Dreaming Outloud

We all dream. Sometimes we dream outloud and sometimes we hold those dreams close to our hearts where no one can see them. Some dreams are silly in nature (winning the lottery, marrying Brad Pitt) and some are rooted in reality. I once read somewhere that a goal is a dream put to action. I like that. Our goals are our dreams.

I proposed last week to my fellow coworker Stephen that we run a half marathon in the fall. I also tossed the idea around to my boss Larry. Both run the Gobbler with me every year and in the warmer months, log some good road miles. A half marathon is one of the things that stands between me and a half ironman. The ability to make it through 13.1 miles. This is a dream. I recently put my dream of completing a triathlon into a goal by registering for White Lake and putting my money where my mouth is. I am now working towards that goal. I have a plan.

So we selected a half marathon in Myrtle Beach. It's new and looks wonderful. The date is at the end of October. So I have gotten Stephen thinking about it and I believe Larry somewhat excited about it. Neither had ever completed such an event and I believe it could be one of their "unspoken" dreams. I was talking to Stephen today and he had gone as far as creating a training schedule. I was super excited. His response was that he was good at making plans but not so good at the follow through. We decided that we need to determine by the end of April if we were in. (I was ready to sign-up today) Stephen made the comment that I tell everyone my plans before they're plans.

I thought about it. I do. When I start to work towards a goal, I am very vocal about it. I do this for several reasons. First, you never know who can help you with your goal. By telling others about it, they have the option of assisting you. Second, by telling others I am somewhat showing pride in my goals. They are important and I want others to know that. The third reason is accountability. I need to be held accountable. I want people to stop and ask me how my training is going. Also by registering and committing with money to something, I know that I'll do my best to reach that goal. Quitting is never an option.

I believe some dreams need to be spoken outloud. It's the only way that they can become goals and reality. I am dreaming of completing a half marathon and I am working towards making it a goal. These thoughts get me moving at 4am when my alarm goes off when I'd rather stay warm and snuggie in dreamland. Dreamland is a comfortable place. Sometimes our goals aren't.