You arrive at the airline ticket counter with your bags packed and ready. You pull out a billfold full of cash, and say to the ticket agent,

"I'd like a ticket, please."

"Certainly," says the agent. "Where would you like to go?"

"Some place nice. Where I can have a good job, make plenty of money, drive a new car, live in a big house, and have a lot of friends," you answer.

"And exactly where would that be?" asks the agent.

"I'm not sure just yet," you reply. "But once I get going, I should have a better idea."

"I'm sorry," says the agent. "You obviously have enough money for a ticket to anywhere you wish to travel. However, in order to issue a ticket, I'll need to know exactly where you intend to go. If you don't know that, I'll have to ask you to step aside. Next, please."

The person behind you steps up to the counter. "I'd like a ticket to Paris," he announces.

"Certainly," says the agent. "And how will you be paying for this?"

"I'm not sure just yet," he answers. "But once I get going I should be able think of a way."

"I'm sorry," replies the agent. "But I cannot issue a ticket without your payment. Next, please."

A successful journey has two essential requirements: a clear destination, and the means to get there. Your goals and dreams are the destination of your life’s journey. Your discipline and effort are the means of travel. Without one, the other is wasted. With both, you can go wherever you want to be.

This week I will determine to get re-acquainted with my goals and dreams. I will re-evaluate my priorities and the road I have been traveling to reach a healthy daily destination in my recovery.

Is my destination a reasonable one? Is it realistic? Is it reachable?

And what is there to be said of my mode of travel? Do the tools I require to make my journey need to be sharpened, fine-tuned or perhaps in some cases replaced altogether?

These are vital questions I will ask myself this week as I practice taking a daily inventory of my plans, motives and intent.