The Best Laid Plans

I'm currently reading "The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People" by David Niven in which each small chapter is a tip or "key to success." Now, by nature I am a list maker; grocery list,daily to do list,goals and dreams list and calender keeper-oh, how I love a brand spanking new calendar.(they are right up there with new school supplies, new crayons, new office supplies-right?) I often make lists in my head-lists of things that need to get done today, who needs to go to the Dr., which kid needs lunch money, birthdays, ss # etc. I've even filed away my phone number and address from 1st grade(just in case I need  it), but oddly enough I don't write them all down-they seldom make it to paper (with the exception of grocery lists.)

Today, I was reading along when tip #12 jumped right out at me- hmmmm, really I should write my goals and plans down. According to tip #12 a chapter entitled, "Write Down the Directions"-

"If you were taking a complicated route out of town, you would write down the directions. But if you were considering the future path or your life, your goals, and what you needed to do to achieve them, you probably wouldn't write any of it down. Think of it-the most significant journey of your life,and your probably won't put a word of the directions on paper.

Writing down your plans, goals, and ideas makes them more real for you. Every step you take to define what you want and what you need to do to get it increases the chances that you will actually pursue these goals and someday achieve them." Really??

"People who regularly keep a journal or some kind of written record pertaining to their aspirations, are 32 percent more likely to feel like they are making progress in their lives."

Wow! those are pretty good odds-I'm off to the office supply store-got to get my hands on a brand new journal...