Goals: Focusing on What Truly Matters

Have you set any goals for the year, or, like me, did you suddenly realize it’s already February?

I often start a year with a long list of goals and dreams. However, I have noticed that when I write them all down, I tend to forget the first one by the time I reach the last. My mind is always racing, always wanting more. And every year, I carry over unaccomplished goals to the next, feeling as though I am constantly chasing after something.

This year, I decided to take a different approach. Instead of overwhelming myself with an endless list, I planned to set ten goals, prioritize five of them, and keep the other five as “nice-to-haves.” If I could not get to them, I would not consider myself a failure. With this mindset, I was ready to start my list. I made myself a cup of coffee, arranged for some help with the kids, and sat down to focus on our investment plans. Just as I was about to begin, I came across heartbreaking news—a tragic American Airlines passenger flight crash. As I read through the details, I could not hold back my tears. There were children on that flight—young lives full of promise, taken away in an instant. There were hardworking, successful people with bright futures ahead of them. None of them had any control over what had happened. My thoughts immediately turned to my children and my husband.

As if the universe wanted to reinforce how fragile life truly is, my mom mentioned another devastating incident that had happened a few weeks ago in Turkey. There was a hotel fire in Bolu, where 79 people lost their lives, including children—all due to the negligence of others. I could not help myself and searched the details and also, came across a video of a grieving mother, saying, “When you hear about these things, you feel sad, but you never think it could happen to you.” Her words struck me deeply.

Just moments before, I was thinking what kind of goals I would be setting such as—getting healthier and fitter, planning a vacation with my husband, finding good schools for the kids, and organizing a big family trip with our parents. But suddenly, all of those goals felt so insignificant.

At that moment, I realized that my biggest wish was simply to be healthy. I wanted my children to be healthy. I wanted to be present for them. Because if something happened to me or my husband, what would happen to them? And if something happened to them… I do not even want to finish that thought. These emotions overwhelmed me, leaving me in tears and making me feel incredibly vulnerable. But they also led to an important realization: While I can’t control everything, I can take steps to protect my family and cherish my time with them without taking it for granted. So, my first and most important goal for 2025 is simple: Take care of myself and be present for my children. Of course, I will still have other goals. But now, I understand that when I am healthy and with my family, everything else is just a bonus. And I will do my best not to stress over the small things.

Let’s make 2025 count—not just with checklists and goals, but with love, presence, and gratitude. While we can’t change the past, we can take steps to prevent future tragedies.