6. Identify potential obstacles. What are things, that you know, right now, could hold you back from reaching your goal? Maybe you spend a lot of time playing computer games when your time would be better spent doing research for your new business; delete games.

7. Identify a single daily action. What is one thing you could do every day, that will help propel you towards your goal? Take a 15 minute walk? Make a sales call to a potential client? Its not big spectacular events that get us where we need to be. Its little things we do everyday.

8. Identify a support structure. What people, things or processes can provide you encouragement? You could find 2 or 3 other friends who are trying to lose weight, and have a weekly support meeting. You could post your business plan on your office wall as a constant reminder to what you're working towards.

9. Identify rewards. In order for a goal to be SMART it must be personally rewarding and little rewards along way will make achieving your goal that much more fun. Maybe every time you lose 10 pounds you buy a new outfit. Maybe once you get your business plan complete you take a day off and go to park. We all know what they say about all work and no play; remember to enjoy journey.

10. What's next? This is not "what are you going to do after you accomplish your goal?" This is "what are you going to do after you read this article?" The journey to achievement starts now, not tomorrow.

If we embrace inevitable, we take control. If we fight it, we lose. No matter how much we whine, cry, or lament, our marriage will not go back to honeymoon, and our loved one will not return. Why not take punch out of tragedy by looking at it squarely in eye and making statement that this is our life, and while we don’t call all shots, we can and we will prevail.

As children, someone else is buffer between us and reality. They are there to explain, correct and to pick up pieces. As teenagers, our need for someone else to be there changes and we take on more responsibility. We become accountable for our actions and we suffer consequences or bask in glory. Then comes adulthood - time when we are totally in control or should be and we buffer others from what life sends.

Upon our golden years, we have been there and have done all that is required to reach this pivotal point. We were protected, we did protecting, and now we stand ready to step into that part of our life that gives us an opportunity to remember our past, live in our present, and plan for our future.

Wherever we are in life’s seasons, we should welcome it and learn all we can. We should brush ourselves off and look toward sky. If we just lie there, someone will have to walk over us, around us, or push us aside. They are on their journey in life, and we are in way. When we hit ground because of some unfortunate happenings, remember old adage - God made dirt, so dirt don’t hurt. Take a moment to feel your emotions, take account of your feelings, and look in past for clues, and in future for remedies.

Let’s all take a lesson from nature. If you can’t fight it, or change it, conquer it best way you can. Stand tall and walk into sunshine. The winds of change will chase away clouds and sun will shine. We can be ready for that next season, that next storm, that next happening in life. We are who we are, and therefore, we are best at being us. No one can ever even attempt to be who we are, let alone live our life.

When you have chance or opportunity, listen to a loon - you will carry that sound with you forever.

©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002