Setting Goals

I typically spend more time making fun of Lou Holtz than I do listening to what he has to say, but last night during the halftime of the A&M vs T.U. game (we never should have been in that game, the Ag's played an amazing game)I half listened to his "Thoughts with Dr. Lou" segment. I could only catch a little of what he was saying, it was a bit of a chaotic environment, but as best I could tell he was talking to a group of high school students who were either in a bad situation or have faced a tragedy of some kind. I really wish I could have listened to the whole thing because he gave his thoughts on the way to transcend what has happened and truly live a full life. He gave 5 steps, or things to do, in order to live a more full life. The two I remember were to have dreams and turn them into goals. Its something anyone who has ever heard a pep talk or gone to a college orientation has heard a thousand times, but, a little unbelievably, its something I dont think Ive thought about in a while. What really struck me was that we hear a lot about having dreams, and we hear about setting goals, but I dont know how often we hear about literally making our dreams our goals. When I started to think about it, I know Ive always had dreams and Ive always set goals, but I always considered dreams to just be pleasant thoughts, and goals to be the more "practical" list of things that I better try to accomplish. I think thats maybe the reason Lou was saying these things to these students, because I think a lot of them probably think the way I did about goals and dreams. In essence I separated the two into what was real and possible, and what was fantasy and never possible. The problem there is that what is "real and possible" is totally shaped by our perception of ourselves and our reality. For my whole life up until 8 months ago, running a marathon, or losing 100 pounds would have fallen easily into the fantasy dreams category. Now its right within my grasp. The destination hasnt changed, its still every bit as monumental as it ever was, but what did change was my perception of what is possible. There is nothing wrong with being realistic and self aware, but I think the sad part about limiting our dreams to "realistic" pursuits is what it says about our perspective on life and the confidence we have in ourselves.

So, Im going to re-evaluate my dreams and goals, and this time, Im not going to be affraid to combine those two categories. Self awareness is good, reality is good, but believing that you can turn even the biggest dreams into reality is way better.

Dreams/goals:
-Run a marathon (fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed, its coming)
-Be a runner for as long as my body will allow me to be.
-Lose 100 pounds and maintain a healthy lifestyle (6 pounds away, and Im never looking back)
-Complete the Kona Ironman race in Kona, Hawaii
-Become a Certified Personal Trainer
-Have a loving marriage
-Become a father
-Travel to all 7 continents
-Visit all 50 states
-Have a short story published
-Own my dream house (which mostly means that its a place where my friends and family, and even some day my kids WANT to be)