it is my belief and experience in life so far, that lasting motivation comes from selflessness. when we find motivations that are only about ourselves, we will eventually lose interest. i used to go back and forth with motivation, then it would fade for a while and on and on. one day, when i was about 26 or so, i was watching Oprah. (yes, i am a fan :))
the show was about brothels in India and the stories were of very young girls who were forced into sexual slavery. some were pregnant, AIDS, sickly and they were forced to lay there for up to 15 men a day! i was so nausiated and furious and i don’t like to be seen crying because i don’t like the attention. so i left the room and went into my bathroom and cried like a baby. the tears just wouldn’t stop, it was the first time i had heard of such an injustice. i grew up very sheltered and as you may know, here in the states, if you want to know what’s really going on, you’d better look for it or you’ll just be in the dark. this is why many non-americans don’t like us, because we’re so naive about the realities of other people’s lives. not entirely our faults, its our media and we’re spoiled here. after i was done crying, i began to explore my feelings and i was wondering how i could be so affected by this story. i was confused really about why i felt angry. the other feelings made sense. then i realized that it’s because it doesn’t have to happen. there are enough people on this planet and good ones too that this shouldn’t happen. i began to examine the things that money was going into, instead of it being put towards such a need. a lot of people feel animosity towards rich people. i say, i have no place to be angry, if i want money to go towards things that move me then i need to make my own and do with it what i want. this sparked my motivation and i’ve maintained it for years now. i have many causes that i feel passionately about so i do what i can. at this time, all i can do is donate my 10% to various causes like Operation Iraqi Children or different animal rescue projects. ultimately i want my own shelter. so, regarding motivation, i think it will only work if it is fueled by something greater than yourself.