“A goal is a dream that has an ending.”

– Duke (Edward Kennedy) Ellington (1899 – 1974)

American Composer Bandleader and Pianist

For so many years I have read books about goals. I have spoken about goals, listened about goals, made and achieved goals, and set new goals for myself and for others. There have been two types of goals in my life. Those goals that were exciting, motivating, real, and exceptional and seemed possible. Then there were goals that seemed empty to me, obligatory, necessary, hard, and way over my vision of possible achievement. The truth is that all goals are good, but the ones without a dream behind them are empty shells of vocal bluster and babbling words.

I have had dreams that were so exciting and so full of light, life and hope that the goals just appeared and begged to become a reality. I know realize that the goal gurus that I loved listening to were also hard-working dreamers who lived without fear and doubt.

“He who finds diamonds must grapple in mud and mire because diamonds are not found in polished stones. They are made.”

– Henry B. Wilson (1861 – 1954)

Admiral in the United States Navy

The “diamond” goals are the best ones. I love to watch YouTube videos of gem cutters who study a huge, uncut diamond and dream of all the possible hidden diamonds they will produce from that one huge piece of pressurized coal. They study, view, watch, mark, make sketches, and they wait, and wait and wait before making the first cut. They know that a wrong cut could turn that possibility of hundreds of diamonds into dust with just one mistake!

“It doesn’t matter how often you get knocked down; what matters is how often you get back up.”

– Vince Lombardi (1913 – 1970)

American Football Coach

Ever miss a goal? We miss our goals sometimes at the studio and it breaks my heart. I even cry and have heartache from the failures. But the victories are sweet and precious to me and I never take the achieved goals for granted. I am very hard on myself, but I will tell you this, I get back up. You can knock me down, but I’ll jump back up, pull myself back up, struggle up, or take help getting back up, but I’ll make it, recover and try again, forgetting the past failures only thinking about the wonderful opportunities ahead.

“Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome.”

– Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784)

English Author

I do some things too soon. I don’t always look at all the possible objections and problems that might happen with my decisions. This has cost me dearly in the past. On the other hand, I have made quick wonderful decisions that made a wonderful difference in my life and the lives of others. I see those who just think through every single possible hurdle, and they don’t seem to get a lot accomplished. Then I see the dream makers. They make dreams turn into beautiful realities for others and for themselves.

“There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.”

– Christopher Darlington Morley (1890 – 1957)

American journalist, novelist, essayist and poet

I feel rich. I can live my life the way I want to. So, you say, I must sleep in until Noon, take a lot of time off, and sleep and relax and avoid stress and focus on my health. Sorry, I work too much, volunteer for more than I can handle, get up way to early and go to bed too late. I struggle with my weight and diet, and I’m stressed a lot of the time with all the activities that I have chosen to do. But get this, I avoid the blues, I escape depression, I have the ability to fill my calendar with delicious activities and I generally love my life and the people all around me. I’m going to go out worn out and happy in my life. I want to be utterly used up when my day comes to go home to my mom and dad. I want to dream every dream, attempt every goal, and help many, many others realize their own dreams. To me, this is a successful life.

Set goals, dream big, and have happy days of living a completed, fulfilled life!

Thanks for reading!

David Earl Woodbury

Keep on Dancing!

DavidEarlWoodbury@gmail.com

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