What's Your Biggest Life Goal?

I'm talking like, huge. Large. Grandest of grand.

Like many of you, I sat in awe Wednesday watching the inauguration. From the moment I saw Kamala Harris walk down a set of stairs draped in purple, I felt excited. Emotional. Our first-ever female vice president breaking some ceilings and helping many (myself included) think about what life will be like with women in more positions of power. As the day’s coverage continued, I sat in my living room feeling hopeful and full. Cheering at points as if I was watching a sporting event. TBH, parts felt better than being AT the Super Bowl (granted, I went in 2019 for an uneventful Patriots blowout).

The slew of celebrity appearances added to the glamour, from Lady Gaga to Jennifer Lopez. I thought Biden’s speech was great. I laughed (but also worried a little bit) when Garth Brooks ran around the scene hugging past presidents like a kid in the candy store (news outlets have since reported that he tested negative for COVID three times in the days leading up to the event). Jennifer Lopez looking at Kamala in awe sent chills down my spine. Michele Obama’s look. I swooned.

… and then, Amanda Gorman came on stage to read her beautiful poem “The Hill We Climb”.

Well.

After hearing her speak yesterday, I — like many — am enamored by Amanda Gorman. At 22, her accomplishments are remarkable. A twin from Los Angeles, she found her love for poetry in the third grade. She worked diligently to overcome a speech impediment, ultimately attending Harvard and becoming the first-ever national youth poet laureate in 2017. Prior to Wednesday, she’d collaborated with a slew of huge brands (including Nike and Prada) and penned words for The New York Times, among other outlets. After Wednesday? Well, her social media following went from ~70K to 2.8+ million overnight. I’m sure she’s inundated with requests.

Oh. And.

She wore a ring and earrings standing on the Capitol steps that Oprah gave her. OPRAH. 

I’ve always been of the mindset that good people cheer for good people. There is room for everyone’s talent. We need everyone’s talent. I feel so hyped to see this hardworking, young woman shine. It gives me goosebumps to see her crush it! In learning more about Amanda and her journey, I was inspired to sit down and get real about mine. Yesterday morning, I snuggled up with my grey notebook on my grey couch and asked myself: What are the things that you want to do and accomplish? What does “success” look like for you?

For now, I’m keeping some of my loftiest goals close to the vest. But, it feels good to dream big. So often, I’m hyper focused on what needs to happen at this very moment. But what happens when we zoom out? Are the things that I’m doing every day to get by the things that will help me get to where I ultimately want to be?

Thanks for the motivation, Amanda. I know you likely won’t read this and that I’m not the only person profoundly impacted by your words yesterday. They were certainly the ones I needed to hear. 

PROMPT: What is something you want to achieve in your life long term? What’s something you can do within the next year to help you get closer to that goal?