Square 1: Our first step towards accomplishing goals

We all have goals, desires, wants, needs, aspirations etc. How do we start and stay motivated to see the journey through to the end? There are thousands of videos, books and numerous other means of learning how to set goals and stay motivated. Choose one! Or two! Or how many it takes! Bottom line, Just Start.

I have chosen to create a blog to organize, document and journal the progress of the achievement of my goals. Square 1 for me is writing this public post in hopes that people will follow, comment and give constructive criticism. One of my goals is to  develop a community of positive people who will support, motivate, inspire and hold each other accountable. 

This is not my first attempt at setting and accomplishing goals. Some goals I have achieved and some I have not. Creating this blog is one of them. I started https://truckerintransition.com approximately two years ago. My intention was to update it regularly but everyday life took priority over the blog. I wanted the blog to be perfect. If i couldn’t create a perfect post, I wasn’t going to post anything at all. This time I’m not looking for perfection. This is a learning experience for me and I will share every step of this experience with you. 

I just asked my wife to read what I have written so far. She said, “I think it’s good. What you said about perfection in the last paragraph is something you definitely need to work on.” Our journey to accomplish our goals will not be a perfect one. There will be trials and tribulations, highs and lows, good days and bad days. We can’t be afraid to fail. In fact, there will be no failures. Failures will be looked at as a learning experience on how not to do something. As an inventor, Thomas Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

Day 1 of 28 day fitness challenge

This evening, after a hard days work, my wife, my 13 year old daughter and I started a workout program called Results In 28 Days or #RI28. My wife signed us up for the program so I don’t know a lot about it right now. It focuses on healthy eating habits and body weight exercises. No equipment necessary. My wife and daughter used yoga mats while I used the grass beneath my feet as we exercised outdoors in our backyard. My 11 and 7 year old daughters were our personal trainers pushing and motivating us to complete the workout.

It was awesome! A great way to spend quality family time together. We laughed, we cried (out in pain) and most of us worked up a good sweat. Those of us who didn’t (Wifey) know who they are. But we all genuinely had a really good time! I was so impressed, and a little intimidated, at how my 11 and 7 year old daughters pushed us like they were drill sergeants breaking in new recruits. I guess all of those hours of watching Dance Moms are good for something!

Days like today are so precious and memorable to anyone living the Trucker Lifestyle because they are so far and few in between. As truckers we have to remember that its not only us who miss out on a lot of family outings but our spouses and children also miss out because we are not there to add our unique personality to the family interaction.

It is now 10:44 pm. My alarm is set for 2:45 am. I picked up a load in Charleston, SC this afternoon that delivers in Gainesville, GA at 7:00 am tomorrow morning. With that I pray that you all have a blessed night.

……. to be continued.

Brand New Blogger

Hello and Welcome to Trucker in Transition! My name is Ezell and I am a Brand New Blogger. I have worked in the trucking industry for the past 15 years. I decided a few years ago to make the transition from Over The Road (OTR) driver to regional/local driver to spend more time with my family and focus on other aspects of my life that required more home time. One of my many interests include writing so I decided to start a blog as a creative outlet to express myself and journal my transitional experiences along the way.

This blog will not be an outlet for me and my experience alone, my vision is to create a place where anyone can share and search for advice on making any type of lifestyle transition. Although specifically aimed at the trucking industry, all are welcome to contribute and learn.

Truckers have it hard on the road today. We put in long hours everyday and try to cram rest, recreation and sleep into the little time we are off duty. Trying to accomplish this is especially difficult when you have the needs of your family to consider. Upcoming blog posts will characterize and dig deeper to answer questions a Trucker in Transition may have.