She Did It!

Yesterday I witnessed an event I thought would never occur – my big sister’s graduation from college with a Bachelors in Business Administration.  It was a day of confirmation and relief.  Confirmation that hard work always pays off in the end and relief because there are no more textbooks to purchase this school year.  She said to me once with bewilderment, “I am glad I hung in there and finished.”  I whole heartedly agree, I am overjoyed she finished as well.

As we listened to the various speeches during the commencement activities, I was reminded of a quote in one of my childhood books.  “Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. ” — Shel Silverstein

There were many times I feared she would listen to the distractors and internal fears.  There were many times I feared she would give up and there were even more times when I believe she would have given in to the temptation to quit.  It was her motivation to succeed that kept her going. 

It was her motivation to be an example for her children and grandchild that kept her studying.  That’s the power of the right type of motivation.  The right motivation can make you move mountains.  The right motivation can make you into a goal achiever instead of a goal setter.

Motivation can be a picture of yourself when you were 20lbs lighter.  It’s a personal reminder of why you began your journey in the first place.  The right motivation should be something or someone you can visualize or conjure up when you’re ready to say, no more. 

Motivation can be as painful as escaping from a home of neglect or abuse.   Motivation can be the desire not to experience another failure or maybe it is to be back at your pre-pregnancy weight (my current motivation). 

That’s the beautiful thing about motivation.   Each person’s motivation is as unique as their reflection in the mirror.   It’s like your shadow, everyone has one.  What’s your goal?  Have you identified your motivation?  There’s no time like the present to start again and then you too can say, I did it.

Til next time,
“What does not destroy me, makes me strong.” – Friedrich Nietzsche