Goal for Year 77

Since the inception of my blog in 2011, on this day before my birthday each year I've announced here one or more goals I'm aiming to reach by my next birthday. I've also encouraged you to join me every year, birthday aside. There's significant research showing publicly declared goals are much more likely to be attained than those that are simply talked about idly with others. Although I've missed as often as I've hit, I'm pleased with my track record after fourteen consecutive years doing this. I hope you'll jump in this time.   

In my 77th year I will begin a project connected to my one-year-old grandson, modeled after the one I did for my daughter. Each year on/or near his birthday I will write a letter to him recalling important moments or events we've shared over the previous year, working from notes I'll make throughout the year about those moments or events. This is the same process I used starting with my daughter's eighth birthday and continuing through to her twenty-first. I'm starting his project today.  

I'll then save all of the letters to present to him as a book - with pictures, when applicable - on/near his sixteenth birthday in 2040. Thought about waiting until his twenty-first birthday - as I did when I presented my daughter's book to her in 2010 - but in 2045, I'll be ninety-six years old. I'm not that confident I'll remember. Even waiting until I'm ninety-one might be pushing my luck a little. Still, think I'll err on the optimistic side.

If you do jump in with me here, remember the SMART model for goals. Make a goal Specific, able to be Measured, include Action steps, make it Realistic, and include a Time frame. Doing those five things greatly increases your likelihood of success. Good luck.