Scoring Life Goals...(with a few near misses)
Hello again, I hope
all is well with you and you’re ready for another weekend...so what
thought has caused me to sit down and write today? Well, as I am
currently going through a series of life changes, I guess that
answers the question. Now before you reach for the ‘delete’
button, let me quickly add, this is NOT going to be one of those blog
posts about ‘finding the real you’ - (although as they continue
to thrive, there must be much value in them for people). No, I found
the ‘real’ me some years ago and that was shocking enough without
launching on another journey of self-discovery so I can potentially
find the even less-than-pleasant- parts of me which have thankfully
remained hidden thus far in my life. So what am I going to be talking
about? Well, I am more interested in those life goals we set
ourselves..so let’s get on and hope none of those skeletons
currently residing in my closet decide this is the perfect time to
make an appearance…
So life goals...and
before you try and convince me you’ve never had them, I feel sure I
can prove the contrary, after all, I am not sure there can be anyone,
who when they were young, didn’t say- with total certainty- they
would grow up to be a princess, perhaps an astronaut or, that one
day, they would eat all the ice cream in the world or make the
biggest chocolate cake EVER! (yes I am aware there’s a theme there,
but I missed lunch and so the thought of food is hovering at the back
of my mind). Now, much as I know some of those goals have been
achieved,(although sadly not by me or, it seems, anyone else in my
immediate proximity which explains the dismal biscuit I am currently
forcing down). But what about those other goals, the ones about
having a successful career, a happy relationship and being a
wonderful parent? They’re achievable, aren’t they? I sincerely
believe so, even though, I am starting to think, for example, being
an astronaut would, at times, be infinitely easier than parenting.
Career wise, I fully accept, trying to find something exciting about
photocopying a 200 page report for distribution, when you know, most
of the people who will receive it, will probably ignore it and either
go back to their nap or continue to unravel the mysteries of Candy
Crush – isn’t particularly thrilling.
But just because
those goals aren’t likely to have the Nobel Prize Committee
knocking at the door, that doesn’t make them any less worthwhile.
Speaking personally, I have been a parent for a LONG time, and yes,
it hasn’t all been sunshine and lollipops, but the fact my
daughters have grown up, without wanting to wreak havoc on an
unsuspecting world, well, I consider that a life goal achieved. They
are out there in the world now, (sorry, that does sound like a line
from a B-movie disaster movie when the aliens have landed from outer
space), and it’s very encouraging to see them pursue their own
ambitions. Of course, much of their success is down to their own hard
work, but I don’t feel it’s unreasonable for me to take a tiny
percentage of the credit, as I was the one who raised them. (N.B.
Obviously if you asked my daughters, they would insist their
continuing sanity is DESPITE of my parenting, but we amicably agreed
to disagree on that point a while ago).
But what about the
goal of a happy relationship? Well, for me, it can only happen when
you find the ‘right’ person, sadly – myself included- too many
of us try and make a partnership work even when it’s blindingly
obvious, it’s never going to happen. Yet, for some reason, we stay
with someone who is everything we dislike in a human being, in the
vain hope, if we wait long enough, if we keep trying to mould them
into something faintly acceptable, happiness will surely come our
way. Naturally, in almost every case, this just doesn’t happen and
we either graciously accept defeat and move on or we sadly resign
ourselves to the fact, our partner is just awful and we take up a
time-consuming hobby instead, so we don’t have to spend the day
with them. May I suggest taxidermy, as I suspect, spending your days,
ramming things into every possible orifice of something which is way
past caring, could be hugely satisfying (and no, that’s not a
plotline from the latest ‘Fifty Shades’ franchise, as I
understand it, the two main characters are alive throughout the whole
story although having seen the film, that point is debatable).
Now, having read
thus far, I can guess what you’re thinking,(hopefully not, has she
finished that biscuit yet and if so, is she going to have another
one? As you’ve asked, the answers are ‘yes I have’ and ‘ I
haven’t decided yet’). So instead, I am hoping you’re
wondering, what life goals do I feel I have attained? Well, as I’ve
mentioned, being as good a parent as possible, is an ongoing one, but
I do feel I am heading in the right direction. As far as my
relationship is concerned, well, it does have it’s seriously tricky
moments, but sappy as it sounds, I really can’t imagine wanting to
be with anyone else. As you may have guessed, I do love to laugh and,
thankfully, we do share a similar sense of humour, which invariably
brings us back together – even when a major incident has happened
which causes a temporary division (e.g. who ate all the chocolate).
But before you start
to imagine I am whipping through my life goals, I am really not-
there is so much more I would like to do, some things I haven’t
even started yet and that’s largely because Life does get in the
way, but as the immortal Dory says in ‘Finding Nemo’, I aim to
‘just keep swimming’ and hopefully, I will get there in the end,
perhaps I will see you there...until the next time..
Take care out there
xx
