Keeping Your Eye On The Prize (And Unwrapping It, Too. Whee!) ♥

Perhaps you want to be an accomplished sandwich maker. Or a successful avocado. Or a well-paid piece of Turkish bread! (Darn it; I knew I shouldn't have written this while I was hungry!) And that's GREAT! No, really. It's exciting stuff, because hey, we all dream of something, and there you are knowing exactly what it is. The pepper grinder would be so proud of you! (Okay, that's it, I'm making something to eat now!)

Sandwich now in hand, the question is: where to from here? Once you've established a rough idea of what you're seeking, what exactly are you meant to do then? Walk away? Smile, farewell your goal and then half enthusiastically shout ''break a leg!'' at it, hoping that it will scamper away into the sunshine and return with outrageous amounts of fame and good fortune? No! (Well, you COULD, but it probably wouldn't obtain the kind of results that you're looking for.) You're going to get out there and try something! ANYTHING! How else is it all going to happen, otherwise?

Now, this isn't a post where I foolishly insinuate that you're not doing enough, because believe me, I'm with you. There's approximately 4,000 things that I want to do and absolutely should be doing but invariably sort of sweep under the carpet due to the fact that I'm usually, well, k-kinda busy. However! Wouldn't it be excellent if we could decide that no matter how maniacal our schedules are/what's on TV to find the time to complete at least ONE step that will bring us closer to obtaining our goals of becoming world famous can collectors each week?! (Or you can choose your own ambition. It's completely up to you.) Yes! And oh look! Here comes A Few Suggestions walking down the street to help us out (and which I am 100% committing to), what terrific timing!

x Compile a list of everything that you want to achieve! (Oh, don't roll your eyes! And don't think that I didn't hear that little ''sheesh, and I haven't heard that before'' remark either. I'm getting to the key point, I PROMISE!) Why? Because if you're anything like me - highly skilled at remembering quotes from The Simpsons but utterly useless at remembering anything of real-life importance - it's possible that you'll forget your aspirations of learning how to crump or stand up on a surfboard unless they're written down and placed somewhere prominent, so that they can serve as a visual kind of ''hey, remember ME?!'' reminder. Honestly, I bought a 2010 diary the other day - yes, in June! (It's an improvement on my usual November..) - and began writing my intentions down, and was amazed at how many things I had recalled wanting to complete at the beginning of the year but had since forgotten. Oops. I'm now carrying it around with me 24/7, and it's acting as splendid wee glittery kick-in-the-butt! Of course, it's entirely possible that you're more organised than me and are already doing this (high-five!), but if you're not? High-five anyway. Better late than never, right?!

x Refer to your list every single day. Whether it's taped next to your bathroom mirror, on the wall beside your bed, tucked inside your diary, or on your wardrobe, having it somewhere accessible and where you're exposed to it all the time ensures that you definitely won't forget your plans of becoming a marine biologist! 

x Tell everyone about your ambitions! Unless they're one of those mean (ooh, what a grown-up word to use!), dream-crushing, cynical types, because really, their opinions are probably going to be about as helpful as a washing basket is to a fork. But when it comes to all the others? Tell them! How do you know that by telling your neighbour what you're working towards that they won't come to you within the next week and tell you that they've spied an advertisement in the newspaper for a position in marine biology that you might not have seen? You don't!  It's exciting, and could potentially make ALL the difference.

x With your end desired outcome listed in the middle of the page, brainstorm everything that you think could help you to reach it around it. For example: if your goal was to become an interior designer, some of the your ideas might be to research available courses in interior design, compiling a folder full of pictures on your favourite looks, and e-mailing a home-improvement style magazine about the possibility of completing a one-day-a-week internship. Now! Why not turn your ideas into a list of steps, and aim to fulfill one each week? Designate a day (such as Friday) to be the deadline by which you must have completed your step (I'm on board!), and vow to bridge the gap between you and your dream all the time!

♥

xoxo

(Image two thanks to Doe Deere.)