Goals

I have read in many places that the most successful people are those that have written goals. I believe writing them down makes you accountable to making those goals happen. It's sort of like a memo to the Universe.

My decision to join the formation program of the AJC was an impulsive one, but one that I could not deny. As the dust settles from it at home and acceptance is slowly replacing apprehension, I am thinking more and more about what I want to do with my life. Next month is my 30th birthday, and this too lends impetus to this life evaluation. Sort of breather before starting out on the next leg of this mighty marathon. I survived my teens, and learned through my twenties. I am now ready to begin my adult life with focus and vigor.

So I thought in that spirit, I would establish and write down my goals.

Short Term Goals (within 2 years)

1) Complete "Weaving the Web", an online program with oodles of credentials that will train me as a Web Developer in 7 programming languages and all current Web Standards
2) Be ordained as a Deacon for the AJC
3) Establish or help establish a viable fundraising program for the AJC and its parishes
4) Volunteer with a local group to do my part to help end homelessness.

Long Term Goals (within 6 years)

1) Work from home as a freelance Web Developer. 6 years from now my youngest child will be full time in school, thereby eliminating any distractions cute little anklebiters create
2) Be ordained as a Priest for the AJC and establish a parish here in Vancouver
3) Be prepared to begin as full-time paid clergy. The Web Developing will help pay the mortgage as a full-time side job
4) Enroll in the Vancouver School of Theology upon ordination and work towards a Doctorate in Philosophy (I will not set a end date for this goal at this time)

Big Crazy Goal (everyone's gotta have one of these)

Fundraise for and acquire space to begin and run an "End Homelessness" program. The ideas are foggy still, but the idea would be to create a temporary place for the homeless to get cleaned up, get an address, and get a job. Programs such as this exist to some extent already, but I hope that I will bring something different to the table. Before I can know what that is I will need to learn how it is done now, as addressed in my short term goal of volunteering locally.

So there it is. For good or ill, this is how I see my life panning out for the next while. This will also keep me focused and will help me from adding little things in my wishy washy idealist way of wanting to do everything. Of course maintaining a healthy marriage, raising to two children and some minor home renovations are all a part of that but those are givens ;).

Peace