My grandsons are on the floor. Coloured pens and drawing paper are littered around them.
‘What’s a revolution Grandma?’
‘I think you mean resolution, darling, and it’s a sort of a goal.’
‘Oh goals, I know what they are,’ says Mister Seven taking the blank piece of paper from my hand and busying himself with the green pen.
‘So how many do you need?’ He asks.
‘As many as you like, let’s start with three and see how you go.’
‘OK.’ He says as he sets his mouth in readiness to write. ‘One; I really want to go to Melbourne.’
His paternal grandparents live there and he loves time with Oma and Opa.
He writes on the clean sheet of paper with a little help from me.
‘Now what’s the next one. What do you like to do, what would you really like to be better at?’
‘Oh that’s easy, breaststroke!’ Oliver says, really pleased with himself, choosing a red pen for emphasis.
‘And next? What would you like next?’
‘Well I would like to run faster in the Cross Country next year. Number three…’
His concentration deepens to write his third goal.
‘Now what about number four?’
‘You said I only had to do three Grandma,’ exhaustion overtaking him.
He’s right three is perfect.
Later that night at a dinner table for twelve, I am sharing fabulous food, wine, stories and laughter; the subject of goalsetting is raised.
‘No I don’t believe in goals.’ ‘Yes i write mine every month.’ ‘Goals never work out for me.’ ‘Yeh, but I never get them all…’
On my right, a lovely lady looks to me and says, ‘I don’t know, it’s hard to get started.’
Fresh from my earlier encounter I’m ready, and quick as a wink I jump in; ‘Would you like some help?
‘Sure.’ A quick reply.
I tell her about my grandson’s experience earlier in the day. Then ask, ‘Would you like to go to Melbourne?’
‘Yes, I would actually.’ Eyes light up with the thought. ‘I haven’t been back for ages. I have some wonderful friends there.’
‘Great, is there anything you would like to improve?’
‘Well yes, I was at the pool yesterday doing my training and the coach said that with breastroke, we have to lift our shoulders more.’
‘..So, improve your breastroke?’ And couldn’t resist the temptation for a trifecta.
‘Do you run?’
‘I do.’
‘Would you like to improve your running style?’
‘I would, yes, yes I would.’
Too easy.
‘Well you’re done. Anyone else like to go to Melbourne?’
My grandsons teaches me, as they do every time we are together; keep it simple Grandma. I’ve booked my ticket to Melbourne and already looking forward to the warmer weather to get back into the pool. Running not so good but two out of three isn’t bad.
A few tips:
- Write your goals down.
- Have a time frame.
- Match your behaviour to your goals.
- Do something towards achieving them every day.