“Talking, thinking, dreaming, and never doing.” That’s the main reason I haven’t realized some of my dreams and why I find it necessary to set arbitrary deadlines. Because I hated working for other people, I decided to set a goal of owning my own business by age 40. I missed the deadline by six years, but when the circumstances were right, I seized the opportunity to start my own creative services business.

Other dreams have alluded me primarily because I spend too much time planning and too little implementing. For the last five decades (yes, that’s half a century!) I’ve had the dream of publishing a novel. I’ve researched and plotted dozens over the years but never completed a single one. When I reached the age of 70, I thought maybe I should just put that dream to rest. I read articles about people who publish late in life, but then notice that “late” is often pre-AARP eligibility. However, I’m not giving up, just prioritizing.

I’ve always had a tendency to spread myself too thin. Instead of concentrating on one primary goal, I’ve made futile attempts to achieve a half dozen at the same time. It’s impossible to devote quality time to multiple ventures, especially when you have commitments to family and career. Consequently, I’m working on just one dream at a time.

Thanks for sharing these important life lessons!