Goals

Written late Fall 2024 - Part 1 of 2

I have had goals since the dawn of my time. It’s one of my primal orientations to the world. It’s a gift and a liability. This trip itself has been a life goal for as long as I can remember. Though Justin says we only started talking about it a few years ago!! Clearly some goals marinate in my head for a while ;) Pre-kids my goals were a North Star, written down and pursued feverishly. In the chaos of little ones plus career I think my non-work goals became “survive and stay fit”. Both seemed hard. As the chaos waned, writing personal life goals felt forced. I aspired to live more spontaneously. Free spirit yada yada. That lasted a few years. By the time Hazel was five I’d resumed writing life goals.

The irony is I never wrote goals for this trip itself. I wanted space for my heart in the driver’s seat as much as my head. If I wrote anything down it would be head-first ;) On the other hand, Justin and Will have solid lists of “trip goals” and I’m loving it. Things about climbing mountains, trekking, getting body piercings (not Justin), learning guitar, eating frogs, skinny dipping, family time. Supporting their goals is a North Star for me. But my goals? Well this reflection has nudged my head & heart to consider that question … here I go … Love my family more than ever, Try new stuff, and Stay in touch (with friends and family back home) and Stay fit … and perhaps the newly emerging … Unbecome. Seeing them in writing, with Taylor Swift blasting, I will add “Dance More” to my trip goals. It’s always a good time for a dance party!! I read once that ‘didn’t dance enough’ is a common regret of the dying!!

This is me two days before we left Park City and flew to Newfoundland. In this moment the trip was mostly a jumble of dreams and ideas with a few concrete plans. Xo to you and the woman you’re becoming, or unbecoming ;)

Written March 2025 - Part 2 of 2

As we arrive in Western Australia for a few months we shift gears from on-the-road-life to settled-life. Now I can look back on a couple of hundred days to shape my thoughts on goals for the time ahead.

Looking back, I have definitely loved lots more and danced a bit more ;) Definitely slept more!! Which makes everything better!! Being away, being less busy, and being more together was the simple path for much needed restoration and growth in our family relationships. I often find my deepest insights about life and love end up feeling pretty straightforward. I think this is good. Happiness isn’t rocket science but western society can drown out the signals from our heart, at least speaking for myself!! I’m still traveling down the path of unbecoming. I love this quote from Brené Brown. As I’ve reflected on this return to my … deepest self, roots, person-I-was-meant-to-be-in-the-first-place … I have looked back with wonder on the journey so far. Some conclusions - No Regrets and Gratitude. No regrets for the journey and who I’ve become, even the years when I got lost or felt lost. I don’t think I could have arrived at this place without scratching all those itches. And what a wondrous journey it’s been so far!! Gratitude for so many that helped me on my path, and helped me step to the side of my path and observe it outside in, and helped me create more space for my heart which is so often dwarfed by my loud active mind :)

Looking ahead, what are my goals for the months ahead? In the spirit of keeping things simple this is what bubbles up: Be Present. So easy for me to get pulled ahead or away or shift into planning mode of one kind or another. This trip is such a gift to practice being present but it’s not easy right now. For better and worse I keep flashing forward. And I keep reading too much news and feeling distraught. Being present is one of the ways I love myself and my family. Get Fitter. I’m back to regular gym workouts. And surfing, swimming, running and playing in the ocean. Back to Basics. OK this is a catch all for many things that I’ve tried to keep central throughout the trip with mixed success: back to regularly reading books, back to the homeschool rodeo, back to some good old postcard writing!! And reading less news!!! Last one is the hardest habit to break. This is me in Varkala, India.