1. Finish school (working on A.A.S. Degree) then move on to my Bachelor's Degree then onto a Master's (if available).
2. Continue to work F/T is just a requirement because we can't afford not to! But my goal is to continue to work F/T without breaking down in tears due to the pain everyday!
3. Paint as many pictures as I possibly can now, because I don't know if or when I won't be able to anymore. (I'm 27, so this disease still has a LOT of time to make my life miserable!)
4. Finish writing my book (started a couple of years ago, but keep stopping). This really takes a toll of my hands and after using a computer at work all day, it's hard to come home and do the same for "fun".
5. Run a 5K in 2014. I have a LONG way to go. I don't even think I can walk a 5K right now, but I have a year to do it! :D

Finish my AAS and get my RHIT certification.
Work until I drop. I am 59 and love my job. (The certification will get me better pay.)
Lose all of the #%$!! weight I gained with prednisone.
Find a way to become mobile again so I can enjoy my retirement when I get there.

Continue breathing :)

I used to be very goal driven... but RA and CFS hitting me hard at 47 took much of that away.... I now can work part time, but I spent one year in a bed and recliner... not going out to eat or even to a movie... it really changed my perspective about life.

My husband now carries the financial weight. I was so career and goal driven. I have now switched my perspective to one day at a time. I have a hard time planning even a month ahead.

I'm so proud that u have such great goals for your future and your putting more into your retirement fund. That's awesome.

Great thread idea, 2scicrazed, thanks!

1. Get my health to optimum level so I can once again be active with my husband and children. This requires several steps I can break down separately - such as diet, gentle exercise, physical therapy, etc.

2. Get back into my freelance writing hobby (used to be a career but I don't want that pressure now!). I was an active writer for several publications and magazines (and finally, a newspaper) from high school all the way through my 30's. While my hands and fingers get stiff and do hurt, I can still type - but the pain and mental anguish from the RA and other health challenges wore me down and snuffed out my spirit. I also have a lot of "brain fog" and so I've been afraid to try again.

3. Start a "buddy program" for special needs students to pair up with volunteer regular ed students at the local middle school my daughter will attend next year. She is very excited and wants to participate.

4. Actively be involved in the parent leadership of the buddy program in place at the high school my son with autism will be attending next year. I've heard it is a fantastic program and I am eager to get involved and learn the ropes so I can take that experience and replicate it at the middle school level (see #3).

5. Travel internationally again. My last overseas trip was a couple of years ago and it nearly killed me. I was miserable and in pain the whole time. I'd like to accomplish goal #1 so I can be healthy enough to travel without crippling pain. The money needed is a separate goal, lol. ; )

MBDs2 and I married 2 years ago and we were fit to be tied - ready for the world. 8 months later, bypass surgery and 3 weeks later RA. Almost killed my spirit. Spent may hours playing the poor pitiful me game and then I found this group, stayed quiet for a while to learn from all's experiences and got up one morning, sat down with MBDs2 and said "Here is my NEW ME bucket list". She looked at it, made her inputs and now we are living a modified dream - OUR DREAM

At my age and condition, every day is a gift and by golly, I'm going to enjoy it even if I hurt like the dickens - I just keep it to my self - everyone else has their burdens, why pile on.
1, Back to school - nay, I went as far as I wanted to
2. Retire - done that (they called me back and am enjoying it now - if they push, I say "Off today, TATA"
3. Exercise - as best I can and as often as I can
4. Play golf again - you bet, just as soon as the weather warms and I can hold a club
5. Do my eye surgeries, ASAP
6. Spend every minute possible with MBDs2

Ya'll be well, OK

Bluedogs2

Bluedogs, love your POV. Just wanted to say that my husband is nuts about golf - so much so that he used to be head golf pro at a golf course. However, although it was fun, it didn't pay the bills so he left the biz. I'm always encouraging him to go play - because he gets as excited as a little kid and I love to see that sparkle in his eyes! Maybe one fine day you and he can play a round. What a happy day that would be!

I'm really inspired by everyone's goals. We might have our bodies fighting us, but it doesn't have to kill our spirit.

i hug every one of you who answers: just to have the courage to face another day and shower and dress. i then sit down for some virtual tea with you

and having just read another one of those blasted "brag holiday" letters from another distant family member of mine with the litanies of their prowess, accomplishments,and academic accolades of their progency, masking as a holiday hello, I am going to seem creaky, so bear with me, OK?

1. to not give up
2. to not give up
3. to not give up

for me that means to continue working so I can finance the kids college educations alone. well they have their stafford loans. one has a good merit/scholarship based on merit package, the other not. and he is only a freshman. to not fall down so that they can see their dreams. possibly sell the house for their graduate degrees have not decided. they are so hopeful. I need to be hopeful with them and for them. this includes traveling for the one that is an artist, to her galleries, to NYC, she heads to netherlands in a couple weeks. i want to travel to her.. that has to be there. I have to support her. For him that means putting my butt on a plane to LA where he wants to be a screenwriter. those flights suck for me. but I'm doing it. they need me to be their champion, after work there are meager energy stores.

4. to not give up.

to try and ignore the daily pain since I don't medicate at work and use little nights and weekends (when I am not working)

which leads into the other one, to not give up the second job on the weekends because it pays the oil and massachusetts is freakin' cold.

to not give up.

i had hoped to segue to boston to work at this point. I can't. the position i have now is just what I can barely do. to add hopes and dreams as in changes will push me into falling down.

I am going to gently ease one joint into a masters program starting in February. wish me luck. if that course sinks me in addition to the 50 hours of work and the 10 hour commute and the ponderosa then I will bail out.

I use up a LOT of energy deflecting the reality of the disease and incorporating it into the motions of my life.

first the divorce 15 years ago took away my financial freedom to make decisions. then living alone took away that feeling that folks seem to have of someone having their back.

then the disease came along and took away the fun I had with a lifetime of power lifting (a passion). i do use my gym and but it has a lot of ghosts in it.

so my goal is now simply this

to not give up.

and so as not to seem the total gloomy gus, I will say that I listen to more jazz now than I have ever in my life. My listening has become more nuanced, my knowledge greater, my appreciation for this art form limitless. it gives me happiness. I can still recognize happiness. For that I am grateful.

Ros

Ros, I don't find your post "gloomy" at all. "To not give up" might be the most positive goal of all, in my humble opinion.

I'm in awe of how hard you work. That's inspirational, not gloomy.

And on a side note: the holiday brag letters both depress me and make me laugh all at once. I remember my dad (long passed) used to make a joke that we should make a "family fail letter" to send out as an alternative, like "and this year, our eldest daughter failed half of her classes, our son got suspended from school for 2 days for a prank, my wife and I failed at quitting smoking," ETC. Well we thought it was a hilarious alternative, but we wisely refrained even though we were soooo tempted. ; )

OH another goal: keep my sense of humor intact.....

great thread. thanks for posting this. i never thought of my goals until i saw your thread. good to others goals too. very inspiring.

bluegods, you are amazing. i liked your list.

well, i dont have a list. but i wish to be well as long as i can so that i can care for my only child who is now 3.
and BE STRONG emotionally (some meds make me crazy).
thats all i can think of right now.

i feel very bad for you guys who have to work F/T. i cant imagine how you are managing your work with these pains. but hope you all do well.

i wish everyone GOOD LUCK with your goals.

I have a small business, so my goal is to always have enough work, to keep it going. So I can stay independent, and pay for my daughters college (just one more year yay) and just have enough to pay bills and house.
It's a small A/C and Plumbing , Was my Dads, now mine, so if it goes down, Im in deep doo doo. I've been there since 1976.

And to stay positive and never let anyone or anything change me. Oh and yummmm win the lotto. That would be great !

=)
Lin

Wow, I am impressed by everyone's goals! I am also feeling like a slacker!

Maybe it's because I am so new to my diagnosis but my goals right now are to get through each day. The primary goal right this minute is to manage enough energy to get dinner and put up our Christmas Tree. I have been so dang fatigued that we haven't put it up yet. We usually do it Thanksgiving weekend. I take my MTX on Friday mornings so Friday and Saturday are shot. Sunday is laundry and house cleaning. Monday is return turn to work for a 40+ hour week.

I hope as I progress in treatment I will be able to adjust and get more done. ~ Lori

I'm with Lori, you guys are all so impressive! And I hope one of us wins that lotto :)

Lori

i get it :)

and you know what? i never took my (artificial and decorated with a lot of home made stuff from my daughter) christmas tree down from last year, so it's, well you know, up, now.....

I just realized today when it was snowing that I never took the diving board off the pool. oh well. i will not have to install it in May, right? at least I got the cover on.

ask your husband to do take out. :)

hugs
Rosemary

Well, we got our tree up! It's not traditional but it is fun and will work for this year. We ended up going out to dinner and then shopping for a tree.

I just could not face putting up our usual 7 foot tree and digging through boxes and boxes of ornaments, then decorating it and finally, having to clean up the mess. We bought a 6 foot, pre-lit plam tree (but has more of christmas tree like branches at the top). It is actually two trees, one tall and one short. We got some garland and a few ornaments and we now have a Christmas tree!

We put it on the fireplace hearth so it goes to the ceiling. I will put the presents around it as soon as I get them wrapped. Probably more gift bags and pre-wrapped boxes with lids this year. I can't imagine messing around with wrapping rolls, siccors and tape. Forget ribbons and bows! My hands wouldn't work for a week so gift bags it is.

At least I made my goals today. House cleaning and laundry tomorrow I hope. ~ Lori