About January 21, 2008

“You only live once. What are you going to remember the most?”

This one little quote, this one special phrase has inspired, motivated and guided me on an incredible journey. For me, this quote changes two important things in my life. How I think and how I act. When I remind myself that I only have one shot at life, I start to think differently. My weaknesses, doubts, fears, and pettiness diminish. What is the point of living out these negative attributes when each day I have the blessed opportunity to be:

::passionate::ambitious::successful::adventurous::spontaneous::compassionate::loving::

My actions change too. One, I try to be nicer to everyone I am around. What is the point of being mean , obnoxious or disrespectful? There isn’t a point, so I try not to do it. Two. I set goals for myself. All kinds of goals, from traveling to relationships to careers to personality traits that I want to change. Basically, any kind of goal to keep me working towards improving, bettering and pushing myself.

My goals are ways to help answer the continual life question of, “What am I going to remember the most?” What do I want to remember when I look back on my life? Good question. Honestly, I don’t know what the “what” is, but I do know that I want to be daring, take risks, challenge myself and aim high for whatever I am trying to achieve at that time. That is all I can ask and expect of myself.

Here is a list of goals I made when I started this blog in 2008:

Goal: Take an around the world trip
Complete! Travelled around the world for eight months. From February-October 2008 I explored: New Zealand, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India, Turkey, Croatia, Italy and England.
Goal: Live in another country for an extended period of time
In progress: I am living in Italy for one year (and maybe longer?)
Goal: Become fluent in Italian
In progress: I double majored in Communications and Italian, and although it’s been four years since I’ve used my  Italian, it has definitely been a great base to build on. I am enrolled in Italian classes and almost all of my new Italian friends don’t or only speak limited English, so I am hoping to become fluent by the end of the year!
Goal: Write a fiction book
In progress: I have 30,000 words written and my goal is to write 1000-2000 words each day
Goal: Write a children’s book
Goal: Expand my website/new business ideas
Goal: Expand/develop my crazy list of inventions

ADDITIONAL NEW GOALS: (continuing my perpetual addiction to challenge myself to accomplish new things…)

Goal: Read 2-3 hours each day
Goal: Enter at least one poetry or writing contest per week
Goal: Participate in Script Frenzy, a 100 page screenplay event taking place in April
Goal: Get 5 written pieces (short stories, poems, articles) published by April 2009.
Goal: Blogpost at least 4-5 times a week
Goal: Read the news everyday and stay updated on current events
Goal: Workout at least 5 days a week
Goal: Take a modern dance or hip hop class
Goal: Take a painting class
Goal: Only fall in love with someone who is passionate about life and passionate about me
Goal: Become comfortable with driving and parking a manual car on hills

I am sure my goals will change, expand and grow as I myself change, expand and grow.  I probably won’t achieve all my goals, but I am going to try.  Maybe I am addicted to perseverance? Maybe I don’t like to fail?  Or, maybe I know that I only have one ride so, why not!