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Some say that goals are good for planning your progress, and systems are suitable for making progress. James Clear suggests that what people do now is a mirror image of their beliefs—something to ponder.

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Thanks, Janice - I can relate to this! Glad you're coming out of the fog, but sometimes fog is lovely for a short period of time.

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Love that book! Most def a classic ❤️ makes me wanna reopen it. 🔥

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We move toward what we think about and what we focus on helps determine what we see and how we see it, whether positive and constructive or negative and destructive or something in between the extremes. That's where many of us, including us octogenarians, live and move and have our being. I like to think we're making the most and best of it while we still can and I don't want to wake up some day and say "I wish I had....." when I could have had. I continue to wear Max Planck's sentiment, "When we change the way we look at things, the things we're looking at change." Max won the Nobel prize in physics in 1918 when he was 42 and died at age 89.

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Hi Gary, That's the point for me - doing as much as I can, while I can certainly plays a role in my choices.

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I always enjoy your posts and often find things to ponder. I will say that I’m learning to embrace a slower lifestyle, which suits me. Goals are always good and at the same time rest, reading and slow living are also good. Americans are so “productivity” oriented sometimes we don’t allow ourselves to just slow down and appreciate the small and simple pleasures. Be kind to yourself.

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Hi Renee, Your point is well taken - slowing down and appreciating the simple pleasures provides a balance. I have plans to go to Yosemite next week - a good place to start.

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So relatable Janice! I, too, like to nap and read fiction (in no particular order) as a default mode.

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Hi Janice, gosh I'm glad I save your posts to read in more depth later. HAPPY 85th BIRTHDAY!!!!

Synchronicity has taught me to pay attention. As you've highlighted a common misconception of James Clear is that his focus is purely on setting goals. In fact his thinking is on the system (per the video) and we build identity via value-based actions - using habits

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” by JAMES CLEAR

and Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead. written by JAMES CLEAR

https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems

Plus goals are too easily associated with making us 'happier' to which I've recently written the article on how that backfires and undermines our wellbeing.

To all this, my bottom line is: we can make a little analysis, capabilities, likes dislikes, what you think could be great to do as a goal to build ourselves more AND so we can focus on the things that can promote the direction...what value-led (identity based) actions help us...For you if that's finding a good time to siesta with the cats so you can write / read more later to build Ageing news and contributions to Alz Assoc- yay!

It's not the goal that counts its adapting our system of HOW so that we can enjoy the ride, learn and move closer to something...recalibrating that thing as we learn new stuff....ALL personal opinion so pls ifeel free to ignore/use ;-) BIG birthday hug

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I had to get a job for inspiration. What I'm finding, is that the work is resetting my goals and expectations. It's a good thing. I was getting quite complacent myself. I was reading way too much and playing around with my art. Having to show up somewhere is recalibrating how I'm spending my free time, and helping me realize how much more precious it is.

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I like the structure works provide - I consider the writing as my work, now, and it also gives me a purpose.

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My goal for starting to write on Substack last year was to make it my job. After one year I'm still flailing around trying to find my purpose, the absolute one that sticks. I'm experimenting again... something has to stick. Eventually.

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Hi Patti, For what it's worth, maybe your purpose is to be you and share your remarkable story with others. From what I can tell/read, you have completely turned your life around - from Las Vegas to northern Michigan - and what it has taken to get you from there to here. How many people could tell that story? You said it the other day, words to the effect "if I could touch one person, I would feel good."

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True. There is only so much I can share my story. I want to change up the structure and what I write about. There are a few more stories about my life people might find interesting, but (for me) I hope to write about subjects that fascinate and teach others. Anyway this is the challenge for me to continue on Substack. If it's supposed to work out it will.

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And that is the bottom line, I think. If it's meant to be, it will be.

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Ah, Janice, sometimes I am so lethargic I don't even try to make an excuse. The little lazy voice in my head says, " If I don't wanna, I don't hafta." Thank you for the continual kicks in the butt. If you don't do it, who will? Janice Walton has become my conscience...

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That's what it boils down to - if I don't do it - who will? We don't "hafta" - but then are those the results I want to live with.

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