I’ve spent more paper—and more time—than I care to admit trying to figure out my personal BHAGs. You know, those Big Hairy Audacious Goals that are meant to push you out of your comfort zone and into some grand future.
But the more I wrestled with it, the more I realized this chapter of life isn’t about doing more. It’s about being more. Not in a passive or shrinking way but in a deeper, more present, more meaningful way.
So what does a BHAG look like when you’re not climbing a corporate ladder or chasing milestones? Here’s what I’ve come up with. My goals are simple, but they’re still audacious—because they go against the tide of a world obsessed with speed, noise, and productivity.
1. Create a Sanctuary in Nature
The first BHAG is already unfolding: to live in a truly rural place where we’re immersed in nature. A place that’s calm, decluttered, and life-affirming. Somewhere we can slow down, be grounded, and start to grow our own food, just a little at first but enough to feel the rhythm of the seasons again.
This isn’t about escape, it’s about rooting ourselves in something real.
2. Reimagine Church as Everyday Life
As a Christian, I’m beginning to see that church isn’t just a building or a Sunday service. It’s a 24/7 way of life. It’s community, hospitality, prayer, and seeking God in the ordinary moments.
So one of my BHAGs is to go back to the early Church, looking at the Book of Acts and other early Christian writings and ask what it might mean to live like that today, here in 21st-century Derbyshire. It’s about walking more closely with Jesus and letting faith shape the fabric of daily life.
3. Embrace Slow Living
Slow Living is not about laziness but rather intention. It’s the joy of a simple meal made with good local ingredients, shared with family. It’s buying less but choosing better; things that are ethically made, aesthetically beautiful, and built to last.
It’s cycling to the shop instead of driving. It’s growing some veggies rather than filling a trolley. It’s being outside in the Peak District air every day rather than waiting for the next big holiday. It’s putting down the phone and really being present with people.
This is the kind of richness I want to pursue.
4. Restore My Health
Coming out of burnout, I wasn’t in a good place physically: overweight, pre-diabetic, with high blood pressure and zero energy. So another BHAG is to reclaim my health.
That means better sleep, gentle but regular exercise, and a nourishing diet. Not chasing perfection but aiming for metrics that move from red and orange back to green. It’s about honouring the body I’ve been given and building resilience for the years ahead.
5. Explore the Outdoors Through Mountain Biking
One of the great gifts of living in the Peak District is the sheer beauty right on our doorstep—and I want to embrace it fully. This BHAG is about engaging with the outdoors through mountain biking: building up my skills, getting to know the landscape intimately, and ultimately being able to lead others in discovering the breathtaking countryside around us.
It’s adventure, fitness, connection with nature and perhaps one day, a chance to guide and inspire others out on the trails.
6. Share the Journey
The final BHAG is simple but slightly scary: to share this journey. I hope that by documenting it, others might be encouraged or even inspired to rethink their own BHAGs especially as they move into retirement or through seasons of transition.
If I’m honest, I’d love this to become a side project or even a side hustle that helps others slow down, reset, and reconnect with what matters most. But for now, I’m starting small, just writing, reflecting, and seeing where it leads.
A Different Kind of Ambition
I used to think BHAGs had to be bold and loud, about building businesses or chasing big numbers. But I’ve come to see that they can be quiet too. They can be about building a life that’s deeply rooted, joyfully present, and full of grace.
And that, for me, is audacious enough.
Great2Live 
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