Many traits divide the population into two groups such as introverts and extroverts or night owls and early birds. Recently, I was visiting with a friend, who is a goal-setter. She said, “Every morning, I ask my husband, ‘What’s your goal for today?'”
I was a young mother when I learned that setting goals does not work for me.
When Ken and I were married in 1959, I complied with the old routine: Monday – wash clothes; Tuesday – iron; Wednesday – baking, mending and sewing; Thursday – buy groceries; Friday – clean the house; Saturday – bake a cake and fix food for Sunday meals; Sunday – attend church and enjoy a day of rest. Modern conveniences revamped that schedule–laundry became a small, daily chore and ironing nearly nonexistent.
When our three children neared school age, I decided it was a chance for me to change my habits. I read several self-help books about life-plans. I devised what I thought was the prefect twenty-year strategy. By the time, our trio were all enrolled, real life had made a shambles of my scheme.
I’ve learned to open the door to opportunity any time I hear a feeble knock. I’ve ended up doing things that would never have crossed my mind if left to my own devices.
For 46 years, I served as Durand Town clerk–a part-time, position I didn’t know existed until we moved into the village. Our elderly neighbor, Ernie Baker, who was the supervisor, asked me to be a trustee candidate in the current township election. Two years later, the clerk left the area and Baker appointed me to take her place. It was ideal for me because I could accomplish most of the duties from home. One evening a month, I attended the regular board of trustees’ meeting to take notes. Later, I typed a record of the proceedings. I ran unopposed in each of the following elections until I retired. I never figured out if that meant I was doing a terrific job or just nobody else wanted the post.
In the summer of 1969, I was looking for additional part-time employment when I answered a Rockford Morning Star ad for a freelance reporter in our community. I qualified because no education or experience was required. After becoming a journalist, I felt I had found my calling.
Are you a goal-setter or do you take advantage of whatever comes along?