Train strategy

I’m a huge fan of New Year resolutions: in 2013, I had 50 (yes, you read it right – 50!) resolutions, in 2015, it was 18, and this year, it’s only 15. So, I can say I’m moving towards more concise and focused goals in life.

In fact, these resolutions are rather practical steps that I need to take to reach my goals. However, the biggest general conclusion of 2017 and inspiration for 2018 is only one: I must learn how to not let people and circumstances stress me too much, especially when these people and circumstances are not important for me. In 2017, I experienced the biggest number of headaches in my life, I had taken the biggest amount of various medicines, I had got a nervous habit of biting lips, and I spent most of my free time (at least during the last 4 months) on the couch feeling exhausted and energy-less. All that happening not because of stress, but because of myself letting the stress to take over my mind and my body, to block my thinking, and to suck out all the energy and creativity I had; because of letting the stress to make me weak and to distract me from my actual goals…

Just before the New Year we bought a board game that we liked a lot some time ago at our friends’ in Budapest. It’s called Ticket to Ride (in English version) and the idea of the game is to build a railroad to connect the destination points of your mission. That game taught me one important thing – there is always another road, there is always a way around the troubles. Instead of getting stressed because some other player blocked your path, you go around the blockage and you still reach your destination. The funny fact is that rather often the ‘way around’ wins you the game – the longer your road is, more points you get!

That train strategy reminds me of our life. Yes, there can happen a lot of annoying things that significantly contribute to a discomfort in your life: loud neighbors, grumpy bus drivers, constant rain and heavy clouds, illogical requests at work, dishonest people and ridiculous laws, etc. But do these people and circumstances really stop you for reaching your goals? In most situations, not. Then why even care? Keep your missions in front of your eyes and don’t waste your efforts and your energy on people and circumstance that don’t deserve it. And always remember - the longer way might be the winning one.

Happy New 2018 where I’m not going to care for things that are not vital for my mission and my train! Happy New 2018 where I focus my energy on things that I like and I want to do!