Friday, January 01, 2010

Happiness Day 3: Aiming Higher

Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy New Year!!!!

I'm excited about 2010, feeling like good things are afoot. Like almost everyone else, I'm thinking about goals and resolutions, and how to get from where I am to where I want to be. So far, the best strategy I've come upon is something my niece and nephew taught me last week while discussing Wii Archery: When the target is a really long way away, they said, the secret is to aim higher.

Aim higher. (That's also, coincidentally, the next chapter in THE HAPPINESS PROJECT.) Me thinks it's a perfect image for 2010.

Now at first, I wasn't sure how to aim higher, given the level of risk we took on last year. How much bigger could I go than a U-Haul and a complete change of everything? But then I heard the niece and nephew discussing archery, and it all fell into place. My REAL dreams are still huge--and seemingly miles and miles away. There's no way an arrow shot from where I'm standing will even reach the target. So I need to recalibrate. Aim higher.

I'm still figuring out the specifics. What I know so far is that it will include writing everyday on a real schedule, like it's my job (thank you Ann Patchett, for pointing out that it is), and hosting a lecture/conversation series about the intersection between spirituality and relationships (because that's what my friends and I talk about all the time anyway). I'm excited for 2010. Aiming higher feels fun, rather than daunting. Hooray for that!

Want to join my little archery club? Take aim!
What are you shooting for? Lift your arrow a bit. Let's let gravity work for us this year :)

4 comments:

Cynthia Schuerr said...

I love this Trish. I have always told myself that I am my own worst enemy. This is exactly why....I don't aim high enough. The psycho babble is that for some reason I don't deserve to be successful. I don't know if I really believe that or not, but I must believe something close to that affect, because I have a fear of aiming high. Like if I succeed, I won't know what to do next. Does that make sense?
Anyway, thanks for giving my little brain a workout today with this post.
Enjoy the new year!

tootie said...

That is a perfect metaphor! Happy 2010!

xxxx said...

I love New Year's! And that sounds like a perfect theme for 2010. Count me in :)

kim said...

Your lecture/conversation sounds great, Trish. And I like this idea of aiming higher. One thing I've been trying to do lately is to trust it's all going to work out, instead of listening to doubt and fear. For example, if I trust that something will work out, how does this change my perspective. Sometimes it's been easier than I thought, and other times still a struggle.