I hope you had some time over the last couple of weeks to think about some big dreams you would like to make reality.

While visiting Southern Door & Plywood a few weeks ago, Kevin Elswick told me about one such dream of his father’s that was definitely share worthy. Take some time and view some of the 715 pictures his father took on his epic bicycle adventure from Virginia to Washington State.  I hope his story inspires you to get up and get moving in 2013!

Click on the link below, then click on the picture to view more pics.

My name is Larry, and I live in Jacksonville, Florida. I’ll be 61 this year (2005) and I’m recently retired. I retired early so that I could do some of the things that I’ve always wanted to do but never had the time. One of them is riding my bicycle across the United States. And that is what I’m getting ready to do during the spring/summer of 2005.

“When you can’t change the direction of the wind, adjust your sails.” – Unknown

December is a time for reflection. It’s the time of year to measure the progress you’ve made toward your dreams. It’s the perfect time to check the direction you’re heading and adjust your sails to stay on course.

Do you have a course?  Are you sailing toward your dreams or just floating around the huge ocean of life directionless and at the mercy of uncontrollable forces?

For the last couple of months, my best friend Ginny and I have been giving a lot of thought to our goals and dreams. We have had long conversations about where we are and what direction we want our lives to go.  After many great talks we decided it would beneficial to have a retreat like weekend.  To brainstorm, get creative and have some fun.

With energetic music in the background we shared our list of goals, plans and dreams. Our lists covered a myriad of subjects, i.e. our body, mind, spirit, relationships, homes, bank accounts, etc.  In between the brain storming Ginny had a lot of fun planned including playing wii and getting massages.

We decided to take the following week to set some specific steps for the upcoming year to make these dreams a reality.   Our plan is to email our lists, goals, and plans to achieve those goals to each other for accountability.  Each month we will check in with with the other to review progress and offer encouragement.

After attending Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within, I learned what an important part accountability plays in the actual achievement of your goals. We all make new year’s resolutions, most of us keep them to ourselves (hmm, why is that!), and then never think of them again after the first couple of weeks of the new year.  Having a friend, family member, or life coach to answer to on a monthly basis is powerful.

I hope you take some time this December to reflect on where you have been heading and where you want to end up.  Set some quiet days aside before New Year’s Eve to make some plans for the coming year.  Then share those plans with someone you trust to hold you to them.  Shout it from the roof tops, fan the flame and keep it alive more than two weeks!

A special thanks to Ginny for all the work she put into our weekend.  It was motivational, inspirational and a blast!