Fitzhugh Dodson - Goals that are not written down are just wishes
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Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for January 23rd.
Let’s get right to it: today is National Handwriting Day. Now, don’t worry—I’m not about to ask you to write an essay in cursive. This day is about celebrating the power of putting pen to paper, something that’s becoming rare in our digital world.
Think about it—when was the last time you wrote something by hand that wasn’t your signature? National Handwriting Day is here to remind us of the unique connection between our thoughts and the written word. It’s not just about legibility or style; it’s about the focus and intentionality that comes with the act of writing.
Now, this ties beautifully to something you might be struggling with right now —those New Year’s resolutions you made three weeks ago that are already looking…let’s say, a bit “optional.” Don’t worry, you’re not alone. But today offers a way to rescue them.
This brings me to today’s quote from Fitzhugh Dodson, who once said:
"Goals that are not written down are just wishes."
Let that sink in for a moment. A goal without action is just a dream, and writing it down? That’s the first step to making it real.
You see, there’s something magical about handwriting your goals. When you write them out, it’s not just an idea floating in your head—it’s concrete. It’s like saying, “Okay, universe, I mean business.” Science even backs this up: handwriting activates your brain in ways typing simply doesn’t. It forces you to slow down, think things through, and create a more vivid mental picture of what you’re aiming for.
If you haven’t written down your goals yet this year, grab a notebook and get to it. And don’t worry if your handwriting looks like a toddler's art project—this isn’t about neatness. It’s about commitment. Scribble out that dream vacation, the promotion you’re chasing, or even your plan to drink more water. When you write it, you claim it.
National Handwriting Day is a chance to reconnect with this powerful habit. Take the time today to write down one or two goals. You might be surprised by how motivated you feel seeing them on paper, staring back at you.
So, let’s leave the “wishful thinking” behind and start building those dreams into plans. After all, Fitzhugh Dodson said it best—goals without a little ink are just wishes.
Thanks for joining me on The Daily Quote. I’ll see you tomorrow, pen in hand, ready to tackle a new day. Keep writing, keep dreaming, and most importantly, keep listening... and I'll see you tomorrow, same pod time, same pod station for another Daily Quote.