Setting Goals and Achieving Them

This is a guest post by Rhonda Clark, who has Cerebral Palsy.

From the time I was born and throughout life so far I have heard the phrase “You will never…[insert whatever it may be].”

Such things like:

• Walking up with my crutches and a classmate on each side of me to receive my high school diploma with everyone else in class.
• I was told I would never be able to have my own apartment, I have had my own place since 1987.
• I was told that I would never go to college and I now have two degrees.

Not only did I achieve all of the above, but I’ve also accomplished much more and that’s because I set attainable goals and go after them.

I had a goal of owning my own place, but before it could become a reality, I had to pay off college debt first. I reached my goal by working and living by the principals that Financial Coach Dave Ramsey teaches millions of people each day with his class Financial Peace University. I paid an $8,000 debt off in 13 weeks and was able to attain two goals, being debt free and being able to purchase the condo that I am still living in. Due to the fact that I set goals, I was also able to purchase a new wheelchair and paid off the five year loan in a year and ½.

Rhonda had a goal of being able to independently transfer into her stander and has achieved after practice and weeks of PT.

One of my other really big goals was to be totally independence with my ADL’s so I could achieve the status of full-time employment with health insurance. I was able to accomplish all of it, but of course not without a lot of hard work on my part.

When I thought things were just the way I wanted them and moving right along I got laid off at my job. I was determined to remain independent. So, while looking for a full-time job I was working three part-time jobs. Finally after a few months of working part-time at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital I was offered full-time hours, I accepted the offer and have been there going on three years now.

Like everything else in my life, reaching my goals may take longer, but I eventually get there. Just like when I got my stander, my goal was to use it independently.  I could not get in or out of it by myself until a year after I got the stander and after making adjustments and going through several weeks of physical therapy.

My next goal is to build a completely wheelchair accessible home. Will I need to make sacrifices along the way…I already have. I no longer have cable television as well as other amenities. Do I go without things I need or that my service dog Art’s needs? No.

The bottom line is this: If you want to continue to grow as person set a goal, no matter how big or small, and figure out some way to achieve it!

What are your goals? What sacrifices or steps have you taken to achieve them?