From Dr. Jane's Notebook


Goals: Measuring and defining success


            The Story of Howard Hughes, as portrayed in the movie “The Aviator” depicts this legendary character at about the age of seven, stating three goals: to make the biggest movies, build the fastest airplanes, and become the richest man in the world. While not all of us aim as high as the late Howard Hughes, this movie scene does suggest the value of identifying life goals and keeping them firmly in mind. In a world where almost anything is possible, most of us measure our success at various stages of life, by whether or not we have met certain goals. For this reason, it is extremely helpful to identify and clarify our goals ahead of time. Here are a few more thoughts on the matter.

            As parents, our task is to prepare our children for independence and a life of their own. We cannot take credit for their success, and they should not base their success upon us. Our children have to establish their own lives, set their own goals, and find their own sources of happiness. All too soon, they will be on their own and we will no longer be there to rescue them. However, we can prepare them for their futures by encouraging them to be themselves. Perhaps the best first aid kit for our children will be the one that helps them to establish, to remember, and to be true to their own goals in life.

©Copyright, 2005, Jane R. Rosen-Grandon. All rights reserved.

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