Dreams and Goals for 2011
Ranked #4,442 in Squidoo Community, #320,193 overall
Setting goals is important.
Setting goals may not be as important to you as it is to me but, to me, goals are like dreams; I need them to survive.
This lens will highlight my personal goals for 2011; I will definitely be visiting the lens to update it, in terms of adding new goals or sharing news of goals which I've attained.
I wish you all the best that 2011 has to offer!
Photo credit: Google Images
Unanticipated Activities
Since publishing this lens, a few additional ideas were born - which also factor into my goals for 2011.
I set up a blog:
Take 5.
Furthermore, I have displayed some of my photos on my gallery at Imagekind.
2011 is definitely going to be a busy year!
Let's hear about your goals!
Do you set immediate goals for yourself?
Yes, I like to know where I'll be a year from now
aesta1 says:
I do...for the day often so it is easy for me to realize. I also don't forget it as they are things I need to do.
BizGuides says:
Yes, I have to as my life is full of responsibilities.
Work, family and personal goals need that type of attention.
KDimmick says:
Always - if you know where you're going, you significantly increase your chances of getting there! I like having something to aim for.
Norma_Budden says:
I set immediate goals more so than long term, to be honest. Long term goals are more like a dream, for me, which may come true if I pursue my short term goals.
I've gone into tracking my progress on goal-setting/keeping more since doing this lens than ever before - and I'm achieving things I hadn't imagined. Gotta love it!
ElizabethJeanAllen says:
I set goals, short and long term all the time. I usually make a list of the short term goals and tackle them As the list is always longer than it should be, I rarely meet them all. But the lists make a difference. I get more done that way.
No, I focus more on long term goals
Mickie_G says:
Actually, I am not much for setting goals. Perhaps I should make it a practice. If one can "see" progress in one's life, then perhaps there would be more smiles there, too.
newbizmau says:
Most goals I set are immediate. I need to work on more long term goals. I use my vision board.
sandyspider says:
I use to and end up breaking them. I have been focusing on the long term.
Nenkai says:
I used to set goals. Then I found that the one thing that NEVER happened in any given year was the thing I'd written down as a goal. So, I don't. (though as a new Giant, I think you have to, so this year may be different.)
My husband on the other hand, sets 8 goals every year and hits every one of them. Of course he chooses very easy goals, with minimal margin of improvement, but maybe that's the key to their success: make them achievable.
Share your goals with me!
What's your most important goal for 2011?
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Mickie_G
Nov 6, 2011 @ 1:20 pm | delete
- I am like ElizabethJeanAllen, I need to focus on improving the lenses I have created over my almost 6 years on Squidoo. However, I do tend to be on the scattered side and have trouble remaining focused.
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Mickie_G
Nov 6, 2011 @ 1:20 pm | delete
- I am like ElizabethJeanAllen, I need to focus on improving the lenses I have created over my almost 6 years on Squidoo. However, I do tend to be on the scattered side and have trouble remaining focused.
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newbizmau Feb 13, 2011 @ 8:51 am | delete
- One long term goal I have is to become more Green. I use my personal vision board lens on Squidoo for some of my long term goals. It needs a bit of updating right now.
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aesta1
Jan 23, 2011 @ 3:34 am | delete
- I did write about it in my lens Hop with the Rabbit but I really want to advance in my internet skills.
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ElizabethJeanAllen
Jan 15, 2011 @ 4:59 pm | delete
- I love to build lenses. It's too easy for me to get caught up in that and neglect everything else. My goal is to "limit" the number of new lenses and focus on promoting the ones I have.
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magicgeniewishlist
Jan 14, 2011 @ 7:33 pm | delete
- My most important one is to finish what I start!
My other main one is to get my new website finally up and running and on it's way of becoming a universal household name stated on my 'about me' lens. Thanks.
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ajgodinho Jan 14, 2011 @ 12:59 pm | delete
- In terms of Squidoo, my most important goal for 2011 is to achieve Giant100. In doing so, I will achieve many other goals, so it's key that I work towards it and I'm all set! :)
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sheilamarie Jan 12, 2011 @ 9:40 pm | delete
- To get more organized. And to publish my poems.
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vallain Jan 11, 2011 @ 9:12 pm | delete
- I've set some specific writing goals for 2011. The first one is to make 100 lenses (about 2 per week).
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crosscreations Jan 11, 2011 @ 4:42 am | delete
- My mental and physical health is the foundation for the rest, so those would be most important.
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“Here are a few of my goals for 2011 which, immediately, come to mind ...”
Goal #1 for 2011
A Squidoo goal
Before 2011 comes to an end, I would like to have created 200 lenses. To date, I have created 153 lenses so I only have 47 to go. However, I do intend to create an additional blog, or two, and to maintain them so this should be sufficient. If I reach 250 lenses - great! However, this way, I'm not selling myself short.
Update: I have two Squidoo accounts: Norma_Budden and litqueen. Between them I now boast 207 lenses; I've achieved this goal.
I am also proud to say that my lens, A Child Abuse Victim Asks, "Why Me?" was Squid-liked 162 times, received a purple star, lens of the day and has 8 pages in duel comments, not to mention the pages and pages of comments in the guestbook. I must say this has been my most talked about lens.
Goal #2 for 2011
A poetry goal
Of course, there are some thoughts I've posted which many people would enjoy - a journal, of sorts, about different topics or times in my life.
However, despite there being only so much time in a day, I need to get at least 50 additional poems featured. Then the site will be more worthy of its name.
Update: I changed my mind. I decided to get rid of Norma's Poetry. It is still live until October, 2012, and there's nothing I can do about that. However, I decided to take a blog I had - hosted out of my poetry site - and shake it up a little. Now, I have a blog called Whispers of the Soul. which will feature my poetry and other things I come across which whisper to the soul, on some level.
It's new but the beauty is three-fold: it is hosted through Norma Budden's Official Site enabling me to only maintain one website, I get to keep the name of a blog title I loved so much and I can create my poems as blog posts which can be easily shared with social networks. How about that?
Goal #3 for 2011
another poetry goal
I wondered whether I should mix various types of poetry in one cover - with sections devoted to different subjects - or to publish a book devoted solely to one poetic category.
The general consensus, from the poll below, seems to reflect that I should:
a) Publish a book with multiple categories
b) Publish a few books specific to one category - if I have enough poems to do so - as long as I publish one with various categories.
The common denominator seems to be a very diverse poetry book with various styles of poetry and numerous categories. As such, this is likely the path I will pursue first.
We're wondering what you think!
My partner and I were discussing the possibility of me publishing a poetry book. I believe he has heard/read every poem I've written over recent years but there is still the occasional poem we come across which is new to him. Out of the hundreds of poems I have written, I guess I should not be that surprised.
We're thinking along the lines that the book should be divided into sections with various categories so poetry lovers can read whatever section they are most interested in reading at the time. What do you think?
Goal #4 for 2011
a fiction book goal
I was eager to finish it but then we went on summer vacation and, since then, I've never spent any time on it. Gasp!
I really would like to finish it during 2011 even if I don't find a publisher until 2012.
I've decided to post the first chapter for you and would love to hear your comments.
The trip home took forever even though they were using airspace instead of driving through every road in the country. The real problem was that Kathy couldn't focus on anything - not the puzzle book in her shoulder bag, nor the book in her coat pocket, nor her children. All she wanted was to get to her destination quickly.
Hanging onto her patience by a thin thread - waiting for the announcement to come that the plane trip was finally over - she consulted her watch; there was still an estimated four hours remaining before that announcement would come. By some stroke of miraculous power, she managed not to break down and cry. Tears did leak from the corners of her eyes though; they were totally beyond her control.
Kathy's eyes focused on her three children: her oldest, daughter, Roxy, was listening to her iPod while staring out at the darkening clouds. Her youngest daughter, Jenna, was engrossed in a book, oblivious to her surroundings. Her baby boy, Tyler, was sound asleep in Roxy's arms.
With a tenuous smile on her face, she decided to close her eyes and dream - not the kind borne of being asleep; instead she wanted to daydream, to let her thoughts wander, to imagine how it would feel...
* * *
Never one for arriving late, Ray left home far earlier than was reasonable. Afraid he may be hindered by traffic or some act of God while making the two hour trip to the airport, he was taking no chances; he wanted to be at the airport when the plane landed. As such, Ray was at the airport pacing. His watch told him he had been doing the same thing for the past two hours.
He could have stayed at the hotel room he had booked for them for the night instead of hanging around the airport. In fact, he was tempted to head back there for a while when he realized he still had two more hours to wait - providing the plane was arriving on time - but he just couldn't carry through with it.
Approaching the screen in the arrival lounge to see if the plane was due to arrive earlier than expected, he shook his head and smiled, trying to pinpoint the exact moment his insides had turned to butter. Without success, he placed his hands back in his pants pockets and continued to pace...
* * *
"Girls, wake up!" Kathy exclaimed as the plane was about to land. She wasn't worried about Tyler; he could easily be carried, but carrying a teen and pre-teen were out of the question. They murmured a little and tried to settle in comfortably again. "Come on, girls! It's time to wake up!"
As the plane prepared to descend, Kathy held her baby's head to her right shoulder, cradling the back of his head with her left hand, while her right hand and arm supported his hips and back. Her girls had finally awakened and their eyes were aglow as they tried to peer through the window at the lights below.
Kathy, however, didn't want to look outside because she knew she would cry. Anticipation had been eating her up for hours when she didn't have to move if she didn't want to. Now that she had to concentrate on making sure all their personal belongings left the plane with them and had to collect luggage inside, there was no way she could fall apart...until afterward.
* * *
Ray saw the plane landing and his eyes were fixed on the window. At that moment, he couldn't be sure if he was alone or in a sea of strangers; his sole attention was on the plane landing on the runway while his thoughts were concentrated on the people inside, but especially her. His insides churned faster and, when he saw her walking into the terminal, his limbs began to tremble - so great was his need to look into her eyes, to hold her in his arms.
* * *
Kathy walked through the tunnel and stepped into the terminal, while positioning her sleeping son more comfortably in her arms. Roxy and Jenna followed closely behind, one on each side, exclaiming how happy they would be to get into bed.
Kathy agreed that arriving at midnight was rather late and meant to say so - until she saw him, the only familiar figure in the crowd, a man she yearned for yet had not embraced in over ten years.
* * *
Ray knew his eyes must have looked intense; he just hoped the intensity didn't scare her. He wanted to hold her more than he needed to breathe but couldn't move for fear his legs would crumble beneath him. He knew he had to move towards her but just had to figure out how to get his legs to respond to his brain's command.
Before he had a chance to make another effort to move, she passed Tyler to Roxy and started running toward him, unable to wait another minute to feel his arms around her.
Chapter 1 comments
If you would like to share your comments about chapter 1, please leave them here. I would really love to know what you think about the first chapter of my book.
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BuckHawk
Jan 12, 2011 @ 7:31 am | delete
- Norma, what an intriguing story! I'm going to pass along advice from my fiction writing family. Get the whole story written! Then go back and do the editing. Without the story in place, one tends to focus on little things and get bogged down. That first draft of your complete story is usually the hardest stumbling block. Now, get the whole thing written so I can read it all!
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Norma_Budden
Jan 12, 2011 @ 7:51 am | delete
- That's what I generally tend to do - finish the manuscript first. Just felt like experimenting a little last night since time was running out for me - computer time, that is. Bedtime was apporaching too quickly. :) Glad you enjoy it.
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MissMerFaery
Jan 11, 2011 @ 9:24 pm | delete
- This is excellent, Norma! I really want to read on and find out what is going on!
My only constructive criticism would be to change the first paragraph slightly - start with a really strong first line to grab the reader, rather than beginning with a word like "Though...".
You've done really well in hooking me - I want to know the relationship between Kathy and Ray, and why they haven't seen each other for 10 years despite the obvious longing for each other!
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Norma_Budden
Jan 12, 2011 @ 1:24 am | delete
- I've changed the first sentence. The essence is still the same but it gives a litle more "kick" to the first sentence. Thanks!
Glad I have you hooked. :)
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I Published A Book!
I was inspired to write a series titled Freedom in Love and the book you see featured below was published as an e-book in September, 2011. The printed version is also available at CreateSpace.
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Fiction and you
I am curious about my readers and would like to know the answer to one question:
Note: If you desire to leave a comment here, you may do so. If you would like to include the name of your publisher, if applicable, I would like to hear about your experience.
Goal #5 for 2011
a travel goal
This may sound a little silly to you but, when I was a little girl, I always wanted to visit Sesame Street. I wanted to meet Big Bird, Bert and Ernie but wanted to avoid Oscar the Grouch completely.I knew it was a program created for children and that a bird could never really grow that big and no scary monster lived in the trash can, but still...I wished it could have been a real place.
As it turns out, I may get my wish to come true after all! Have you heard of Sesame Place? I didn't until late 2010 but it sure has changed my outlook for vacation. When I checked out the web site, I was dancing around in the chair the same as if I was a 5-year-old. My 3-year-old son is thoroughly excited as is my youngest daughter who is 11. My 16-year-old may hibernate at the hotel and create Squidoo lenses for a day, unless we can persuade her to come with us.
Whatever the case, this big kid is really excited!
Update: This big kid will have to visit Sesame Place another time. However, we did get to visit Erie, Pennsylvania and enjoyed spending a couple of days at the Splash Lagoon. We had a great time and I can't wait to go back and visit again! We also enjoyed a few days at Wisconsin Dells, taking in the various sites and attractions.
When you were a child ...
When you were a child, what was one place you really wanted to visit? It may have been a child-like place, like my Sesame Street, or it may have been a place you saw on a photo and knew that, someday, you would try to get there.
Did you ever get to see that place or are you still dreaming of it?
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KDimmick Jan 20, 2011 @ 9:20 am | delete
- As a kid I always wanted to go the USA :) Finally made it in 1994 and now (as of 2006) I live here!
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Blessedmombygrace
Jan 14, 2011 @ 2:20 pm | delete
- I'm 47 and I still want to go to Sesame Place. It's not even very far from my home. At least I can take the kids as an excuse. Great lens.!
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- When I was a young teenager, I always wanted to live and work abroad mainly to help my dad with his finances because he sacrificed a lot for us. I'm glad that God made a way for me that I was able to venture on my quest about 19 years ago as I headed to the middle east and the rest is history (as they say)...it's been an challenging, but awesome and fulfilling journey!
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janices7 Jan 10, 2011 @ 2:55 pm | delete
- I love that you've shared all your goals for 2011 in this lens....a great way to get to know you:) Thanks for featuring my Niagara Falls lens...I hope your trip to Canada materializes and the route you mention is beautiful.
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prosperity66 Jan 8, 2011 @ 7:24 pm | delete
- No, never... there are a few oceans between that place and the place I live... and I can't fly (planes and I aren't friends, you know). Travelling by boat isn't an option either, the journey would be too long and some parts of this world are highly dangerous ;)
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Goal #6 for 2011
friendship goal
Update: I did have the pleasure of seeing this lady at different times during a couple of days. We made memories to last a lifetime.
To learn more about these wonderful people who have graced my path through life, feel free to visit either of the tributes I've created in their honor.
Have you set your goals?
for 2011
If you have created a lens highlighting your goals for 2011, please share the link below.
Note: I've provided mine to get you started...I will delete it later.
Creating Goals
2 points
Dreams and Goals for 2011
1 point
Get in Shape Plans
1 point
MissMerFaery's Goals for 2011
1 point
Personal Goal Setting Ideas
1 point
My Top 5 Goals For 2011
1 point
“How is 2011 treating you?”
Places to find me online.
- Norma Budden.com - Beauty can be found within and without...
- Norma Budden.com is the place to find the most up-to-date information on Norma Budden and her online endeavors/adventures.
- Articles written by Norma Budden - Helium
- These articles written by Norma Budden, include Christian articles, poetry of various genres, short stories and so on. Norma has been a member of Helium since December, 2006.
- Norma Budden - Art Prints for Sale
- This is where I now sell my photos online. They can be bought in a general poster size or even as framed, canvas prints.
- Take 5
- Take 5 minutes and visit to see what my latest discovery may be. It may even turn out to be your lens. Who knows?
- Whispers of the Soul | Can you hear the whispers?
- If something whispers to my soul, I'll be sure to post it here when I get the first available opportunity. I hope this blog will richly bless your life - and will whisper to your soul.
- Freedom in Love
- A blog which features my book series by the same name.
- E-book and Book Reviews
- I took it upon myself to review books I read, largely by Indie authors. This is the result of my efforts.
Dreams and goals guestbook
Has this lens encouraged you to set goals for yourself? Do you feel you may be better equipped to make realistic goals for yourself, in 2011, as a result of reading this lens? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments!
Squidoo rocks! If you would like to create your own lenses, on topics you enjoy, click Disco Squid to join.
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- Great lens! I wish you luck with all your goals and I look forward to hearing how to you :)
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JoyfulPamela
Jan 18, 2011 @ 6:44 am | delete
- You have some wonderful goals, Norma. I wish you all the best in reaching them! =D
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- I very much enjoyed this unique lens on goals for 2011...yes, it was inspiring! I've just created mine last night and submitted it to your plexo. You've set some very interesting goals for 2011 and I wish you the best as you work towards achieving them. God bless! :)
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sheilamarie Jan 12, 2011 @ 9:47 pm | delete
- I have yet to write my goal setting lens. Shouldn't that be my first thing to do to get me organized? It was interesting to see how many of our friends on squidoo who have commented on your lens write fiction and poetry. Hey, maybe we should start our own publishing company or maybe even open our own bookstore. . .
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MissMerFaery
Jan 8, 2011 @ 7:55 pm | delete
- Really enjoyed reading your goals, I hope you achieve them! Mine are similar - I want to reach 200 lenses too and also wish to get my fiction published :)
Have added my Goals lens to your plexo - please feel free to add yours to mine, too! Blessings for 2011
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Susan52
Jan 8, 2011 @ 12:45 pm | delete
- Norma, you always write so thoughtfully. You inspire me to be more creative. Best wishes on reaching all of your goals and dreams!
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sandyspider
Jan 8, 2011 @ 10:56 am | delete
- This has encouraged me, but I still need to focus on goals.
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- I should definitely set goals but right now have some health issues that will keep me away from meeting any goal set...
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genglo
Jan 7, 2011 @ 3:13 pm | delete
- Lovely goals lens! I'm just beginning mine and haven't really thought much about the year going forward before now. I saw your RocketMoms post. Thanks for the inspiration!
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BarbRad Jan 7, 2011 @ 2:22 pm | delete
- Norma, you've made me think about my goals consciously. Before they were hiding in my head. I was already working toward them, but not labeling them as goals.
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by Norma_Budden
Browse my photo gallery at ImageKind by clicking the photo above.
Purple Stars...
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