Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Motivation.
The Comfort of Being Okay
I have come to realize that there is truly something to be said for being merely okay. As someone who has always tried to appear to be happy, this was a discovery for me. The concept of the daily lies we tell each other revealed itself to me over the summer. I started thinking about how, in today's world, it is effortless to come off as happy. We have social media, obviously, where we can easily put on a smile for the snapshot photo we post, although our followers will never really know what is behind that plastered smile.
By Josie Elizabeth6 years ago in Motivation
On the Cusp of Stupidity
There are so many chapters we all go through. We resemble books, pages of exposition and varying levels of climax, all over the course of our lives. Some, unfortunately, have short stories, and some don’t have happy endings. If you’re lucky though, you have moments that make up the highlights—almost like a “best of” section of your life. Sometimes those memories are the pivotal points that might not have been the best but brought you to something that was even better. All life is—is a collection of moments. These bursts of stupidity and courage that make you say, “I can’t believe I did that” and have you continue to say that for the rest of time. Taking chances when you wanted to just take a nap, and falling in and out of love passionately, like a child who finally got the opportunity to pick out their own clothes. There is no rhyme or reason for why things happen in the moment, and only some find the connections later on down the line, and only some embrace the unknown. To choose to fill your life with stories of wonder and risk is showing you realize it is an honor to be alive, and I think a lot of the time we forget that it’s so short. We play it safe, for the fear of making a fool of ourselves to someone or something that probably won’t matter in a matter of weeks. We hold our tongue with telling someone how we feel, just to stave off the possibility of heartbreak, even though the not telling them is probably killing us more. We calculate the risk in almost everything we do, but we don’t calculate the reward. The times we say “fuck it” and throw caution to the wind, and kiss the guy, or kiss the girl, or quit the job, those are the times that we revel in later in life. Not the times we almost quit the job, or almost kissed the girl. Those are the things we categorize as regrets, things that could have been. Things change so rapidly in this life, that by the time we decide to make a choice, it could have already been made for us. We have to start living life, and not just enduring it. It is a beautiful thing to be nervous and scared and hopeful and anxious. It means there is still a heart beating in our chest, pumping blood through our veins, giving us a reason to stand up and make a decision. In a world that is so full of choices, we need to take advantage. The next time you are faced with a fight or flight moment, fucking jump. Pretend that you can fly because you might just surprise yourself. Betting on ourselves is the scariest thing we can do because, it means that whatever the outcome, it’s on us. There is no one to blame, but us. Take pride in your failures, and let them guide you to your next move. Be humbled, and be gracious of the way that you took a shot. Be proud of all of your synapses firing and misfiring because it is what makes you, you. Nothing is worse than wondering what could have happened. Staying home and wishing doesn’t fill your life with stories, it fills them with what ifs. To live a life with no what ifs is to live a life worth telling about to your children, and to your life partner. Living life a little bit reckless is to be brave, and an inspiration to others who would rather “sit this one out.” Be the motivation for someone else, by betting on you. Show them that even when life decides to kick you in the gut, you gather everything inside of you to prove that you’re just getting started. To be on the cusp of doing something potentially stupid with the best of intentions is to do justice to the body that your soul is living in.
By Samantha Lucier6 years ago in Motivation
Monsters Under the Bed. Monsters in Your Head?
What is your worst fear? Go ahead, think about it. Look away from the screen, move your eyes back and forth a few times. That seems to help. Okay. Got it? Now, what is the last, small, everyday fear you had? That being, something like opening your eyes quickly in the shower as you shampoo your hair because a brief memory of that scene from Psycho comes to mind with screeching violins playing. Or that time you were standing in line for a rollercoaster and you flashback to a summer evening at the fair on the octopus ride. You were screaming bloody murder and yelling lies out loud such as "I'm going into labour! Get me off this thing." You could maybe use that lie today, it might work, since your not seven any more. It's all fun and games until you have an anxiety attack as soon as the latches are fastened on the cold, plastic seat of the carnival ride. It's all fun and games until you have to figure out what to do with your life in the real world. You know, it's all games and fun until somebody loses an eye.
By Katee R6 years ago in Motivation
Moving Day
"Welcome to the neighborhood!" The first thought that goes through most people's minds after finishing up a big move to a new city. In my case, it was more sarcastic than hopeful. Teenagers, am I right? Yes, yes I am. When you first start trying to adjust to a new environment, it's hard, though. It's kind of like going through the five stages of a break up. The first stage? Deny, deny, denial.
By Clarissa Joyce6 years ago in Motivation
How To Not Let Life Get You Down
We've all had our fair share of ups and downs. There are days when everything goes just the way you want it to, and on others, it seems as though the world has turned everything against you. And if I asked you which one of those relates to your everyday, what would you say? If the first part pertains to you more, then you most likely don't need to hear what I have to say, but if it's the second part and life is definitely not giving you lemons, then please stay tuned for what I have to say.
By Kennadie Warren6 years ago in Motivation
The Joys of Giving Up
Rewind to about a year ago. If you asked me where I'd be in 5 years, I'd tell you I'd be cruising down the PCH in my long-coveted 1986 Lamborghini Countach, windows down, blasting Def Leppard or Van Halen or some heavy metal crap, headed to my bitchin' mid-century modern home located somewhere with an enviously-posh ZIP code. All my money came from some ingenious, world-changing idea I came up with, which I make loads of money on without getting name recognition from it (last thing I want is people following me around or badgering me). I have a horse, at least one dog, and a partner I am madly in love with. Oh boy, am I living the life.
By C.G. Remmet6 years ago in Motivation
Evolving
I’m going to start off with a really honest statement: I have no idea what I’m doing. I, a twenty-year-old college student with a part-time job and a fiancé, am completely and utterly lost. In fact, I have never felt LESS secure in my entire life than I do right now. Why?
By Meghan R6 years ago in Motivation
Future Writers Go This Way
I'm not going to lie. I'm not a full-time writer, but I know I'll get there someday. You may understand the struggle that becoming a successful writer is not following steps, but creating your own. Yes, it is possible and yes, great writers share amazing advice. Right now I am only nineteen years old, but you gotta start somewhere, right? I've been writing since the age of eight. Some years I didn't write at all, others, I wrote for days without wasting a single minute. I hope you can relate to this and if you do the same as I do... Congrats! We might be successful writers one day. Nowadays, I try to write as much as I can, so I can finally fulfill the dream I had since the age of eight. Writing takes A LOT of hard work, and sometimes you feel like it's impossible to achieve it or you simply have writer's block! My advice is to play your favorite playlist. I actually have one called "believe" that motivates me and makes me feel like I can achieve it and nothing is going to stop me! I'm not going to lie... Even Hannah Montana's songs are on the playlist. It's childish and some people might call it stupid, but hey. It works. I am proof of that. I can't assure you, you will find glory and become the most famous writer, but what I do know is that never giving up no matter how many times you've failed is the key. How do I know that if I'm not a famous writer? Because I've given up many times and haven't found the success yet, so I guess the path of not giving up is the one I have left. Your best friend will become "coffee" and if you are over 21, it can also be alcohol (Just saying, I'm not implying you'll become an alcoholic). One other thing... Don't you like the last paragraph because of your lack of effort? Got the solution! Read it again and if it makes no sense or doesn't imply what you wanted to transmit.. Here's the answer. DELETE. I know it hurts to delete that piece of writing. Sometimes you think, "What if it's the next masterpiece even though it doesn't make any sense?"Like famous authors from different ages through history that you know, it's a masterpiece, but you don't really understand what they meant. Fine. Don't delete it. Just copy and paste it into another document and save all the crappy paragraphs you write. Maybe later in the story, it will make sense! That's just my advice to you. I know it's not much and I am not a well-known writer (YET), but I can assure you that my advice wasn't followed by me. To be honest, I did the opposite. So, the opposite of what I did might be the answer! I'm still trying to find the right path and I make mistakes; everyone does, but what helps us is that we learn. Sometimes you get so disappointed because you haven't written anything good in weeks, but guess what? HIT PLAY ON THAT PLAYLIST. I promise it will help. Never give up. That's what all successful people say... "never give up." You sometimes need to act like you can never get enough, because I'm sure one day you'll look back and thank that crappy paragraph you once wrote because it became a masterpiece and now you're known by the world! If that's not the case, at least it helped you to know what NOT to write. I really hope you hear my name one day and you'll know I succeeded. In the meantime, I won't give up and don't you dare to mention that word when you're working, because that's the only failure and mistake you'll ever make. If you believe in me, why wouldn't I believe in you? I know you can do it and I hope to see your name in a bookstore one of this days.
By Van Eliz6 years ago in Motivation
The Big Picture
As many have said before, life is such a roller coaster of ups and downs. Why are all these negative things happening? Why can't I do anything right? My life is full of mistakes and hardships, just like the next person. However, I finally came to a realization that has changed my life. How to have true optimism.
By Jane Rudolph6 years ago in Motivation
The Legitimate Dollar
Friends, family, even the stranger you walk past everyday would find it ever so laughable that you think you’ll ever become rich. I suppose most people might pat you on the back and tell you to get real. Ironically, they'll also tell you with conviction to follow your dreams. As if your dream can’t grow into something lucrative. Everything that has to do with money interests me. It’s how we eat, clothe ourselves, travel, etc, etc. Our world is so heavily dependent on some pieces of paper that you’ve gotta be quite preoccupied not to take interest in it.
By L. R. Anthony’s6 years ago in Motivation
Learning, Growing, and Being Grateful
I’m currently sitting on my double bed in some comfy trackies in my new duck egg blue themed, tidy room listening to "My Girl" – The Temptations through some speakers while the sun is shining in through the windows… and I’m feeling pretty grateful.
By Ali Fusi6 years ago in Motivation