Goals, Milestones, Gratitude and Fulfilment

Choosing gratitude

Monday, 11th July 2022. I am excited about the “million little miracles” in my life and this one (out of the bounty) I wish to record. This one: reaching 200 subscriber count on RANDOM DESPATCHES on Sunday, 10th July 2022.

Courtesy: Nannim

At the break of the year—at the closing of the previous year even—I included this milestone in the list of goals for the coming year. I wasn’t outrightly audacious, partly because I liked the idea of slow but steady build-up. Slow and steady is the best description for the growth of RANDOM DESPATCHES.

Working on the plan, I aimed at five subscribers per month. (As I write, I think, why not five per post? Truth be told, it didn’t seem realistic to me at the time.) Five per month was more lofty and attainable before my eyes and committing to that goal was easier a burden for me to bear.

It didn’t end there. One lesson I learned recently about content creation is that consistency is a key factor in facilitating growth. So, I had to design a strategy. I opted for a weekly despatch. Four posts a month aiming at five subscribers per month was the periodic milestone. Based on the plan, reaching 200 subscribers from then will last to December of this year. The first 100 subscriber count was hit on Tuesday, 1st March 2022. And here we are!

I am excited not just about hitting the milestone but the lessons which accompany it.

Over the years, I have listened countless times to statements on the necessity of outlining goals. I considered it a wise thing to do, but the execution was far from reach. Somehow, running this publication was where I eventually put the teaching to practice. Now I am more than convinced that it is needful for progress. Also, it affords a priceless virtue: fulfilment spiced with gratitude!

Yes, I feel fulfilled and filled with gratitude. That is not suggesting complacency. In fact, the weekly schedule continues until the annual break. If that leads to the next one hundred subscriber count, totally amazing! But one thing I know is that I have accomplished a dear goal for this year.

Imagine. Imagine there was no clear-cut milestone at the break of the year. Imagine. Imagine there was no definite count to reach. Imagine. Imagine there was no defined strategy. Imagine. Imagine none of the other factors which facilitated this process was put in place. I know this one thing for sure: I wouldn’t be thankful as I am about this if none of these was in place, certainly. But you see, I have learned through this experience that a definite goal and milestone helps to keep away ingratitude and little fulfilment when it is reached.

I tell you the truth, I am thankfully delighted!

The next thing is to implement a friend’s advice: learn to celebrate small wins. This friend urged me to celebrate myself for the effort put in towards the achievement of a goal. I also think that not doing this informs our ingratitude sometimes. This friend suggested that doing this could be buying something for myself to mark the moment, or do just about anything that fills my heart with gratitude, or doing to/for myself anything that I’d be delighted to have someone else do for me.

I am executing this. I am marking this moment with a new bicycle seat cap! Which design do you recommend?

I hope you get your own “bicycle seat cap” for every little win. Do not give way to ingratitude—it distorts the beauty inherent in moments we have way little influence on.

I choose gratitude!

Tag along as this story is being written:

• Share in the comments one little win you are totally thankful for this year. How did you mark the moment?

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• Share this post with your loved ones and to anyone you think will find this helpful:

• Be deliberate about thankfulness.

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The date for the release of the first publication bearing the colophon of RANDOM DESPATCHES is drawing near. A giveaway is currently ongoing. Follow this link to join in: Giveaway for Levography and Grace.