At the beginning of each year I tend to make “New Year’s Resolutions”. In other words, I make a goal that I would like to complete in order to make myself better. Sometimes I run into the issue of making an un-attainable goal that will later frustrate me. The key to making an attainable goal is to be specific and precise on what the end result is. Also, come up with a way to measure your realistic goal.  Don’t set yourself up for failure with a goal that you will never reach, but at the same time, your goal should be a challenge. When I was a scout in the 90’s, I set a goal for myself to reach the rank of Eagle. 

Was it attainable? Yes.
Was it a challenge? You better believe it.
Was it worth it? No doubt about it!

Your goals can also be as simple as smiling throughout the day, or making someone’s day better by doing your good turn daily, or making yourself better with the many merits of scouting. Here is a report from 1998 about how scouting affects many people in a strong positive way.

“Of any one hundred youth who become Scouts, it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but later in life, all of these will remember that they had been in Scouting and will speak well of the program.

Of the one hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the one hundred will be from families that belong to no church. Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives. Six of the one hundred will become pastors/clergy.

Each of the one hundred will learn something from Scouting, and all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees, profit from their Scout training. At least one will use it to save another person’s life, and many may credit it for saving their own.

Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that they valued their Eagle above their college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred scouts will become adult leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional scouts.

As we close this week, we challenge you to make attainable goals that will not only better you personally, but also set attainable goals that will affect those around you in a strong and positive way.