Years ago, I made a goal to build an airplane and learn to fly. I bought the plans and started researching how to build it and where the best place was to get the various parts. I never got started on it, and now I have zero desire to rekindle that dream. I also made a goal to learn to scuba dive and buy all the equipment so that I could scuba dive regularly as a hobby. I never even took one lesson, though I did find a place to take the lessons. Now, I don’t even swim in the ocean when we visit our daughter and family in Oahu, and they only live 100 yards away from a beautiful beach. I decided to take lessons, get my skydiving license, and buy a parachute. I never got started on that one either, though I have gone tandem skydiving three times and plan on going again. About ten years ago, I made a goal to build a sailboat and sail it to Hawaii by myself. I bought the plans, started building on the sailboat, and signed up to take sailing lessons in Portland. I still have the hardwood I purchased to make the ribs for the boat. I watched hours of videos of people who had sailed to Hawaii and was excited to do it myself. I made a goal a few years ago to buy some property in Alaska, start a gold mining business, and spend a couple of months each year working the mine instead of bicycle riding and fishing in the summer. I still might do that one; maybe we will see, but probably not. There are a bunch more goals like those that I have made, but I don’t share them for fear people will think I am crazy. For most of those goals, I did hours of research, reading, writing, and watching many YouTube videos. I had much fun dreaming about and pursuing goals that never materialized. This year, I have a goal to plant a 2,000-square-foot garden, become an excellent gardener, and grow all the vegetables our family of ten needs. I have purchased several books and have a dozen YouTube sites marked for further viewing. I also have a goal to put in a quarter-acre fish pond and plant it with largemouth bass so I can fish any time I want. I have a goal to build a 40×50 shop. My favorite goal for this year is to build a car from scratch and power it with a diesel Kubota engine, and I have already bought the plans.

I know so many people who don’t set goals because they fear they won’t be able to accomplish them. I have accomplished many more of my goals than I have failed at, and even the ones that didn’t happen were fun to dream about. Some might not agree with this statement, but I believe it to be true with all my heart. “People who set goals always accomplish more with their life than those who don’t.”

Now is an excellent time to think about and set some goals for 2025. You can do it; give it a shot.