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59 Goals in One Year

Who doesn’t struggle with goals?
Picture two nations at war today.
Today and every day. No one at the same time lives in both but clearly both are visible from anywhere.

These Two Nations are called:
Procrasti “Nation” and Determi “Nation”

A vast wilderness separates these two nations. This wilderness is called wanderlust. It is a place to call home with no plans to leave, no plans at all. Hard to leave as most don’t believe they are actually living there. This describes where I find myself. No plans yet but maybe someday.
In D Nation they get up early in the morning and run in the cold rain.

Are there Keys to effective Goal-setting?

Goal setting is only effective if actions follow them.

Like any set of keys you may own there are numerous keys to choose from. Only the ones that start your engine and move you forward count. Goal setting and goal doing are two different locations. One should follow the other but the last one is more important.
Develop a clear vision. If the goal is clear and the reason is clear to you, the rest maybe easier but plan for harder. If the end doesn’t justify the means then ask yourself, “why am I doing this?” The probability of getting it done will be left in the dust or in an armchair lost under the cushion. Move on to the next goal.

Write Down Your Goals: Out of your head and into your eyes.
Get it Done: “Seize the day”! What nation are you living in?
Eyes forward: What are you looking at? “I can see it from here” view.
Review: What’s done and what’s next? Be productively objective.
Assess: How did that go? You should seek feedback from trusted sources.
Repeat: Begin again.

Starting From The Beginning

While I contemplated my own lack of goal setting during the days leading up to my 59th birthday I had to ask myself this question. What is stopping you from achieving more with your life? The answer comes as no surprise here. The answer to this question points clearly to only one person. That person is me!

In September of this year following my mother’s passing it occurred to me that I have set and achieved some benchmark goals along this route of life. Married my wife at the age of twenty and now thirty nine years later we have three sons and four grandchildren. At the age of thirty nine I ran my first marathon. At the age of fifty five I had retired from my job which lasted thirty six years. Took up ultra marathon running of which I have ran six separate races and started a “mile a day” everyday running streak which is now on day 1425 with over 4700 miles. As a bonus I lost the weight equal to my age in pounds. I did make most of what I challenged myself to do. What more do I need to do and what is it that I think I could do? What is the reward? Will the prize at the end justify the struggle to achieve? Will there be a struggle? Are they really goals if there is no struggle to achieve? Do they count as well?

Here’s my list….thus far.

1. Start list of 59 Goals.
2. Start website 59goals.com
3. Start Podcast of 59goals.com
4. 59 Podcasts (minimum one per week).
5. Continue to run One Mile a Day Streak
6. Thankfulness: Gratitude Diary (daily).
7. 59 Litres of additional water (13 gallons).
8. 59 Kilometres of Swimming (36.6 miles).
9. Read/Audio 59 different books in one year.
10. Watch 59 movies/documentaries never seen before.
11. Visit 59 locations never seen before.
12. Plant 59 new trees.
13. Meet 59 new people.
14. Smile 59 times more.
15. Diary of a 59 year old. Not wimpy, I think?
16. 59 hours of practice on mindfulness.
17. 59 people to suggest additional goals.

59. Finish List!

Novelty and Necessity

We are a bowl of mixed nuts. All of us different but all of us in this together.

Maybe it’s not the first time you were referred to as a nut. If someone calls you a nut or maybe a nut case or just plain nutty they may be implying that you are crazy or just not ‘normal’. Whatever that really is. However when someone is referred to as ‘tough nut’ to crack, they infer that you are much harder than you appear or worse harder to figure out. And what about nut-free? So your in a whole world of nuts and you just happen to be a ‘nut-free’ kind of nut. Now what? Can you leave? The walnut says to the almond “Let’s just avoid those peanut kind of nuts out there”. “Besides peanuts aren’t actually nuts anyways, are they?”” They just landed into our group of nuts.”

The thing about nuts from a nutritional point of view is they’re good for you. They hold a number of nutrients or nut ingredients that we need to maintain good health. Some even help us to lose weight and gain a healthy heart.

Some nuts, like peanuts for example, can seriously harm. This is not good. If we extend this to the analogy of us as a bowl of mixed nuts we can take it that not everyone agrees with other nuts in the bowl. Maybe just a few other nuts in the bowl. We are different yet we do share similarities that make us both dangerous and appealing all at the same time.

The fact that most of us prefer the mixed selection because we enjoy the differences all at the same time, then it is novelty that we desire. When there isn’t enough novelty from the midst of the necessary we tend to be depressed. Necessity is unavoidable we can not escape life without necessities but how much do we spend our lives with the things that are required and not the things that bring us novelty. Life is more than food and shelter even though these are very important and many have no choice but to spend their entire life preserving them. What we desire is novelty.

Author Your Life.

“Finding your passion isn’t just about careers and money. It’s about finding your authentic self. The one you’ve buried beneath other people’s needs” Kristen Hannah

Authenticity, being the author in your own city.

What does it really mean to be authentic? How is it that we can recognize when others are not being authentic but we fail to realize when we truly are not authentic with ourselves.

The secret of true rewarding success is found inside of you! The choice should always be authentic. Who else can you trust if not yourself? Shouldn’t you trust your happiness, your goals with someone special? That person is you.

Know yourself first. Take the road that leads to you. No direction towards yourself is the wrong direction. Choose a hard task and learn from it to find yourself. Easy never works for a lasting period of time. We all know the benefits of easy. But do we know the benefits of attempting the difficult things. Choose the way that challenges and is not easy. Challenging the difficult brings us close up and personal to our authentic self.

Difficult is the culture we tend to avoid but a culture necessary in our lives to experience our own completeness. Authenticity will make the way easier.

Be determined. Be authentic. Know yourself.

Milestones. Leave your mark along the way.

Milestones are markings that measure the distance between two points. A visible sign of where you were and where you hope to go.

The ancient Egyptians created stone pillars called tekhenu. The Greeks called them obelisks. They were often a solid four sided pillar made from one stone to symbolize a particular event or achievement of an important person. Generally the obelisk was placed in public spaces to commemorate events and be visibly observed by many. Pharaohs ordered these huge stone markers be erected sometimes hundreds of feet high so that the achievement would be remembered for as long as possible.

An inukshuk or inuksuk, also known as an inunnguaq when it takes the form of a human, is a stone marker traditionally used by Arctic cultures such as Canada’s Inuit to indicate direction or mark a place of respect. They are now seen all across Canada, this inukshuk sits on a rocky coastline at Gaff Point near Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Make sure you leave milestones the visible measurements along your way. Milestones serve as both an outward expression of what you have achieved and a significant reminder of where you came from. Like the Inukshuk, hopefully your visible reminders will also point you in the right direction.

Setbacks, the Music between the Notes.

With every plan there is always setbacks, how we deal with them is important. Often when things don’t go as planned we conclude to soon that these are negatives in our lives. What we should try to see is the importance of setbacks and that not only are they going to happen but we should expect them. Setbacks can only be negative if we let them be. So let’s look at them differently. They should be accepted as well as expected and now comes the opportunity to learn more from them.

Is routine good for you?

Routine, fundamentally speaking, should carry the right ingredients to make you better.

My second of fifty nine continues! The quest to finish the rest. More about adopting routines that are good for you. In my case any routine must have immediate self benefits as I clearly do not like routine. The only exception is anything I really like to do. And even then I wax and wane during the whole routine process. An expression that alludes to the phases of the moon, with its periodic changes in size. The increase and decrease. Variations of strength and intensity is how I beat the mundane with some form of novelty even within the confines of mind-numbing routines.  Routine for some people is the glue that holds them together. The reason they are complete or accomplished. Seemly have their whole existence depending on it and they love it. Some people need it, while others avoid it. Often those that avoid routine just detest repeating most activities for any extend period of time. It all breaks down to this, if you are motivated because you either love doing the routine or convinced you can see the expected improvement almost immediately then you will find the time to repeat it. On the other hand if you find no desire even fleeting for a routine then your plans to continue end like any social net series. Sooner or later your routine comes to a regrettable end.


Novelty verses routine consistency. Up verses down, right verses left. Routine can be work that is necessary and lonely. But if you’re the only one that sees the benefits then who sees it’s worth? Maybe just you. Routines can be the furthest thing from what you like to do. For example eating kale from what I have heard of this former meat garnish for display purposes is good for you. There may be a bonus that you are the exception and actually like kale, although I can’t imagine why. Even if it may not be your “go to” vegetable, kale is still good for you. Like it or not the process may take all the “fun”out of the fun-da-mental importance of any good routine. Routine, fundamentally speaking, should carry the right ingredients to make you better. Better athlete, better musician, better involved with your community. Better at your job or life skills. Better human being. If routines make you better shouldn’t we all love that…right?

Updates on Goals = Going Forward

Now that I have reached nearly a month of goal focus an update is necessary.

  • List of 59 Goals = 20 Goals to date.
  • Mile/Day running = Day 1442 @ 4736 miles.
  • Gratitude Diary = 43 Days.
  • Website and Podcast Started = Done! Two Posts and Two Podcasts.
  • 59 Kilometres of Swimming = 13 Kilometres (46 to go)
  • 59 New Books read/audio book = 6 Books (2 fiction 2 non-fiction 2 bios)
  • 59 Movies = 9 new movies/ documentaries
  • 59 New People = 6 Carlos, Sadie, Maria, Francisco, Serge, Meiying.
  • 59 People to suggest goals = One suggesting Ride a Bike 59 miles
59 Goals Second Edition