Seems like everyone right about this time is blogging about their resolutions for 2009, outlining “bests of” 2008 and the sort. Usually I try to not write like the masses however there is always a personal truth to each of those posts and I find myself compelled to write one of my own, primarily because 2008 was such a pivotal year in my life, probably more than ever.
Many people who know me can testify to my unwavering ambition in life, personally and professionally. I thank my parents for that drive, particularly my father who is a self made icon in his industry, all achieved through passion and hard-work. My mother, through those very same traits, championed the matriarchal family that we are. Anyway, back to the point. The point is that while those who know me to be very well positioned in my life through the choices I have made and the dedication it took to reach where I am at, don’t know that the one thing I did lack was a (long term) target, or targets. Don’t get me wrong, I have always maneuvered strategically in my career to reach the next level, however I did this with no long term vision of where I saw myself (both personally and/or professionally). I did what I did aimlessly. Now the lack of a target in life need not only apply professionally, but can relate to personal as well. For example, while at work I noticed that most people had personal goals such as working towards a family, working towards buying a house, working towards the enablement of a 1 year hiatus or working towards making partner. I didn’t have any of those or the like in my life. Methinks it might have to do with the fact that I’ve moved to 5 cities in less than 10 years (in 2008 alone I lived in 2 cities: Toronto and London). No roots, no establishments. I also felt a sort of emptiness no matter how professionally fulfilled I was. I never realized all this until my Mother and Sister pointed it out to me this Christmas, when I was home visiting. It really made sense to me and I vowed to create, non-forcefully of course, some sort of long term direction in my life where I could make that good ol ambition of mine count.
This is the best part. What would happen UNEXPECTEDLY over the next couple of days completely allowed for that to happen. 2009 hadn’t hit yet.. something happened, and I all of a sudden I had something to work towards. I had aim. I had my target.
What came my way? I’ll leave that to the next blog post… I want this one to be reminiscent of 2008. The next one will speak of 2009 and this wonderful surprise that fell to my lap only 2 days before the New Year.
