The best intentions

You probably have heard the saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. This saying can be traced as far back as Virgil in ancient Rome. While it may refer to the intentions that led to a negative outcome, it can also refer to dreams, desires, and ideas that remained just that. Think of the number of times that people have talked about their plans for the future. "I want to be married and have a family." "I want to get my degree and become a doctor." "I intend to be a millionaire by the time I am 30." But their intentions have no actions attached to them. They never enter a relationship that could lead to marriage. They never finish college. They spend all their money on what they see as necessary at that moment. Maybe hell for them is living unfulfilled intentions. My intention was to complete a doctorate. It meant assembling a doctoral committee, attending classes, and writing a dissertation. My intention was to visit all seven continents. It meant making travel arrangements and having the necessary funds to pay for them. Otherwise they were only dreams. Think about your own life and what you intended to accomplish. How many of them became reality and what did you have to do for that to happen?