Last night I spent time contemplating the question "What sort of story would you like to be living?" That question is the focus of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. He has been approached to adapt his previous book into a movie. The only problem is that his previous book was a collection of stories about his life and that wasn't a good enough story for film. So he sets off to write a better story for his fictional self based on his book that was based on his life. But why should the story you're living not be a worthy story to begin with? What does it take to live a great story?

I think everyone gets caught up in wanting to do something better for themselves like exercise more or read a book. But why is it so difficult to follow through? Why is the person in my head and my heart so much better than the person sitting on the couch watching television and eating junk food?

I think a lot of problem is getting too focused on achieving the end result. We set lofty goals for ourselves and get overwhelmed by the amount of time and effort it will take to achieve them and end up getting discouraged and giving up, sometimes before even really starting. It's the same curse of the New Year's Resolution. Unless your goal is Specific and Measurable it is probably not going to be Attainable. For instance if you want the goal of exercising more, don't just leave it at that. Write down a goal of exercising for thirty minutes a day starting at 6:00am and losing 5 lbs. by the end of the month. That's specific (when/how long to exercise) and measurable (how much weight to lose). While having that measurable aspect for the end result it is also important to take it one day at a time. If you want to be a person that reads one book a month it starts with reading chapter one today. Whatever it is, do what you can do today. Then do it again tomorrow. Before long you will be a person that reads one book a month.

And that goes for any kind of goal even a goal to start living the story you want. If you are not fulfilled by your job, set a goal of attaining a position in a career that fulfills you. There is a huge difference between "I'm going to contact 5 businesses I would like to work with this week" and "I want to find a new job". Do you see it?

So what's your story going to be about?

At the recommendation from a friend I have been reading Predictably Irrational - The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions. In a chapter on self-control Dan Ariely details a lady who in an attempt to control her consumer credit spending starting a blog to post her personal finance information. That has motivated me to take my little site here in a new direction. There will still be random shots around town but I want to use this more to keep myself focused on what is important to me and allow you to help. Accountability is a powerful motivator when working towards a goal.

If you know me personally you know I am a complete devotee to Dave Ramsey. I have led his Financial Peace University (FPU) course at my own church and will soon be helping a friend get the program started at her place of worship. Initially the idea of FPU was for individuals and families to work hard to get themselves out of debt and begin to work towards important long-term financial goals like retirement investing, college savings, and giving freely to church and charity. However given the current political and economic turmoil we are going through Dave has offered a new challenge, The Great Recovery. The idea is simple; it starts with YOU. What if instead of sitting around and complaining or moping YOU decided to work on you so that you could in turn help someone else? What if instead of sending most of your paycheck to Visa, Ford and JC Penny YOU decided to start giving it to people in need? The answer to your personal finance problems and those facing our nation as a whole is not going to come from the top down. The solution is from the bottom up.

If you've never listened to Dave Ramsey's radio show tune in today (1 - 4pm). You can stream it right from his site. You will be amazed how your mood improves by listening to someone talk about hope and recovery instead of doom and gloom. If you have heard him before but have not attended Financial Peace University, look up a class near you. If two hours, one night a week for thirteen weeks is too much time to spend getting your life in order then you may have a priority problem. The best part is if you follow through and become debt free and miss paying everyone else instead of yourself you can always go get a new car loan or credit card and jump right back into debt. And finally if you want to see this economy recover, if you want to see people helping people, get involved with The Great Recovery. Yes it is based on the church but even if you don't attend one that is no reason not to try and do the best you can for yourself and for others.

**UPDATE
Full The Great Recovery Kick-Off Event Video

Learn more about Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University and The Great Recovery.

My eldest brother and his wife welcomed their second son, and subsequently my second nephew, this morning to our big old world. Grady Jackson Acy is a hardy 8.8 lbs. and 20.5 inches in length. I can't wait to meet him myself soon!

This ugly little guy is a dinosaur plant I recently purchased from Think Geek. It doesn't require soil and can survive in a hibernated state for up to fifty years without water! These pictures were taken during it's first six hours back in water. It was really incredible watching it unfurl and green up in such a short time. Sure it's not the prettiest plant but it sure is a survivor. Did I mention they have been around for more than 300 million years!

This is what the New Orleans skyline and our most famous landmark look like from the Algiers ferry.