Baby Steps
It’s that time of year, and I’m finally seeing my way clear to setting goals for 2009. 
Perhaps it’s part of my list-making/planner-on-paper temperament but I’ve always been inclined to break my goals down into a version of manageable increments.
I was reminded of this idea of small goals to reach a larger goal after reading a piece by simplemom (courtesy of my good friend Stephanie, at sparble) on the Japanese concept of kaizen, or (kai) “change” (zen) “good” as in … improvement.
We’ve all heard the saying, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.”
So it only makes sense that reflecting on process and planning out those incremental, continuous steps is fundamental to our success – be it of the kaizen/CIP variety or otherwise.
I’m still pondering what my goals will actually be, but I have a few ideas in mind and part of *my* plan for 2009 will include time along the way to reflect on those incremental steps, revise if need be, and keep moving forward.
I've lived and traveled around the world, but now make my home in California.
By day, I teach; evenings and many weekends, I write.
My teaching, reading, and writing eventually led to a degree in Language and Literacy, and later, an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.