Setting Honest Goals

You are a Badass Deck, by Jen Sincero - It's time to get mighty clear about what makes you happy and what makes you feel the most alive, and then create it instead of pretending you can't have it.

The cards in this deck were created from a book You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. The quotes you can use as affirmations, intention-setters, wake-up calls, and reminders of how powerful and lovable you are. The others are exercises and loving kicks in the rear to get/keep you moving in the direction you want to go and to help you push youself out of your comfort zone.

Getting clear about what you must do to make yourself happy and feel most alive isn't easy! Sometimes it feels like running against traffic. You will get run down!

Okay, well maybe not that serious!

Jen Sincero has some catchy ways of saying things and getting your attention. She has gotten mine. I am enjoying writing in response to her prompts. When I was younger, back in the 60s and 70s I thought I was a badass. Probably not!

And I'm still not sure that is really what I am going for. But if being a badass means that I get to be clear about what makes me happy, then I am in.

When I think back 20 years to my mother telling me that it was okay if I wanted to be with a Bena boy because she could see how happy I was, then that was good enough for me. I married that Bena boy.

As a young girl, she told me and my sister to stay away from the Bena boys. Apparently, she knew something we didn't. Reputations were a bigger deal back then.

Bena was a small town just down the road from where we lived. Their reputation and nickname at the time was "Little Chicago". My mother's friend at a local resort hosted groups from Chicago and I'm guessing that is how she knew for us to stay away.

Set Honest Goals - Don't decide you're going to run ten miles a day when you still consider walking around the corner a day's worth of exercise. Start with running half a mile a day and add more as you get stronger. Discipline is a muscle; you have to build it at your own pace. If you bite off more than you can chew at the start, changes are excellent you'll get discouraged and give up altogether. Set honest goals that are just outside your comfort zone and build from there. Jen Sincero

This is a perfect time for me to write about starting by walking. I will probably never run again. And before you say, "Why not?" let me tell you why. I am age 70, out of shape, overweight, and not the least bit interested in running, unless my life depends on it, which is not likely.

Because Jen Sincero was more than likely using a metaphor that everyone can relate to. I am also considering other goals to work on that are just outside my comfort zone.

Many years ago, Oprah ran a marathon. We are close in age, so I was saying that if Oprah can run a marathon, then I should be able to. My son heard me say that and he said that he would run with me. I then told him that I had to start walking first.

Even though I never did start running, he ran a marathon! I was there to cheer him through the finish gate!

A few short years ago, I was walking 60-70 minutes a day on the treadmill. Then I broke my arm and was banned from the treadmill long enough to stop my walking habit.

Several times I started and several times I failed. Now, with incentives, I am starting over. Last week was 3 times walking for 10 minutes. This week I started walking 15 minutes. My goal is to build up to 30 minutes this month.

This past weekend I found an accountability partner. We are encouraging and sharing our efforts, trials, and accomplishments. So far, so good!

Decide you'd rather be happy than right. Jen Sincero

Deciding to choose my serenity over my being right, my happiness over unhappiness is important to me today already. And I am happy most of the time.

Being retired and working part-time, choosing to work when and where I want is important to me. Writing is enjoyable and when it isn't I will stop, although I can't imagine stopping now.

Age, health, or death may determine that for me, however. I am not going to worry about that though! I prefer happiness right now and living in the moment. And right now I am writing.

Being blessed with family and friends so special in my life brings me joy!

Then I will be attending a weekly group in a couple hours, where I can grumble about going and love getting there and seeing all the faces that look forward to my group and others who have been told that it is a good group!

My decision a year or more ago was to let this group go. Due to not wanting a weekly commitment. I was told to take the time when needed. Don't worry about it. Staff will cover the group.

Because they haven't filled the position and I haven't been successful in my efforts to fill the position, I am still there.

This group makes for a happy day!