think I should be writing about me.

It seems like there are times in our lives when life is good, or better yet, when we’re really in the spotlight and we come through. But is that the goal? Is it to put ourselves in a position of attention where we can shine? Or should we aim for success in our personal lives? What’s the ideal? I don’t think the goal is for me to look good in your eyes.

I’m sure that there is no one answer. Sometimes we need to feel like our job serves a greater purpose. Other times we just want to afford going out and having fun. Some days it’s great to go out of your way for someone, to be a good person. Then there are weeks when we’re in the passenger seat, living vicariously or coming along for the ride.

But I think there’s a part of everybody that wants to be a star. “I want to be the president. I want to be a senator. I want to end hunger. I want to be Bill Gates.” When you’re a little kid you hear and say all those lines. Though as you get older it seems like goals become smaller, but still as important. Some more realistic and possibly just-as-difficult goals that I hear more: “I want to be a doctor. I want to be a CPA. I want to spoil my kids. I want to look back knowing that I lived every day to the fullest.”

The goals change, with some more than others, and I think there’s a reason for it. When we’re in grade school, and even college, we have all these responsibilities with clear cut goals. We have standardized tests and definite expectations. We’re labeled and we’re watched. But in the real world it doesn’t have to be like that. Life doesn’t need to be about getting to the next step; it can be about being happy with what you have. Being debt-free and having close friends is no small accomplishment. Sometimes security is what we need.

No, that’s probably not me. I’m still a dreamer. But I’ve grown more and more realistic (though hardly practical) in the last few years. And I wonder when/why it is that people hit these stages? I spend enough time in the real world to know that it’s not that much better, but that there is more time in the day when you don’t have homework and responsibilities.

Then again, there are still plenty of responsibilities. Oh well, maybe I’m not getting anywhere. But life is good right now, for all the reasons above. Work is great. I’ve enjoyed talking to, and learning from, my friends. And I’m not really saying no to anything.

This’ll all change with the seasons, for better or for worse. But I’m still curious where I’d like to end up. Where do you want to go today? ;)