More on Goals, Dreams, etc.

Wendy left this quote as part of a comment on my previous post:

"The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for."
Benjamin E. Mays
American educator, clergyman, 1895-1984

Now I would say that Mr. Mays took the word goal in his first sentence and in his second sentence used it as a substitute for dream. I would define a dream as a condition or achievement that is longed for, i.e. an aspiration, and a goal is an objective or purpose towards which an endeavor is directed, or an intention. Now I suppose we can use the word goal for an idealistic or long-term purpose, which is closer to dream.

When I say I don't do goals, I mean I don't commit myself to writing down specifics. I don't say this is what I intend to do and this is when I intend to have it done specifically.

Because in reality I do have goals. Just not clearly stated. I have dreams, purpose, intentions, intents, aims, objectives. In reality I am meeting a goal today. All the stitching is finished on In the Midnight Hour except for about an hour's worth on the border. My mostly unstated goal was to finish this in time to get it framed to enter into the Woodlawn show. I am meeting what was my intention.

What was that Lewis Carroll quote - 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.'

PS Wendy, thanks for making me try to think about this more. And the Dr. Phil line was good!