I recently completed one of my life goals yesterday: I went downtown (Chicago if you’re curious) alone. Yes, I know that it may not be a big deal, and yes, going downtown is probably an everyday occurrence for most of you, but for me, this was HUGE.

Among my friends, I’m notorious for not being able to specify where I am by anything other than building name, even if I’ve been in a particular area over a dozen times. I’m the guy that knows exactly where everything is, but can’t give specific directions on how to get there.

I had been meaning to go downtown for ages now. I really was. I wanted to traverse the windy city and explore it to the fullest. I pictured myself, camera in hand, meeting new people, walking through the malls, eating at a hot dog stand – as you can see, I had the vision.

But, you see, whenever I talked about this goal that I so vividly pictured in my head, I tended to do nothing afterwards. I’d talk a big game, but I wouldn’t feel the need to show anything for it.

I guess somehow I thought my goal would just achieve itself (as I type this, I’m chuckling to myself). How stupid I was being thinking that somehow problems would just solve themselves!

I realize now that what I was doing was just sugar-talking (it sounds sweet, but in the end, it’s just talk). I wasn’t making any headway on what I wanted to do. My goal just sat there in the back of my head, gathering dust.

I was the rock

In more ways than one, you could say I was acting like a rock. Stubborn as ever, not caring if I achieved my goal or not, but still willing to blab about it. I didn’t move backwards, forwards, sideways, anyways – I just stood still. No progress was lost or gained. The winds of change blew right past me. You could even say that it was eroding away my self respect over time.

But at some point, I got tired of being the rock. People were out there actually doing things. And what was I doing? Absolutely nothing, that’s what.

Be the snail

In one fell swoop, I decided to graduate my mindset: from rock to snail. No longer would I sit idle, forever waiting for the right moment. I would take a chance, ease in and hope for the best. I knew that the best course of action wasn’t just to start taking buses and trains by myself, hoping to make it to Chicago (that would be stupid). Instead I inched toward my goal, going on trips with friends to get a lay of the land. I would sometimes wander off to be a little adventurous outside of the group and return shortly after.

In time, I would be ready to face one of my biggest challenges yet.

Did I succeed?

Being a snail paid off in a big way: so much so that I succeeded. It wasn’t as difficult as I imagined, to be honest. I guess I was being hard-headed for no reason. But now I know that whenever I tackle a goal, simply be a snail.

“In philosophy if you aren’t moving at a snail’s pace you aren’t moving at all.” – Iris Murdoch

How are you going about achieving your goals? Are you slowly making progress or are you not making any at all?

photo credit: Robert Thomson

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I’ve been inspired by a few bloggers who have taken steps towards living life on their own terms. And this inspiration has made me realize something.

I’m sick of just waiting, watching, and hoping for things to get better. Sure I’ve taken action by starting a blog, but what’s next? Sell an ebook and hope to make a steady living that way?

For those of you who have been waiting for me to practice what I preach, the wait is over. Maybe this is just my irrational teenage thinking or too much pent up frustration.

What I’ve noted below are my first steps towards owning my life. And don’t worry; now that I’ve told you, I have no choice, but to achieve them no matter how unrealistic they sound. At least that’s how I see it. I want you guys to hold me accountable for my actions (other than my mom because she just wants me to get a degree anyway). The next time I consider acting out of these intentions, I can just say “What will my readers think?”

Here’s the plan for the next 1-2 years (Who knows? I might accomplish this in one year):

- Make a passive online income

- Travel abroad alone (which is huge for me)

- Get good grades

And here are the affirmations I will make for myself. I hope these benefit you as much as they’ll benefit me in the long run:

Work on your projects everyday

As it says in the article from the World’s Strongest Librarian that I’ve conveniently linked to above, if what you desire to obtain is truly important to you, you’ll work on it everyday.

Don’t give up hope

When you give up hope, everything you’ve put into your goal suffers, along with any chance you had of ever achieving it.

It all comes down to you

It may seem impossible to everyone else, but then again, when did you give others the right to tell you how to live life? You have the power to grab your own destiny and command it.

Embody these rules and use them to govern your future endeavors. Maybe one day they’ll help you design your own life.

Ciao for now!

Note: I wanted to keep this post short, sweet, and to the point because I’m currently packing for college. There’s a lot of preparation ahead…

photo credit: Giorgio Montersino

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“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” – Bob Moaward

Life is exhilarating isn’t it? We are bred to get up early, brew our high brow coffee, put the kids in school, go to work, have dinner with the family, and go back to bed just to do it all over again in the morning.

Hmph. Doesn’t seem like much of an adventure, huh? Well, it doesn’t have to be this way.  We’re in the 21st century. You don’t have to toil in the farms or risk your life in dirty factories anymore. Your life is your own and no one else’s.

That is why I proclaim that we treat our lives as if they are adventures. As if they are journeys. As if they are quests. Never-ending stories of constant enthrallment.

They don’t have to be jam-packed with activities, costly, or even death-defying. All you have to do is cram as much value as you can in the time you have.

Here some quick tips to note before you go out and explore:

Go on a trip

There’s no better adventure than going on a trip with family and friends. It’s just you, them, and the world at your fingertips. What more can you ask for?

Redefine your weekends

Use your weekends productively. Instead of flopping yourself in front of the boob tube, try going outside and doing something. Exercise to strengthen your muscles or hang out with friends to strengthen your bonds.

Inspire yourself

Do something you’ve never thought possible. You may have been hesitant to take the plunge, but now is the time to do it. Remember that the “impossible” is what nobody can do until somebody does.

Of course, not everyday will be great day for adventure. There will be ups and downs in your trip. But always strive constantly to make life memorable. Because when you can look back on the days past and say with a smile “I remember when…”, that is when you are truly living an adventure.

What’s going on in your life? Is it already an adventure? If not, how do you think you can make it one? Are you living the life you’ve always wanted?

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If you liked this post, please share it on Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, or Facebook. It’ll do the both of us a world of good. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter.

photo credit: wili_hybrid

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