Take Your Mark!
... with seven days left in the month of June, I had three miles to go.
Every day, I help students create goals– short term goals, long term goals, personal goals, academic goals. It has helped me to reframe my own goal setting in a way that is enjoyable and achievable.
As kids, we had a myriad of goals, and we oftentimes were reminded by our parents, coaches, or teachers of their value. However, as adults, all too often we set goals for kids without stepping back and leaning into our own.
I have thought a lot about the value of goal setting through every stage of life. It is one thing to want the big ticket items- a degree, a certain job, travel opportunities, but it is another thing to remind yourself of the value of waking up early, limiting caffeine, or walking around the block. Goals help define who we are and who we want to be.
This month I set a new goal.
I set out to swim five miles. I used to distance swim about six or seven years ago. I loved the challenge of finishing a mile in one morning or making it across the lake with my friend kayaking at my side. Like most of my goals, that one came and went, replaced by a new one. However, this summer, I decided to dig out my goggles and start my early morning swimming again.
Our neighborhood opens the pool at 6:00 am three mornings a week for lap swimming. It is a small group of early risers out there with their fins and ear plugs starting the day off in a healthy way. It is motivating and collegial. I knew if I just said I would swim a couple of days a week, I would likely do it once or twice– I know that about myself. That is when serendipity stepped in.
While scrolling Instagram one evening, I saw an American Cancer Society Challenge to swim five miles in June to spread awareness about cancer research. Done. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, so I knew this was the short term goal I needed to hold me accountable. I also know that swimming ten half mile stretches was more manageable than trying to swim a mile in each setting. My original plan was to swim every week of June except when I was traveling internationally.
However, life got in the way, and with seven days left in the month of June, I had three miles to go. Yikes. I was swimming in honor of my mom, who was no stranger to dragging us to swim practice. It was a full circle goal to say the least. I needed to kick it into gear and finish this thing by June 30.
I had to reach my goal.
Some friends said, “Meh…we are in a heat wave, nobody will know you set it off for a week. Finish in a couple of weeks.”
That was unfathomable to me. My husband calls me The Rule Follower. There are these invisible sets of rules I place on myself; if I say I want to do something, come hell or high water, it is getting done. So, I laid out a plan of four half mile swims and two mile swims this weekend to wrap up the three miles needed to reach my June goal.
Today is June 29th; I finished.
As I pulled myself out of the water, I was thankful I stuck it out. I am no Olympic athlete, but one thing I know for sure: when we stay true to ourselves, anything is possible.
