Consistency
Eight hundred dollars. Eight hundred dollars may or may not be a lot of money for you, but it has important significance for me. Eight hundred dollars was the amount I paid every month to pay off my house in eleven years. Then $800.00 was the amount I paid monthly for the next five years to knock out my school loans. Next, $800.00 a month went into a retirement account. For the last five years, I’ve thrown $800.00 a month at a motorhome loan. I think you get the idea. It took 25 years to own my home, my education, and my tiny house, and to prepare for retirement, and it would not have happened without consistency.
With my uncle in 2009, I rode across the state of Michigan. The organized ride is called the PALM, which stands for Pedal Across Lower Michigan. After riding 50 miles a day for seven days, I gained the confidence to ride my bike across the country. The following summer, a group of 32 goal-oriented cyclists rode our bikes from San Francisco to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We averaged 80 miles a day for 47 days out of 52 through the heat, the cold, the wind, and the rain. We endured Interstate 80, and traversed washed out roads, hills, mountains, and flatlands. When our front wheels hit the Atlantic, my odometer read 3888 miles. Our consistency led us to the completion of our goal—a goal of mine since age ten.
Beginning January 1, 2020, I read my Bible 30 minutes a day. By December 31st, I had read the entire Bible—a latent goal since my teens. Now I have repeated this goal each year, adding a scripture journal for more depth. In addition, this year I have read 1-3 Edgar A. Guest poems, read 30 minutes of a book, read 2-3 blogs, listened to 30 minutes of a book on audible, and listened to at least one podcast consistently six-seven days a week.
Last year, as a challenge with a family member, we each powered through one push-up each day the first week of January. The second week, we muscled out two push-ups a day. By the third week, we were habitually knocking out three push-ups a day. And so, the pattern of adding one push-up per week continued. We kept each other accountable and encouraged each other as the weeks turned into months. The last week of 2022, we completed 52 push-ups a day, which totaled 9653 push-ups for the year. Nearly 10,000 push-ups started with a goal and one push-up.
Recently, in an act of solidarity to support a friend, I agreed to refrain from sugar and caffeine for ten days. As of this writing, I have survived 31 days without two of the most addictive substances known to man. My kudos to those who have quit the hard stuff.
Why have I told you about my goals—most of which I have not told more than one or two people? I’m telling you to encourage you to set your own goals and to remind myself of the resources I have to draw from for my next challenge. Every accomplishment gives me confidence to achieve another.
For 50 years, I’ve had the goal of writing a book. Last year, I wrote a rough draft. This year, I edited the rough draft 20-30 hours a week. In June, when I got stuck, really stuck, I quit. However, that drive deep inside my gut pushed me to pick up my manuscript and start anew. Most worthwhile goals do not come without a struggle.
Have you quit a goal? Do you have a financial, physical, health, spiritual, task, or family-related goal? Let’s refocus together. Post in the comments or send me an email if you are up for a 28-day challenge. I’m asking you to commit to yourself that you will do something every day for the next 28 days that will bring you closer to your goal. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you reach your goal (s). I want to support you as you are supporting me. All it takes is a little consistency.
September 22, 2023 @ 4:57 am
True words of encouragement, Joy.
September 22, 2023 @ 3:36 pm
Thanks, Janice.
September 22, 2023 @ 5:32 pm
Don’t we all need to be encouraged in many areas of our lives! It’s nice when it’s by a close friend or family member because you know how much they care. It’s even better when we take to heart the best encouragement of all: from our Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. There’s plenty of it in the Word so I’m going to try to be more consistent and intentional to focus on those encouraging promises from God and then share them with others along the way! Thank you Joy for your words of encouragement which I believe you live out consistently in your interactions with others!
September 25, 2023 @ 1:33 am
So true, Cheryl. Sharing encouraging promises from God with others is a great plan.
Thanks for your support and the encouragement you have given me and so many others.
I am truly blessed to have you as a friend.
September 26, 2023 @ 3:43 am
Hello Joy,
I really enjoyed reading your goals. You have inspired me. I quit drinking milk and eating ice cream. Still eat cheese though. Lol. I also take D3. I’m learning to cook healthier food for my teenager. Also going to the gym with her. I’m trying to lead by example.
I also have financial goals. You and I think a lot alike. I saved my money to open a business years ago. Then I opened a second business and a third. Bought my own home. Bought my first RV in 1997. My second one in December 24th 2019. That’s around the time I met you. My newest goal is to get my 15 yr daughter to brush, floss, and mouthwash, lol. Another goal is to help her ace math and get her drivers license.
Then, I want to go back to college and take a few creative writing classes and write a book or two about raising a child and going back to college after 40 and navigating the challenges of living on campus. I want to learn more Spanish because I can’t find anybody to speak Italian with me. Nobody at Olive Garden speaks Italian. Lol. I think it’s classy to be able to speak two languages and financially advantageous. I’m also a cosmetology instructor. May do some part time work after my girl gets a car and a job.
And my next RV will be a small one that I can take anywhere.
September 26, 2023 @ 4:18 am
Thanks for sharing so many goals, Tonya. Leading by example is the best, especially with children. Keep me posted on your achievements. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate, but you can do it one day at a time. Learning Spanish will definitely have benefits. You have a positive outlook on life. I remember you handling all of the problems with your brand new trailer with such grace and patience.
March 24, 2024 @ 10:50 pm
Joy, I remember the summer you rode from San Francisco to Portsmouth. That was quite a challenge, and I know you had to build up endurance and courage to do it. I have begun a challenge this year to get 10,000 steps in a day, as my endocrinologist challenged me last year. My daily average has grown to more than 10,000, and it has become the norm. Christian and Melissa gave me a watch for Christmas that would keep a daily total, and that has been a game changer. Some days I don’t quite make the 10,000 steps, but I make up for it with my weekly average.
I have a couple of neighbors that walk with me 5 days a week, and I don’t believe I would be so successful without them. My goal is to keep it up, and see how it changes my overall fitness this year. I can’t run long distance like I used to, but I can surely walk!
You are inspiring with you personal goals, and I see why it is so important. 🙂
March 28, 2024 @ 4:20 pm
Wow! Talk about inspiring! 70,000 steps a week is an admirable goal. You are smart to hang on to your neighbors. We can’t do anything alone.
Thanks for your continued encouragement and for being an inspiration to many.
July 4, 2024 @ 12:07 pm
I love the story of the rocks in the jar then the pebbles and then the sand. Heard it from different speakers for different reasons but I always think of the man who said make the main things that main things in your life. Then fill in with the rest. Such a good reminder, because as I get older it is easy to focus on trivial things instead of what’s really important. Thank you Joy for all the wonderful blogs you put out. I’ve read some of them many times as they’re just good common sense that directs me in the right way. I’m still thankful for your mom and dad or I would’ve never met you!
July 4, 2024 @ 5:11 pm
Thanks Mary Anne! That story about the big rocks resonates with many. I too have heard it told a few times through the years and I use the term “Big Rocks” a lot myself. Ha! Guess that’s why it became part of this blog. I’m so grateful to you for your friendship first to my parents and now to me. Have a Happy Birthday! And thanks again for your support.