Since the stories all revolve around a single theme, it
naturally makes you see that subject from all different viewpoints. We are
raising a couple different talking topics and invite you to share your
thoughts. If a thought struck you while reading a story that wasn’t raised in
one of the discussion posts, please bring it up in comments. Let’s talk about
the good, the bad and the ugly side of GOALS:
WHEN GOALS DISAPPOINT
Eric Price raised an interesting thought in a comment
on Joan Curtis’s story. He wondered if anyone would approach this month’s topic
from the view that the main character reached their goals only to find out it
wasn’t what they wanted. Personally, I think of the scores of people I know who
have a college degree or some sort of technical or trade certification in one
field, yet are working in a different field completely. Has this happened to
anyone? Was it due to a waning interest once you delved deep into the subject
or was it simply because you couldn’t find work that utilized your education
and training? Has anyone else achieved a goal only to realize it wasn’t a good
thing to strive for or perhaps were surprised by the lackluster results upon
achieving it?
Reaching one goal can result in the goal posts moving. What pushes us to struggle one day, once the goal is achieved the past becomes redundant and we start over again to better our success. I agree, it can be seen as disappointing, but still leads to growth and development in us or in our characters. When working through a plot we need to keep sight of the goals of our characters and examine how they react to reaching them (or not) and what they do next.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I love having to move those goal posts. Having a redundant goal of publishing at least two books a year works for me - for now at least. I'm sure redundancy could be a factor for goal burn out though. Interesting. But I'm talking about setting a goal, achieving it and finding out you don't like the result. Maybe you strive for homeownership, but then you realize you don't like home maintenance or yardwork. Or you fight tooth & nail to win the coveted spot in a year long study abroad only to find the food doesn't agree with you and you're sick the whole time. Or after four years of college you go out into the world to apply your education and learn you don't really like your field of study after all. I'd love to hear how someone has pulled themselves up after a disappointment like that.
DeleteThere's disappointing yourself regarding personal goals (ahem...losing weight, quitting smoking). Then there's disappointing your loved ones who, let's face it, are a primary reason for setting "personal" goals. Anyone who says differently isn't being honest. At least in my hermetic world.
ReplyDeleteActually, Kai, writing to me is the tonic for past failed goals. I have a college degree in advertising, put it to use in the corporate world for thirty years. BORING. And less than satisfying. Ridiculous, the back-stabbery involved. Just like high school, only with ties and suits. So, now, I'm fighting back, finally doing something I like. Ta-dah!
Yay to liking what you do! I'm more than a bit envious of your experience though, because it plays well into your current career. I was in customer service and technical support - doesn't really help sell the books :)
DeleteDisappointing loved ones is a tough thing to overcome.
I went into to college on a very different career path than I actually ended up on after college. A major life event forced me to reevaluate what my goals had been, though I continued on the old path for awhile before I finally realized I needed to switch. I made the switch before I went too far with the wrong goals, and I think I would have faced a major disappointment if I hadn't switched gears. So I guess it was a near miss for me.
ReplyDeleteI find those near misses very interesting. I had one in the marital department. I don't know that it would have been bad had I gone through with it, but I KNOW life would have been different. I know your situation is very different and I'm not comparing it to mine in anyway beyond that the paths we thought we were on changed.
DeleteI think it's human nature to never quite be satisfied with where we're at. That's one of the great struggles in finding happiness. For me, prioritizing is the problem. There are always a hundred things pulling each of us different directions. The challenge is to put the greatest weight on the most important aspects: family. Everything else is just fluff.
ReplyDeleteThat is so very true, Crystal. Family should come first. Everything else falls into place.
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