Inspiration To Set and Pursue New Year’s Goals

Posted by Jackie Ewing on December 31, 2009

I’m sure everyone has at least thought about setting some goals or resolutions for this coming New Year.  I am one of those – I’ve definitely thought about it, but not actually sat down and put anything down on paper.  I’m almost finished reading “The Magic of Thinking Big” by Michael J. Schwartz and that has helped me think about what I want to accomplish in the next 12 months.  The plan was to sit down this afternoon and plot out my goals and then the path to those goals.

I took my power walk a little earlier today so I could get some extra blood flow to the brain in the hope that it would also help me get motivated to start the process!  As I approached the soccer fields in the park, I noticed a group of girls in red and white soccer uniforms.  They were having their group photos taken and there was much laughter and noise coming across the soccer field! A wheelchair caught my eye and made me think of a local Orlando girl – Bree McMahon – a soccer player who lost a leg this year while at a car wash raising funds for her soccer team and then to wonder how she was doing.

It’s a pretty sad but inspiring story of how accidents can happen and can change peoples lives forever.  Basically, one of her best friends accidentally reversed the car they were washing into Bree and the wall behind her.  She ended up having a leg amputated.  You can read details of the story here.

I stopped to watch the girls goof  around and get together for the photo.  Did I mention that the wheelchair was empty?  I sought out Bree in the gaggle of soccer-clad girls and saw her standing among them on her “new” leg.  She acted no differently to any of the others.  What a girl!

I continued my walk and when I got home, I searched for an update on her story.  What I found was this video clip of her story that The Today Show did earlier this month.  I want you to watch it, listen to her and then look inside yourself at your own “issues” and then put them into some kind of perspective.  It worked for me!

After I showered, ate and powered down an XS energy drink, I sat down with a  pen and paper and wrote down many goals for myself and my business for this coming year.  As I was doing that, I stopped and realized that by sharing this, somebody else might be inspired to get focused on their own goals and the action needed to get there.  If a teenage girl who lost a leg can continue to actively pursue her goal (pun intended!) of playing and coaching soccer, then I should be able to get my head around my own goals and the actions I need to take to accomplish them.  My perceived barriers paled into insignificance beside her achievements.

Hoping that this story inspires you to take action and be thankful for what you have!

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.