Spark...Inspire...Motivate!

mo·ti·va·tion

mōdəˈvāSH(ə)n/

noun

Motivation is defined as the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way and the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

Have you ever groaned at the mere mention of the word MOTIVATION???? Does just hearing this word send a little shiver of fear through you? Why is it that the word MOTIVATION makes us feel like we have to do something...anything...everything?

Let's focus on the synonyms because quite frankly in the hibernating months of winter...MOTIVATION sounds overwhelming...but DESIRE, WISH, INTEREST, EXCITE, SPARK, PROVOKE, PERSUADE....all sound way better!

This is a tough time of year to SPARK ourselves to keep going with our goals, to PROVOKE enthusiasm for that long to-do list we set out to accomplish, and sometimes to even have INTEREST in anything!

What EXCITES you? What SPARKS your INTEREST? What PERSUADES you to try harder, to keep going? Ok, what MOTIVATES you?

Addie's Motivation:

In general...my family. My parents, my brothers, my husband, my nieces and nephew all

motivate me to enjoy life...to not just go through the motions but to live life...to be a better person...to experience all that I can...to get joy out of the happiness of others.

Currently, the feeling I get when my pants are loose and I drop a dress size, is INSPIRING me to keep active and continue my journey to be stronger.

My friends (especially a couple of Broads!) motivate me to try new things, inspire me to challenge myself, and even persuade me to be "up to no good!"

Hilary's Motivation

The women who came before me serve as my motivation. Think of the suffragettes (terrible name in my opinion) who laid the foundation for our lives (Anthony, Stanton, and Stone) and even the women in our personal lives (our grandmothers, mothers, aunts). Knowing that those women never stopped, even when they got busy or tired, motivates me to do more each day.

Being in education, I have the privilege to be motivated by so many women on a daily basis. We share ideas and witness progress, compassion, and empathy. That is minute-by-minute motivation.

So when I'm feeling like I do not want to spend any more time on a certain task or chore, I think of those women who came before me and who work with me now. That, by the way, would not have been my answer ten years ago. Today, I am writing a blog with two other broads. Crazy how things change.

Shannon's Motivation:

I can honestly say that I am a MOTIVATION JUNKIE and it started at an early age!

Was it old school or did everyone's parents provide them with a labor list first thing in the morning? This list taught me and my sisters to be motivated to finish the things we did not like first so we could enjoy the things we did like later! To this day... a fresh list motivates me. There is nothing I enjoy more than crossing off a completed task!

For those that knew my mother or grandmother, a sense of fairness guided them through everything that they did. Whether it was my mother throwing her books at her teacher for calling Kennedy a communist or my grandmother delivering Meals on Wheels to the elderly, these two women modeled how your inner drive can positively impact those around you by doing what is right. While I often fall short in pursuit of my own personal goals, I love the challenge and I am motivated by their example to keep trying to find ways to improve the next time.

What began as a lunchtime message from my mother in my daily lunch bag, has become an obsession for me to find motivation in the written word. I am embarassed to admit that I follow multiple sources for daily inspiration...quotes, faith, beautiful landmarks, puppies, and success stories. These small tidbits motivate me so I also try to motivate others around me by writing notes of encouragement, sharing stories of unusual motivation, and encouraging my children, my friends (Especially the two broads), my students, and myself that Life is too short to be ORDINARY.

#motivation #life