Dear Grandkids,
310 weeks!
That’s how long my steps streak lasted. For 310 consecutive weeks I got at least 70,000 steps each week. That is just 2 weeks short of 6 years.)
- During that time I had 3 surgeries (all kidney stone related), but I managed to keep walking.
- Those steps were taken in 9 different countries.
- I walked in rain, sleet, and snow.
- I walked in temperatures under 20 degrees and over 100 degrees.
- Sometimes I was walking before 6 AM
- I walked even when I didn’t feel like walking because of the goal that I had set.
That is the power of a worthy goal.
A worthy goal provides motivation. A worthy goal provides a roadmap for success. A worthy goal helps you to stay focused on your priorities. A worthy goal gives you a reason to celebrate accomplishments.
Here are a few quotes about goals that I like…
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C. S. Lewis
- “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” — Steve Jobs
- “Goals are dreams with deadlines.”
- “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” — Michelangelo
- “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” –Zig Ziglar
I tend to make goals in the area of physical fitness since I need to stay fit because of my family’s heart health history. A few of the goals that I am even impressed by include…
Running 700 miles in 1979 – which works out to about 2 miles a day. Not really a long run from a runner’s perspective but for me, who did not really enjoy running, it meant consistency over 365 days.
100 pushups everyday in 2020 – I knew that I needed to add some strength training to my regimen. So first thing every morning for 2020 I knocked out 100 pushups. Every single day.
70,000 steps every week – I defined this goal in terms of 70k steps per week instead of 10k steps per day. This gave me a little flexibility on those days that I didn’t feel great or the weather was bad… or I had a kidney stone operation.
My streak of 310 weeks came to an end last week because of my 5 day stint in the hospital. But I am anxious to start another streak as soon as I get back on my feet again. I was sad that the streak came to an end. I was hoping to make it a 10 year streak. But, alas, things were out of my control as very often happens with the pursuit of goals. Goals are a means to an end not an end in and of themselves. It is easy to even make them idols. My steps goal has served to keep me healthy and in decent shape for a 64 year old guy. So I’ll keep walking even though the streak has ended. A new streak is just beginning!
Do you have any worthy goals that you are pursuing? I’d love to hear what they are and talk with you about them. Perhaps we can challenge each other to keep getting after the goals we are pursuing. I know that I need all the encouragement I can get.
Never forget that you are very loved,
Pop Pop