I am once again participating in Sometimes Sweet’s weekly journal prompts, and this week the prompt is:
Everyone has different things that keep them going. Sometimes it’s the people around us, other times it might be what’s waiting for us on the other side of hard work. Whatever it may be, there’s usually some sort of motivation to get up every day, get things done, or maybe even go the extra mile. With that said, what would you say is your biggest motivation in life? Has it always been this way?
I can’t tell you how many days I’ve wanted to throw the covers over my head when the alarm goes off. I’m sure we’ve all had those moments where we’d like nothing more than to hide from the world and either sleep all day or at the very least not shower and stay curled up binge watching a favorite show on Netflix. When I was single, I could do just that and not even think twice about. My only responsibility was myself and that was that.
The moment you become a parent, everything changes. You’re no longer responsible for yourself alone, and you have these amazing beings that look like you and depend on you for pretty much everything. While Josh and I are a team and can singly look after our brood as needed, I have this innate need to be there and to spend as much time with them as I can. Even on bad days, I feel like I have to make the effort to get up and do something just so that my kids don’t notice that mommy isn’t well, whether it be physical or mental or both. It’s important to me that I make the most of the moments we have together, and the effort that it sometimes takes isn’t without reward. A simple hug or smile from my two favorite people is all it takes to brighten my mood, even if just a little bit.
Beyond that, though, my kids are my motivation to do more and be the best I can be. I want to be a good example for them and hopefully inspire them in return one day. I want them to dream and hopefully will always encourage them to follow those dreams. I think it’s important for them to see that their parents are living a full life, and staying true to themselves, though. I’ve always been so indecisive in terms of what I want to do with my life, so I’ve stalled and gone back and forth for years, always worried that what I really want to do won’t be practical. Sure, stability is great and a steady income, but I think being happy with what you do is the most important thing of all, so I really want to encourage our kids to do what makes them truly happy one day.
I’ve done a lot of thinking soul-searching over the past few months, and slowly I think things are falling into place, or at the very least I’m becoming more aware and certain of what I want to accomplish and do. If it weren’t for the kiddos, I probably wouldn’t even think much about stepping outside my comfort zone, but thanks to them I feel more ready to take risks… small risks, but things that make me squirm nonetheless.