By Sandra Mann

While planning a menu recently, it struck me how much my dinner preparations mirror the way I approach goals. I sit down, think about what I want to do, be, change, or have, and then come up with goals to help me get there—just like I do when I plan our meals for the week.

First comes the menu. I want nutritious meals that satisfy my family and, ideally, offer some leftovers for my husband's lunch the next day. Similarly, my goals need to be worthwhile—aligned with my greater life ambitions and filled with joy and blessings I can share.

Some meals are planned with busy days in mind and come together easily. I might boil pasta, open a jar of spaghetti sauce, toss in some spinach and carrots from the fridge, whip up a little garlic toast, and have dinner on the table in 45 minutes. Other times call for something more involved. On those days, I’ll rise early to grind wheat, peel potatoes, and prepare a fresh fruit salad.

Then comes the turkey—already thawed for two days so it cooks evenly. I clean it, season it, and tuck it into an oven bag to bake. Time to start the rolls: our favorite buttered potato Parker House rolls, which need time to rise. The deviled eggs are ready to assemble since I boiled them yesterday. A dash of paprika, and they’re done. I pull out a jar of pickled beets I canned over the summer.

With a relish tray, mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, and—of course—fresh peach cobbler for dessert, the meal comes together. (Are you hungry yet?) After hours of cooking and days of preparation, the kitchen is filled with delicious smells, and the family starts circling, eager to set the table and dig in.

Finally, the meal is served. My family eats until their stomachs are stretched and their faces are glowing with contentment.

Reaching my goals feels a lot like that. Just as parts of a meal come together quickly while others require more time, every goal has its own timeline before the results are seen or felt. Some come easily—either because I already have the skills or because circumstances align just right. Others take more time. Sometimes I hit roadblocks, or I have to wrestle with inner doubts and fears. Not everything goes according to plan, and some parts require extra effort to bring things back on track.

But the goals that take longer, the ones that challenge me most, are often the most rewarding. I come out of them stronger, more grateful, and with lessons that prepare me for whatever comes next. They may take time, but they’re worth the wait—and they usually leave me with a bigger appetite for what’s ahead.

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