Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Motivation.
The Answers are in the Cards
I walk through my neighbourhood, which still feels relatively new to me. I’ve just returned to my home city after an extended stretch of travel, that has changed me profoundly at my core. I venture to the small, noticeably ordinary parquette nearby and spend time people-watching from a wooden park bench. The novelty of this daily routine is already wearing off. The same streets, boxy buildings and stark concrete landscape in view. The asphalt as grey as my mood. New neighbourhood, same city. I’m reminded of a quote a fellow globetrotter had written in my travel journal:
By Jill Henderson6 years ago in Motivation
Expect the Unexpected
Sometimes, you gotta expect the unexpected. Or at least, that’s what I think they said. Every day for the past five years has been the same, a monotonous cycle of work with little play, deadlines, heartbreak, and instability. Of the same four walls of my bland room, littered with impersonal knick-knacks and souvenirs I’ve picked up on my trips deeper into the city. My soul ached for something different, something new, but alas, I just didn’t have the time.
By Janet Freeman6 years ago in Motivation
Brittle Sorries
Georgia Thompson stares at the numbers on her computer screen with a trepidatious thrill running through her blood. Her buyer had wanted an existential horror piece, which had been heady and strange to paint, far outside of her comfort-zone. But the buyer had promised twenty-thousand dollars. Exactly enough to round out her savings; exactly enough to finally, actually pay for college tuition. So, Georgia had painted like her future depended on it (because it quite literally had).
By Alba Back6 years ago in Motivation
Viola’s Pages
The Black Book “Grand risings, friend!” My best friend, Danielle, barged into my new apartment with two iced coffees in her hands. In my state of exhaustion, I couldn’t decipher whether she was louder than usual, or if it was the emptiness of my new place that made greetings sound much more amplified. From the half empty cup in her hand, I could tell caffeine had made itself comfortable in her system. “Why are you up so early?” I said, still huddled beneath my blankets with sleep clouding my vocals. “Up? Girl, I haven’t even been to sleep.” That caught my attention and forced me to sit up. Before I could even ask, she handed me my coffee and I took a grateful sip. The caffeine combined with the iciness of the drink sharpened my senses well enough to pull the rest of my mind from its nocturnal fog. “I was enraptured by artistic muses that love to come out after dark and feed my need to create.” Then it hit me, “how did you get in here?” She pulled my keys from her back pocket and tossed them at me. “You left those in the door, genius. Luckily, the good people of NOLA are an honest breed. If you did that in New York, your whole place would have ended up on the back of somebody’s pickup truck, never to be seen again.” “I don’t have anything to take.” I knew I couldn’t hide the sadness in my voice. Earlier this year, I had lost everything I owned in a fire in my Manhattan apartment. I was grateful to be alive and took this tragedy as an opportunity to relocate down to Louisiana. Danielle came and sat next to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “I don’t want you to sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Get back into your writing and keep making those masterpieces. Publishers are going to be begging you to be on their team when they see how talented you are. And anything you need, I will be here to help you. You’re my sister, Annie, you know that.” There were very few times when Danielle got sentimental, but when she did, it came from her soul. Wiping the tears that were gathering on my cheeks, I asked her what she was working on last night and she jumped back up with the excitement. “I finally finished the mural that I started on the brick wall on my roof!” I could tell she was so proud of her accomplishment and I couldn’t wait to see it. Danielle was a phenomenal artist, the type that would rather spend her days covered in paint, inhaling the overwhelming scent of her latest creation than fill her time with things that didn’t fulfill her. I was the safe friend. A complete 180. Never too daring or brave enough to step out of my own skin. I lived my life up until now dying on the inside, constantly racked with regret and fear that my life would be over before I’ve truly had a chance to live. “Congrats, D!” I threw my arms around her, genuinely happy for my friend. I pulled away from her and asked if she would let me take her to brunch to celebrate. “I have a better idea. Hurry up and get ready so we don’t miss out on the good stuff.” My confusion was definitely written in my expression and before I could get a word out to question or protest, she was pushing me into my bathroom, slamming the door behind me.
By Krystal Halliburton6 years ago in Motivation
The Little Black Book
The cold air frosted the tips of my beard and turned my nose scarlet. I bundled up in layers of raggedy clothes but it still wasn't enough, the small holes gained entry for frost that seemed to lead up my spine . Shivering violently and I could smell my hair as I scooted closer to the fire. Another man came around the fire and sat by me , he handed me a warm cup . At first I didn't take it nor even look at it , but he shoved it into my hand to as if to where if I didn't take it would had spilled. It smelled of cheese and broccoli and I could feel my stomach come to life.
By Xandria Penney6 years ago in Motivation
Life Is What You Make It
Growing up, I was taught "life isn't fair". We never had much, and you know how children can sometimes be. When we seen others with the things we longed for, our dad's answer was always "life isn't fair". That motto conditions so many people to believe that they must simply accept the life they were born into. As if they can't break the generational "curses" that deemed their bloodline with such terrible "luck". I call it a curse because how terrible is it to think that just because your ancestors lived a certain way, that you too, are obligated to go down the same path? It's sad how some people limit themselves the way they do.
By Shyanne Tignor6 years ago in Motivation
Miranda's Destiny
Miranda's hands shook under the older man's gaze. With a magnifying glass, he examined her palms, carefully noting the depth, placement, and shape of the lines and mounts. They had been sitting across from each other at the back of his shop. Neither had uttered a single word for five minutes.
By 6 years ago in Motivation
Adversity & Triumph
Running to catch the bus, Carly glanced behind, thankful she was not being followed. She hopped on, relieved to see that the bus was almost empty. Knowing the bruises were already starting to form, she grabbed a seat in the first empty row to avoid any unwanted attention.
By Roni Wasson6 years ago in Motivation
Jazz at Midnight
Three loud bumps dragged through the nighttime air. Jerome’s fist clenched around his pen, his head creaked towards the door, and with only a dim desk light guiding his vision, his eyes strained to make out the source. His tongue tasted metal and his ears were filled with the sound of his own heartbeat, suddenly diluting the warm honey of Miles Davis’s Boplicity with acrid water. He sat there as seconds trickled into eternities, let the music’s peace overtake him again, and for the first time since finding it in his uncle Jermaine’s old home, turned on the ocean projector light he wasn’t fond of. With the room awash in flowing blue light, Jerome couldn’t help but feel even more anxious, but at least now he could see.
By Roseblud6 years ago in Motivation
Grateful
“Why not take a chance, if I don’t, I will never know”. Theresa Mitchell, a 30-something was thinking of ways how she could get rich or find temporary happiness. It was just a few weeks before she decided to play the lottery, with the jackpot being $600 million. Theresa was the kind of person to take her chances, just 10 years before she played a random scratch-off winning $300. Melancholy about her life, she yearned for more, “have your ever worked so hard that it didn’t even make a dent”? asking her co-workers…shrugs was their response. “I know exactly what you’re talking about Theresa” her co-worker Maria responded. “Like you’re hitting a brick wall to no avail”, “exactly” Theresa said.
By nikita gaddy6 years ago in Motivation
That one Poetry Contest
This little black book in my hands is the key to All of My Success. Deep within the confines of this tethered papyrus are poems that express the darkest crevasses of my soul. And they will all be relinquished today at this poetry contest. For weeks, I've rehearsed and practiced all of the dark ideas that have ravaged through my membrane. Thinking of which one I should open up the world 2. See today I'm entering a poetry contest worth $20,000. I usually just read my poetry out loud to people and you know a lot of people have told me that I'm pretty good at it. Therefore I want to try something different, something big, get my name out there.
By Adonis Richards6 years ago in Motivation
