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It is typical for a person to submit themselves to some self-reflection around January 1st.  But mid-March?  Events in my life are conspiring to make me take notice again now.

I recently finished reading the book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller.  This was a fantastic book where the author reflects on the similarities between a good story and a good life.  And he does so in such a way that you naturally assess the story your own life is telling.  I have been thinking a lot about this book and what changes I might want to make in my life.  Are you just wandering through life one day at a time?  Or, do you have a plan for your life?  Do you have audacious goals?

Secondly, I am coming up on the 20th anniversary on a number of significant events in my life.  Apparently, 1991 was a very good year for me.

The following occasions occurred during that year – in chronological order, not order of importance (in case my wife reads this):

• The grade school I attended held a “Steve King Day” and I was invited back to talk to the students about the importance of education.  Truly one of the high points of my life up to that point, and still is today.
• I married my best friend. The best decision I ever made!
• I graduated from college.  And I still bleed orange.
• I started my first “real” job.  I must have liked it, because I am still working here today.

Not surprisingly, I have not had another year like 1991.  As a matter of fact, if I think back to random years like 1994 or 2002, it is hard to name a single thing I accomplished in those years.  Even though I may not have recognized it at the time, I think that I have been guilty of doing a little wandering myself.

I am trying to be more intentional with my life, and I felt like I had a personal resurgence during 2010.  I had several “firsts”.  Occasions that I think I will remember for a long time.  I trained for, and completed, my first two marathons (P/R: 04:31:08).  I bought my first domain and migrated my travel blog there.  I was elected President of a national organization I belong to.  In all these events, I was stepping out of my comfort zone – a typical common denominator for accomplishing new goals.

Now that 2011 is almost 1/4 complete, it is a good time to assess where you are with this year’s goals.  Have you done anything you said you would back on January 1st?  Are you making progress?  Are your goals BIG enough?

If you accomplished all the goals you set for yourself in 2011, will you remember them 20 years from now?  It’s not too late to get started on something special.

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