Your goal is enough.
It’s been a whirlwind of wonderful family moments and sweet Christmas memories as we close the books on 2022.
In the midst of joy I’m painfully aware the holiday months can be overwhelming. I will forever miss my Dad’s big ole bear hugs. I would love to hear his gentle voice again as we gather around the table for a hearty Christmas meal. I miss watching him swipe extra cookies when he thought I didn’t see him. But the cherished memories remain and for that I’m grateful.
As we start 2023, maybe you’re already crushing your goals, you haven’t even thought of goals, don’t care about goals, or you have the wonderful goal of making it through the day.
Whatever your goal is, it’s enough.
A story for you…
I was a Pediatric Nurse/Nurse Practitioner for 30 years before “retiring” in 2019 to start my business. Every year, without fail, I’d absolutely dread our yearly evaluations. Why? Because of the extreme emphasis on how monumental our goals were expected to be. Heck we even had mandatory seminars on setting the loftiest of measurable goals. Ok ok yes I totally support and encourage having goals. I set goals and pick my “word” every year. It’s helped me tremendously. But that’s not for everyone. And that’s quite alright.
In the academic world no goal is too monumental. It was common to try and “out goal” your colleagues. Shoot for the moon and nothing less. Oh and complete it by the end of January. This never landed well on my heart.
As a Pediatric nurse it was simple. I had ONE goal:
Provide exceptional care to kids & their families.
Period.
Why was that not monumental enough? “But Jen, you’re expected to provide exceptional care.” Yes. I am. And I did. But “exceptional” looks different for everyone. I would rather they simply come watch me give exceptional care as opposed to reading about it in my evaluation.
I could care less about publishing papers in fancy medical journals, presenting at national conferences, conducting research, joining a hospital committee with endless meetings, or anything else like that. The medical world is fascinating and exhilarating and while those things ARE critically important I don’t enjoy or excel at them. But those were the monumental goals I was expected to set every year.
I love a child’s resilience. I love their innocence. I love their silliness. I love to make them laugh. I love to calm them before a procedure. I love to explain things on their level. I love to provide families with hope. I love kids… even teenagers.
It was an honor to care for kids and families during some of their most joyous and also most horrific days. An honor I’ll never take for granted.
Regarding my One goal… providing exceptional care. It may not have been “enough” for some but you know what? It was more than enough for the kids & families I took care of. And THAT was more than enough for me.
“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care” – President Theodore Roosevelt
As we’re fresh and new into 2023, IF you set goals, know that YOUR goal is enough. You get to pick what’s important to you. May your goals, your words, and your actions impact those around you in the most wonderful monumental way!
Happy New Year friends!
Sending love & hugs,
Jen
(P.S. I’m forever grateful to my last manager who actually did come to my clinic and watch me take care of kids. She agreed, my goal was enough.)