Goal Crazy

Periodically, the same thought crosses my mind: goals are bad.

Let me explain.

Society has created this concept of success and failure. And people feel like there is a bare minimum they need to achieve. You know, the whole American dream thing: house, spouse, kids, minivan. And to not achieve that is to fail. Hence, the goal is to prove your success to the world and procure the caravan. And then get public recognition via facebook about how awesome your house, spouse, kids, and minivan are.

Well, this also translates into exercise. If you run five minutes and are out of breath, we think that society calls that failure. Maybe even epic failure. And people, as a general rule, don't like to fail. Failing doesn't make anyone feel good. So people stop. They concede. They acquiesce. They give in. And that's not right. Because in reality, 5 minutes is better than zero. And eventually, five minutes becomes five and a half. And six. And seven. And maybe even ten. And even if it doesn't, five is still better than zero.

Goals are bad. People feel the need to achieve them. I mean, look at the Great Gatsby. Or even your own neighborhoods. People you know. Flaunting their "wealth", whether it be material or not, in other people's faces to feel good. Stop it, society! You're teaching all the wrong lessons to the youth of America. Success comes when you FEEL successful, not when someone else tells you that you are!

So go out and do something, and realize that doing anything is a success all in itself.