“You must not ever stop being whimsical. And you must not, ever, give anyone else the responsibility for your life.” – Mary Oliver, Wild Geese
Mary Oliver, I am learning, was a wonderful poet who recently passed away.
The best answer I ever heard to the question “so what are your career goals?” was “I want to be free.” I hope freedom for all of you, whatever that may mean.
Define your own freedom, define your own path.
You can do it, just put one foot in front of the other. Breaking down goals into smaller steps makes them seem less daunting, plus more goals gives you more reasons to celebrate success.
You’ve got this!
We are now nearly two weeks into 2019. Hopefully, at some point between the holiday festivities, embarking on resolutions and returning to work, you have carved out some much-needed time for rest. Although for many of us (myself included) it is hard not to fill every moment with seemingly important tasks, there are many benefits to devoting ourselves to relaxation. Rest can enhance creativity, productivity and focus. Setting aside time for regular rest can also reduce stress, inflammation and your risk of heart disease. Your sleep and immune system will get a boost from the reduction in sleep. So, never feel guilty for indulging in a lazy Sunday – it will make you a happier, healthier, more creative version of yourself!]
Rest today for a more productive and energized tomorrow!
Perhaps consider that you already have everything you need to achieve your dreams, maintain or improve your health and wellbeing, and find true happiness.
New year, new you, find the way to happiness with this diet, this philosophy or a new regime! Alternatively, perhaps the way to actual happiness is to lower our expectations. That doesn’t mean succumbing to mediocrity or giving up on your hopes, dreams and goals. It just means redefining our expectations – pat yourself on the back for getting started, or accomplishing a part of your goal. Or, reflect on all of the good things in your life. Or take a moment to recognise what is going right – you wake up every morning, perhaps enjoy a tasty caffeinated beverage to a world where everyone is connected in some way or another. It’s a wonderful time to be alive!
Low expectations result in few disappointments: today, there is grass, it is green and delicious to someone.
Sometimes, it is easy to be overwhelmed with worry about all the things that could go wrong. What if, the next time you feel bogged down by negative possibilities you stop and ask yourself – what if everything goes right? What if my plan succeeds in the best possible way? What is the best possible outcome? If you don’t go for it, you will probably avoid the worst case scenario – but you also deny yourself the possibility for the best case scenario. So, go for it, and envision what will happen if everything works out!
What is the best case scenario, rather than the worst?
Plato apparently once said “You can discover more about a person from an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” Perhaps amongst all of the things you might want to change or do differently this year, devote more time for free play – perhaps there is something to discover about yourself you never knew!
Have fun this year!
Happy New Year! As usual, I make a lot of resolutions. First, I am going to stay hydrated this year. Second, I intend to wear leggings more often. Third, I will take more pictures of goats.
Resolved: More goats for 2019.
Here we are, the end of another year. Thank you for supporting Goat of the Day over the past few months, I hope to continue bringing you daily goats in the new year. The past year has had its ups and downs, so often the news can really weigh on me. It is my sincerest hope that Goat of the Day cheerfully interrupts the negativity with a brief moment to enjoy one of humanity’s best friends – the goat. Happy New Year everyone!
Time stops for no one.
Goat of the Day 