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Motivation Articles  ›  Inspiring Stories

Shoot for the Moon

Harnessing a Child's Enthusiasm to Achieve Your Goals

-- By Sue Dickinson
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During the next few weeks I challenge you to break that pattern of self-destruction. You have built-in role models in your kids to observe and emulate – really watch how their excitement and zest for life and their built in desire to excel propel them to unlimited possibilities. Then, try to harness even a little of that enthusiasm into your own quest to achieve your goals and dreams. True, with your busy life you may not attain everything you desire immediately. But the results are bound to be better than the status quo! After all, as Les Brown reminds us, it’s always better to "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars!"

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About The Author

Sue Dickinson Sue Dickinson
Sue Dickinson is a mom, businesswoman, and the founder of www.UnlimitedMom.com, a website designed to celebrate the many facets of mom. Sue is also the author of the book What's a Mom to Do? Overcoming the Urge to Put Your Life on Hold.

Member Comments

  • AZURE-SKY
    Very true! I have a dear friend who learned to dap dance at the age of 50. She's now in her late 70s and still going strong! Shen belongs to a dance group (all over 65) that puts on shows several times a year. - 3/31/2013 1:38:04 PM
  • As C.S. Lewis said, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
    I firmly believe this, and was glad to find this article to read this morning. Deb


    - 3/31/2013 9:20:38 AM
  • Love this!!!! I've been riding the fence on a few things....I'm going to brush off the watercolors, pick up the brushes and start on the canvas!!!! - 3/31/2013 8:09:57 AM
  • Beautifully written and inspiring!! Thanks for sharing! - 3/15/2013 9:57:12 AM
  • Really? There are people that don't feel excited about the skills they are learning? I don't get it. I go from new thing to new thing because I love the feeling of learning something.

    Right now, it's swimming and it is fun to learn how to tweak my skills to speed up and to do new strokes. I'm going to the pool today to work on some new drills I learned and I noticed my excitement didn't resonate with my friend when I described the drills... oh well. I like it. - 5/4/2012 11:40:27 AM
  • Such a motivating article! Thank you! - 3/31/2012 12:33:49 PM
  • MTLANG
    Great article! Thanks for the inspiration! - 2/16/2012 7:38:08 PM
  • Great food for thought. This article's given me permission to be abit more daring and aim for the moon. - 2/16/2012 2:31:42 PM
  • I really liked this one, and I dont even have kids to watch and learn from! Still good. - 1/26/2012 7:03:50 PM
  • I semi retired at 40, learned Spanish, moved to a third world country for 8 years.
    Now I´m a lot older, but still have the desire to run half marathon. At times I think I´m crazy, but have regained my enthusiasm. Thank you - 12/20/2011 3:27:19 PM
  • Just what I needed
    - 12/20/2011 3:25:10 PM
  • BLESSUSALL
    To see the world with fresh, 'newborn' eyes- that Is my aim today! :) Thanks for the confirmation~ Blessing EVERYONE on their precious journeys! - 12/12/2011 8:47:55 AM
  • I love this article,so reassuring that it is never too late to get into shape.To hell with menopause.I will slim down before my 50th birthday which is next Setember. - 12/12/2011 4:52:00 AM
  • I got serious about my art at 50--now at 63 I am a reasonably successful artist--and blissfully happy. You are never to old to start something new. - 11/19/2011 6:59:28 AM
  • I'm still amazed that at this age (40) I'm still learning how to use my body in ways I never thought about--like swimming or building muscles or learning to roller blade. How awesome! I hope I can keep this up, because as I child I never thought I was 'athletic' and now, I do see myself as some what of an athlete, for the first time. - 6/27/2011 7:24:52 PM