A.D.D. Rumblings No. 31408

A goal without a plan is just a wish

I saw this quote about a month ago, and it's been bothering me ever since. A goal, without a plan, is, just, a wish. I think I've repeated this 1000 times. It sounds all so simple and easy does it not? I've been really dwelling on why it has been bothering me, and what exactly does it mean to me.

First I have found that whenever I see quotes, the first thing I do is instantly identify or disengage with the message of those words. More often than not I just move on. Sure I'll either get it, laugh, be confused, or just forget them. In this case, this one has stuck.

Like a slap in the face it hit me, that I am where I am by choices I've made, but none hardly as the result of any great planning. There may be some minor planning, like planning to write my resume in hopes that it got me my current job. Or planning to cut the grass on a weekend, and actually doing it. I suppose that's planning, and the results are goals. Minor goals if that nonetheless. Important sure, but I am referring to the big goals...the dreams...the pipe dreams....the lofty expectations...those pesky wishes. Oh the internal drama! I need to smack some sense into me sometimes.

[And now a word from our sponsor: Today's blog is brought to you by the number 285 and the letter K]

Envy. I have been taught it is a bad thing, a sin no less. That you should not covet nor be envious of what someone else has. What if what the other person has is pretty cool? What if it's a car, career, or even personality trait that is something you want? Why is that wrong? You know what I'm envious of? I'm an envious of those who have the freedom to go forward with plans, because they are not tied down to current choices they are dealing with. Is that so bad now?

So is it really bad to want what others have? It's simply a wish though. Wishes are cute, but there is no substance. For the most part everyone wishes they would win the lottery at some point while at the same time claiming money isn't everything. What if you want what somone else has, then build a plan to obtain those same things; material or spiritual? Then would that wish be a legitimate goal even though you wanted this out of pure envy?

I've been told to not regret people or things, because at one time you were in position to care for that person or thing. You love it, or you wanted it. So it's pointless to just regret. I'm not so sure, because I regret things in order to better myself. I perhaps regret too much by thinking about it over and over until I'm blue in the face. It's just I want to be better and do better. I want to learn from my mistakes. Even that drives me nuts because it's just something I want rather than having any real plan to not make that mistake again. I'm asking if I even have the tools to accomplish such things?

I recall being in grade school years ago and staring out the window watching world go past. Wondering what it would be like to fly, or escape through the window. Wondering what it would be like when I was an adult. Wondering what I was going to have for dinner. Wondering how I could make the clock go by faster so I could get home. Now I sit and daydream of the same things because nothing has really changed! Being a constant dreamer is not condusive to being a good planner. I know what I want the end result to be...it's just getting there is the problem. I have many goals, but not many well constructed plans. The few I think could work are tarnished or road blocked by previous choices.

"We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" Willy Wonka