Oops! I Got The Cart Before the Horse: Goal Setting
My History With Goals (And Why I Used to Hate Them)
I was a public school teacher for years. Our lives were governed by setting goals—both for ourselves and for our students. Along with those goals, we had to document the objectives needed to reach them.
I hated it.
“What if the goal was for my students to write a compare/contrast essay on a current event—but they couldn’t even write a basic paragraph?”
My lesson plans would be out the window. I’d have to submit written modifications to administration, and the cycle would begin again. (Vent session over. 🙃)
Despite my dislike for educational goal-setting, I’ve always been intentional about my personal goals.
The Life Goals I’ve Checked Off
In the past, my goals were rooted in building a life I loved:
✔️ Get married and have three kids (two girls and a boy)—done by age 32.
✔ ️ Finish graduate and post-graduate studies—done by 39.
🔄 Raise happy, successful kids without losing my mind—ongoing 😅
But about a year before I retired, life changed. I had been a widow for four years, and teaching middle school after my husband's passing was taking a toll on me emotionally and physically.
It forced me to think: What do I want for this next season of life?
I landed on three core goals:
Start a blog
Get my A1C below 6.5
Get in the best shape of my life
At first, these were vague ideas. But I knew if I wanted to actually achieve them, I’d have to tighten them up.
Turning Vague Goals Into SMART Ones
In grad school, I learned a helpful framework for effective goal setting: SMART goals.
SMART stands for:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Attainable
R – Relevant
T – Timely
Let me walk you through how I applied this to each of my goals.
📝 Goal 1: Start a Blog
Specific: Create and publish a lifestyle blog focused on post-retirement life and wellness.
Measurable: Write and post at least two blog posts per week.
Attainable: I’ve always loved writing and storytelling—check!
Relevant: It keeps my mind active and lets me share my journey.
Timely: Launch the blog after my “retirement-moon”.
“Blogging keeps me connected, creative, and curious.”
💉 Goal 2: Lower My A1C Below 6.5
Specific: Reduce my A1C from 7.6 to under 6.5 through diet, exercise, and medication.
Measurable: Monitor A1C every 3 months.
Attainable: With support from my doctor, a nutrition plan, and movement—absolutely doable.
Relevant: This is about quality of life and longevity.
Timely: Reach this within six months.
💪🏽 Goal 3: Get in the Best Shape Possible
Specific: Improve strength, flexibility, and stamina through consistent exercise and healthy habits.
Measurable: Work out 4x/week, track with photos and measurements.
Attainable: I’ve already started and have momentum on my side.
Relevant: I want to feel good, move freely, and thrive.
Timely: Noticeable changes in 6 months, reassess quarterly.
A Work in Progress, With Grace
These are close-ended goals, but I know life is fluid. I can reassess, adjust, and keep moving forward. Once I solidify the habits and routines needed to sustain these goals, I’ll shift my focus outward.
I do want to help others—especially those navigating retirement, wellness, and widowhood—but I’ve learned the hard way:
“You can’t pour from an empty cup. First, you have to save yourself.”
Thanks for sticking with me while I untangle the horse from the cart. 🐎😉
Let’s keep growing together.
Bethanne (04/21/2025)
