On my birthday, I made my goals too big.
On her birthday, Jiwoo opens a new notebook and fills it with goals for the year. After her younger brother blows out the cake candles, one question from him…
After writing down all her New Year’s goals on her birthday, Jiwoo stares at the first line of an overwhelming plan as her younger brother asks her a question.
Twenty-four-year-old Jiwoo writes down what she hopes to accomplish this year in a new notebook on her birthday. Her younger brother brings her a cake and wishes her a happy birthday, then asks when she plans to start. Jiwoo says she hasn’t picked a date yet. At the counseling room, she looks again at Saebyeok and the first line of her notebook. She still hasn’t decided what to choose.
When your goals feel too big
Trying to accomplish all your goals for the year in a single day can make it hard to get started.
What’s one thing you wrote down that you really want to accomplish this year?
The scene of writing down all her goals for the year on her birthday morning stayed with me. Before she’d even begun, the whole year already felt like a burden. If you’ve spent a morning like that alone, you’re welcome to share your story here, too.
Scenes
- 01 · The first page of her birthday The first page of her birthday — On her birthday, Jiwoo fills the first page of a new notebook with goals for the year.
- 02 · Blowing out the candles Blowing out the candles — Her younger brother, Minjae, brings in a cake and wishes her a happy birthday. After Jiwoo blows out the candles, Minjae points to her notebook. Minjae: When are you going to start this? Jiwoo: I haven’t picked a date yet.
- 03 · The date is still blank The date is still blank — “I haven’t picked a date yet.” Jiwoo looks down at her notebook, and Minjae sets down the cake plate.
- 04 · The scale of the first line The scale of the first line — In the counseling room, Jiwoo opens her notebook. The first line is filled with goals for the year, and Saebyeok points to it. Saebyeok: Jiwoo, looking at that first line, it feels like the whole year is about to begin at once. If you broke your goals down into things you can do in a day, what might stand out first? Jiwoo: Um… I’m not sure yet.
Stories by Saebyeok
- Saebyeok
- I reviewed it, but by Monday it feels unfamiliar again.
- Monday morning, and I feel like I’ll have to explain my time off again.
- After celebrating with someone, I start to doubt whether I want to try again.
- Even when I go to the study room, I can't open my book.
- Before bed, I write down only how much I studied today.
- While I wait for the results, I’m already worried about who I’ll be compared with.
- After washing up, I stand before the mirror and see the choice I left behind again.
- On rainy days, I’d open just one page.