It has been said that 2020 is about vision. It has been lauded as the year for self-reflection, fresh starts and goal setting but what exactly does that mean? 

Establishing a vision personally or in business is about imagining, dreaming, setting your sights on the future and using it as a beacon to guide your decisions and day to day actions.  A vision ensures you are living and growing, not just marking time. It is something everyone should have, regardless of age.

My Dad was a man of vision.  He worked at being happy, physically active, mentally stimulated and well nourished so that he could enjoy whatever the future had to offer. At 89, despite a cancer diagnosis, he renewed his passport for 10 years because he dreamed of going to Iceland. 

My Mom was content to let life unfold around her. Three years ago, she broke her hip. When she left the hospital, she went into a nursing home. Dad visited every day.  Despite the rolled eyes, excuses and protests, he pushed Mom to exercise using resistance bands and advocated for her to get regular physiotherapy. When Dad became too ill to continue the daily ritual, my sister took over.  It felt like everyone was fighting for Mom’s independence except Mom.

Following Dad’s death, prior to his journey to Iceland, thoughts turned to what to do with the family home.  Mom was adamant that she was going to live in it.  On so many levels, it made absolutely no sense. She was unable to toilet, dress, bathe or prepare meals on her own.  Wheelchair-bound, she was unable to navigate the 16 steps just to get into the house.  The family suggested buying her a condo and bringing in home care.  We suggested installing a ramp or stair lift in the house.  All suggestions met with the same response: NO!  She wanted to go home, and nothing was to be installed that would “damage” her house.

Vision is the destination; passion is the fuel to get you there.

Mom had a vision.  She saw herself reading the morning paper at the kitchen table, sleeping in her own bed, NOT eating nursing home food.  With the dogged determination of someone who has been told they cannot do something, she willingly started exercising. She was intent on getting herself to a place where she could master those 16 stairs and live in her own house.

Mom walked with the nursing home physiotherapist between the parallel bars and down the hallways with a walker.  She started lifting her legs onto a makeshift box to develop the muscles needed to do stairs.  As she progressed, an audience of residents began to gather to cheer her on.  Inspired by Mom’s progress, they began demanding physio so that they too could become more mobile. 

Over time, Mom’s complaining about nursing home life was replaced with positive chats about her progress.  As she became stronger, she was able to get into a car for drives and outings. One morning she told her ever-so-supportive physiotherapist she wanted help to mount the facility stairwell.  Once she started up the stairs, she refused to stop.  Grinning like a Cheshire cat, she miraculously made it up nine stairs on her very first try. After a rest and refreshment, she came back down.

I wish I could report a happy ending – that Mom’s vision was realized and that she moved back home.  Unfortunately, Mom died in June, just 14 months after my Dad.  What I can report is that the journey toward her vision, changed her life:  she was happier; she enjoyed going out in the car for lunch, shopping and, a major milestone, Easter dinner at my sister’s home. She inspired other residents to get moving and was genuinely proud of her accomplishments.

As we imagine our own future accomplishments, there are a few takeaways from my parents’ stories.

Dream big, ask for help and find your passion.

Dream big but keep it real.  My mother couldn’t have gone snorkeling, jumped out of a plane or climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Both her, and my Dad’s Iceland vision, were possible had they had more time.

Ask for help. Achieving a dream need not be a solo mission. You will arrive sooner, and have more fun along the way, if there is a team to support you.

Say it out loud.  When others are aware of our goals, there is accountability.  Knowing others are watching, and cheering from the sidelines, propels us forward.

Be Flexible.  Circumstances and desires change. Regularly reassess your vision to ensure it is what you want.  If not, come up with a new vision. It doesn’t mean you failed — you simply changed your mind.

Do It!  Depending upon the dream or vision, achieving it may take years or even decades.  Keep your eye on the prize and ensure the things you do and decisions you make today are guided by your future goals.

Life is short. Make 2020 about thinking big and imagining your life two, five, even 10 years in the future.  Looking forward ensures you are not simply marking time but marching toward the things in life that truly matter.  And as my Mom discovered, focusing on the future significantly improves the present.

Sharon Hughes-Geekie is a freelance writer and owner/CEO of JumpStart Communications and Business Development in Kelowna, British Columbia. See how the JumpStart team can boost business and energize your employees.