Happy 2018! Let’s Set Some Attainable Goals!

A New Year, Time For New Goals

The new year is upon us. And every year about this time, I decide to make a list of goals to achieve for the next year. I choose to make goals, instead of resolutions, because I want to achieve the things I set out to do. And I find if I make resolutions, they are to absolute. And there is no room for failure.

A resolution is something you WILL do. A goal is something you work toward. I am better with goals, because they are like baby steps toward what I want to achieve. Goals are a process, and in order to reach the big goal, I have wiggle room along the way. And I can set smaller goals that will hopefully ultimately get me to the big one!

So here are my goals for the upcoming year…

Plant 6 Fruit Trees

Not necessarily a horse related goal, but the fruit produced by these trees will allow me to give my horses fresh treats. And having my own fruit trees will eventually save me money. I won’t have to go buy apples and pears, because I will be growing them myself.

Along with the fruit trees, I will also be planting companion plants around each tree. So blueberries and raspberry bushes will be growing around the taller trees. Not only will they offer another fresh fruit source, but they will add some easy beauty to my backyard.

And the horses will play a part, because I have been using their manure to fertilize the area where the trees will be planted.

Build A Complete Set of Hunter Jumps

I have been wanting to do this for the past year now, and just haven’t done it. But I not only want to build the jumps, but also write a book of the entire process. And this will help me to achieve a bigger goal too.

Build A Complete Set of Jumper Jumps

Again, a project I have been wanting to do for some time now. And I get really excited to do this when I see just how much jumps really cost. I have had people leave comments in my videos that they can buy a set of jumps for $1500.00, and I am thinking to myself… “Really? A complete jumper course for $1500.00? Sure, if it is Breyer size.”  But I want to show how the process is done, and how you can build a set of jumps worthy for the show ring.

By building both sets of these jumps, it gives me information to share with others. SO the entire process will be documented in both written and video format. Hopefully building these jumps will help me to achieve my next goals.

Write A Book (or Two)

Now can you see where this goal comes from? Yep, the prior two goals.

Make A Video Course

And again, building the set of jumps will give me a lot of material for my YouTube channel, showing you and others how to build specific components of a jump, but also to share with people who want to learn how to build a complete set of jumps. From deciding what to build, to what you will need to buy for supplies, to setting a course.

Will it be successful? I have no idea. But I sure do wish when I started building jumps I had someone to walk me through the process. Hopefully I can help at least one person make some jumps. If I am able to do that, I will feel like a success.

Buy My Dream Trailer

And the prior goals build upon each other to help me reach my ultimate goal, to be able to buy a BrenderUp horse trailer, OR if I am REALLY successful, buy one of those horse boxes, that is like a van. THAT would be the ultimate perfection in my opinion! I just load up Ethan, and drive away. How cool would that be?

I would love to plan for showing Ethan this summer at a “real” horse show, but realistically, I feel that will be a goal for 2019. This year I want to get him ready to show, and I want to go about it slowly.  So if I did set a stretch goal for myself for 2018 it would be to take Ethan to a show. So that might happen, but I can’t focus on that until I get these other goals out of my head, and into reality.

Well, those are my goals for 2018. Will I be able to accomplish them? I am fairly confident I will. Which is why I set goals, instead of resolutions. I will have to revisit this post next December, to see how successful I was, but for now being in the planning phase is exciting, and motivating.

How about you? Do you set resolutions, or goals for the new year? I would love to know what your plans are for 2018! I have found that if you write down your goals, and share them with the world you have a little more accountability to make them happen, so why not share your goals with us here? Leave a comment below on what you hope to achieve for 2018. Then we can motivate each other, and hopefully reach our goals together!

So until we meet again, I wish you a happy and healthy 2018, and a toast to you, and your goals for the new year!