Having a purpose in life is what keeps people going and the search for it, even more so. The path to that ultimate realization is a series of goals being set and fulfilled. Now, of course, there is the end all be all where you are supposed to go to school, become a contributing member of society in some way, and eventually die, but that’s not what I mean. Goals can be little things, such as waking up on time in the morning before school, eating more vegetables, or completing a video game, or big things like graduating high school, buying your own car, or leaving a bad situation.

With the beginning of the new year comes new year’s resolutions, and according to U.S. News, 80% of people will fail by the second week of February. Quite often people use the excuse of their resolution failing to not pursue that goal again until that same time next year. That means that for 11 months each year, lots of people just stop trying.

Goals aren’t just meant for Jan. 1; they are an all year, or however long it takes, venture. And, they are ideally pursued in some way within the first 24-48 hours of their creation. You have to write your goals down, tell your friends and family, voice your goals in any way possible, and, most importantly, hold yourself accountable. Excuses are the number one destroyer of goals.

All it takes is sleeping through your alarm, eating that piece of bread, or deciding that you’ll just do it tomorrow. And, boom, there goes everything you’ve worked towards up until that point. While it may not seem like it, your mindset changes in that moment. So don’t make excuses, and if something comes up you have to find a way to make up for it when you can, as soon as possible.

There is no better time than now. If not you, then who? If not now, then when? Just get up and do it. If you keep thinking about it, putting it off until next year, saying you’ll do it tomorrow. You’re never going to get anywhere, or at least anywhere close to where you could be. Every day that you put it off is another day that you have to tack onto the other end. There’s no way to come out on top by putting it off.

Continue to work towards your new year’s resolutions, but with the intent of them being more than just that. Little steps lead to big steps and even bigger steps. If you haven’t reached your goal by the middle of February, that is OK. There is still ~11 more months, and the next year, and the year after that. Not all goals can be accomplished in one day, it takes time. There will always be set backs, but don’t be your own set back.

Written by Giselle Galletti

Co-Editor-in-Chief