Do to-do to-do

I’m a list maker. I have to-do lists on my phone, on notepads and on post-it notes. To check items off my lists makes me smile. It’s an accomplishment! It’s a win! No matter how big or how small, it feels good to make progress. 

You have to-do lists whether you realize it or not. Your calendar is full of to-dos. If you’re like me, you have things to do by lunch, by the end of the day, by tomorrow, by the weekend, over the weekend, by next month, quarterly, by year-end or even by the time you’re gone. That would be the bucket list.

Did you know that items on lists are actually goals? It is something you want or must achieve. Whether you created those to-dos or someone has given them to you, they’re yours to accomplish. Yep. I’m talking about goals. 

We usually consider goals as lofty, fun and exciting things to accomplish. But, in reality, our days are full of mundane, repetitive, not glamourous goals. By definition, a goal is the end toward which effort is directed. Therefore, if you checked off your list that you picked up milk and eggs, that’s, as they say in soccer, a gooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllll!

That’s an accomplishment! That’s a win! You achieved your goal of going to the grocery store or getting an oil change or taking the kids to soccer practice. You shouldn’t feel exhausted or frustrated by it. Consider it a necessary and productive goal that you achieved. Pat yourself on the back for your efforts. 

I’m being a little facetious, but I’m giving you permission to feel accomplished by all the little things that you check off your list throughout the day.

When I mentioned all of my small tasks on notes, they all point to one big thing that I want to eventually check off my list. Yep. Now I’m talking about small goals leading to big goals. 

I’m not going to share with you all the ways to make goals a reality, like writing them down, carrying them with you, sharing them with others for their support, celebrating small wins, etc. Oops. But what I really want to share is the fact that small steps really do lead to giant leaps.

How do you define your giant leap? When you think about it, you should get a little giddy. It should make you smile to think about accomplishing it. That’s called passion. And if you’re passionate enough about it, you can make it happen. Make all the small, mundane not glamourous things happen on the way to your giant leap and before you know it, you’re there! 

Like the time when I was 32 and my goal was to retire by the age of 50, even though I had nothing to prove that it was possible. I retired from my corporate career when I was 46.

Bam! Boom! Win! You’ve accomplished that giant leap that seemed so unattainable before. That, my friend, is a giant goal that you can check off your list.
​
Then it’s time to make a new list.