I like big ass goals (BAGs).
For the last two years, I have challenged myself with
quite a few BAGs. These BAGs were
clearly defined, with timelines and other parameters in place to give the BAGs
structure and to hold me accountable. In
2010, I committed to do, and did, at least 30 minutes of yoga for 360 straightdays. In 2011, I challenged myself
monthly to reduce my consumption of a different practice or item that I
believe is unhealthy when over-consumed.
By and large, I succeeded at those challenges too.
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| Challenges of years past: on my way to 360 days via half moon pose... |
There was a time not so very long ago when achieving any
of my BAGs felt unlikely. I’d set a
bunch of BAGs at once and feel pumped up about them for a few weeks, but then I
would inevitably get overwhelmed by the first sign of difficulty or derailed by
one of life’s endless distractions. So I
would cut myself a little slack. As time
passed, I’d push my BAGs further and further back on the shelf until I had all
but forgotten them. I had achieved nothing.
Deep down, I knew that dropping my BAGs every time the
going got rough was no way to live. If
Eminem is right about how “you only get one shot,” then I was squandering my
shot. Instead of living my life to the
fullest, I was loitering in a place of fear, self-doubt, and passivity. I was particularly wary of change; I went to
great lengths to avoid it at all costs.
But change is unstoppable; it has its way with all of us sooner or later. In 2009, change caught up with me and knocked
me on my ass. When I managed to get back
up, I decided it was long past time for me to start accomplishing some of those
things I’d always wanted to do.
