Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Motivation.
Chosen Fate
“Please don’t do this!” I screamed. My heart was beating so loud it was as if I could hear the sound of a drum from my chest. My legs began to weaken and I fell to my knees. “Stop please! Don’t take my things!” I sat in the middle of my floor and closed my eyes. I wanted to pretend that none of this was happening. I pushed my ears in so tight that all I could hear was the muffling of my things being taken away from me. All of a sudden, it was night out. I realized that I had blacked out. As I looked around I noticed myself in an empty room. Although I knew what happened, I wanted to pretend it wasn’t real. I sat in the middle of the room for an hour, then it became two, then five. “What do I do now?” I said to myself. I couldn’t fight my tears from falling. “There is no place for me to go, nowhere to run. I’m all alone.”
By Erika Padilla6 years ago in Motivation
Dinner with a stranger
I’ve always been tormented by the thought that I may die in a strange or embarrassing way. Just about every moment in my life was ruled with the consciousness of this concern, and therefore I’ve never extended myself enough to be put in such a predicament. For example, I deleted my twitter app because it eventually became flooded with so many porn accounts. Imagine if I was scrolling through my phone, only to have a heart attack and accidentally open the app. Picture, if you will, my lifeless body discovered next to whatever smut happened to be on tap that day, displayed for everyone to see. Also, I’ve never ever skipped laundry day. What if I was in a hurry and threw on some already worn under garment and then perhaps got into a car accident. What would the paramedics say? No doubt they would judge me by the cleanliness of my underpants. No, I would not wish this on anyone, so I’ve chosen to live a modest and reserved life. Some may say a “boring” life, but they’re usually the ones who expire while sitting on the toilet or other such mortifying scenarios.
By Nicky6 years ago in Motivation
"Dear Carlos Slim"
My Mother believed everything she was told. The credibility of the source was almost immaterial, allowing her the freedom to cheerfully accept, store, and carefully curate for future repetition, all of the wisdom she was offered. She was a product typical of her generation, where elders were respected and their axioms solemnly adopted, fixed like stars in her firmament of personal opinion. "When it's gone, it's gone", she would gravely declare, whenever my hard-won pocket money was accorded the light of day. In the frequent absence of even those meagre resources, she would lovingly attempt to assuage my callow chagrin, by helpfully noting "well at least you can't spend what you don’t have". Conversely, the hopeful offering "If you don't ask.." was made all the more powerful by its truncation, subliminally obliging me to complete the idiom, "...you don't get." inevitably planting seeds of hope and possibility in my soft, fertile head. With that in mind, I decided to drop a brief line to the richest man in the world.
By John Duffield6 years ago in Motivation
You matter.
I was told recently, by someone that I respect, that “no one wants to talk about work or sports like we once did. Because there are far more important things to discuss.” So, as I often do when I dislike something said to me by a respected source, I decided to make it the premise for my next article. I disagree with the statement, if for no other reason, because it’s not true of me. It’s not that I don’t want to discuss subjects surrounding public health and racism, but, also, I do want to discuss work and sports. Admittedly, I have not personally experienced a lot of change to my routine during this pandemic. Because I work in an auto repair shop, an essential business, I have continued to work mostly normal hours, although the amount of cars to fix is below average. Because I have a lot of family responsibilities, with a bride, three children and three dogs, I have not participated in any riots or protests. So, let me begin with the tweet I sent that prompted the aforementioned comment: I don't wanna oversimplify, but can we all just go back to work and treat others the way we wanna be treated?
By Caleb Baker6 years ago in Motivation
Challenge Accepted
I don't know who may need to hear this today but I want to start out by saying this. You are worthy, you are strong, you are loved, you are enough! With that being said I wish nothing but the best for ya. I will not tell you what to do here but I will try to be honest with ya on a few things.
By Mel Cook6 years ago in Motivation
The Color of an Aquarius
“Why isn’t your hair in braids?” “Do you ever get sunburnt?” “If Martin Luther King wasn’t a thing, you wouldn’t be here.” Yes, I had someone tell me that when I was a measly eight-year old. There was a discomfort within me that I felt when microaggressions and racist comments were made towards me, but I was the only girl of color in a class of white people. Who was I supposed to relate to?
By Kavita Singh6 years ago in Motivation
Overcoming Writer's Block and Other Benefits of Becoming a Vocal+ Member in 2021. Top Story - March 2021.
The eager, excited writer in me was defeated by a full time job, a challenging marriage that began when I was only 18 years old, parenthood and a very abrupt divorce. Did you hear that? Marriage at 18....
By Jilana Booker6 years ago in Motivation
The World Hates You
You are on the run. What makes it worse is that you did not pack light. You have a gigantic backpack tagging along. You have carried it for way too long to the point where it becomes a part of your body. Inside that backpack lies everything that makes you unhappy. You can never stop lifting though. You can never stop dragging.
By Vitak Cheav6 years ago in Motivation
Twisted Turn
How could this be! Lily woke up drenched in sweat, awoken by her dream, she could feel it in her hands a suitcase filled with money! Lily then rose from bed, turned on her lamp and sat down on her recliner next to her old vintage desk looked at the clock it was 3:33am. She then hovered over to open the drawer in her desk and grabbed her little black notebook which had her favorite small pen stuffed within the spiral grid. She wrote and wrote until the sharp lead in the small pencil turned flat, but it was only a dream! She stared at her pencil and her surroundings in that dark stuffy gloomy room, then proceeded to look out the window and saw the most amazing night sky. All the bright city lights glowed like the beautiful fireflies in her country once had under the shimmering moonlight. After all she did live in one of New York city's old town buildings up on the 3rd floor. The gorgeous view and the amazing feeling it had created didn’t last long. Lily took her gaze off and glanced at what she had written in her little black notebook. She crunched up the paper in her hand and threw it to the thrash. Wow! What a waste, she huffed! She jumped back to bed and started sobbing, "How did I end up so alone?" She sobbed and continued crying until her puffy eyes gave up, closed and fell asleep defeated by the overwhelming feeling of emptiness. Lily awoke next morning she saw a glance of the beautiful morning. The warm sun rays shined in underneath the door crack making her room twinkle with brightness, almost like a disco ball. She rose from bed and stood still and absorbed the beauty of it all. “Thank you god for another day of life” she said as she felt the warm rays heal her wounds from the night before. She stood up and got ready for work. Work was just a few steps away in her desk. Covid had made things easier in a sense. No freeway traffic in the evenings. However Lily was miserable, self medicating due to extreme anxiety issues and insecurities of not fitting in and being social as everyone else in the corporate world. Still she had to make ends meet, she could not bare live in the cold streets without a cent. It felt like so much at times, she could not keep doing this to her body and and mind and so was determined to stop medicating but withdrawal symptoms had crawled in creating so many nightmares and surreal dreams like the one she had last night. This time as she was getting ready, she felt extremely dizzy and disoriented, quickly entered panic mode, heart racing fast, electrical shocks creeping in her body and mind, thought she was a goner for good this time. Lily kneeled and prayed to her guarding angels, she had seen a video where they mentioned guardian Angels place a feather in your life to let you know they hear you. So the prayers continued "Please guardian angels if you exist show me my feather, give me a sign I still matter in this lifetime". All morning just prayed for healing. After what seemed like hours she hopped in the shower looked in the mirror, spoke to herself, appreciated her body more than ever and was grateful for still breathing. As soon as she dried herself she headed to her room, opened up the second drawer on the vintage desk and behold her eyes. What did she see?.....So, about a year ago she had purchased a ring, a ring with a unique design. A feathered ring, and now here it was in front of her. Thank you god! She knew this was no coincidence. Her angels are watching her. "This is it! I have the power within to turn around my outcome!" She whispered. Considering how miserable she was at work and wanting to stop self medicating she took a drastic decision and gave her 2 weeks notice. Decided that enough is enough! She did not even worry about how she was going to end up paying her bills, her well being meant more than anything at this point. Last day came and she closed laptop and went out for a walk. Every second felt like a dream, feeling the cool crispy wind in her face, she did not care that she was walking alone at 8pm all she felt was whole and peace. As she continued the walk she kept admiring the swaying trees and the chirping crickets. Life's simple pleasures don't come all bundled up with a pretty bow she thought. Soon after she entered the park she was taken back by a young man sitting alone in one of the benches. He looked all dirty and thin, probably had not eaten in months. She felt bad for him, clothes all ripped up, she approached and gave him a dollar. He looked up taking his stare away from the floor and said "Thank you very much" . "You're welcome" she said and continued her stroll down the enchanted park. It was now 10pm, the park was empty, she turned back and started walking towards the park entrance. The man from earlier was still in the bench she had last seen him in. She paced faster feeling unease and glanced back every 20 seconds to make sure no one was following her. Once home she bundled inside her covers and huddle her feet close to her like a ball. Next morning, still a bit paranoid remembering the creepy guy from last night and the fact she had just quit her job brought in hopelessness. She grabbed her coat and went for a morning walk this time her surroundings seem to be going slow motion, she was dazed and had officially check off, the will to survive in this world had officially been stepped on over and over again into tiny rubble pieces. Her mind continued to wonder off until she heard a scream which brought her back to reality. "Watch out!" yelled a man from the corner of the street, Lily looked up and it was the man from last night, she could see him making hand signals and yelling, suddenly pure darkness was all she could see. Boooooommmm!!!!! "I have no idea where I am?" Lily became so delusional, she had no idea what had happened. Miss! Miss! she heard a voice call out to her, she opened her eyes did not know how long she had been out for, saw the time, it was 11:11pm. "Nurse, nurse, she's opening her eyes!" she heard a man scream! Lily looked and saw the same guy from before. "Where am I?" she whimpered. "You're at the hospital, you got ran over by a car because of me, you were looking right at me when the van crashed into you!" "What?" Lily said in shock. "Yes! I'm afraid that's not all, you had a serious injury and I hate to say this but your right hand has been amputated! he said, Lily overwhelmed by the dreadful news turned pale, what had she just heard, completely in denial did not dare look down all of a sudden a chilling sensation creeped in her whole body, and flashes of her troubled days in her small apartment seemed so miniscule at this exact moment, what was she complaining about, she had it all! She struggled for weeks to come to the terms that she no longer had her right hand. The young man, would come and visit her often feeling guilty of the situation. He asked for forgiveness and would often talk to her about his life. Lily still in shock would not dare speak a word, she just listened to him all day long. The young man would come visit every now and then knowing she had no relatives to come see her. His visits made Lily's day all the time his stories where so fascinating. She wondered how he ended in the streets. One morning the nurse opened the curtains. Lily admired the nice garden just outside the glass sliding door, and this day found the strength to speak. As planned she gained enough courage to talk. "Hey!" How did you end up lonely?" she said "Lily!! You're talking! This is a miracle!" he jumped in excitement. He smiled with a huge grin on his face. "You want to hear my story? I'll tell you, I was adopted when I was 2 yrs old, my mother passed away and my father was so young they placed me for adoption. My adopted parents were an older couple who wished to have kids but 5 yrs after my adoption my mother got diagnosed with cancer and passed away. My father deteriorated and drowned himself with alcohol. Very sad to witness at a very young age. I cannot have it any other way, while my mom lived she gave me the best 5yrs of my life and I'm grateful for the memories she engraved in my heart. Soon after my father passed away with sorrow and I was placed in foster care and bounced house to house, as soon as I was of age I ventured on my own. I wondered around walking under bridges and churches wishing to have a loving family one day and someone to talk to. I had lost meaning in my life. When you saw me at the park I was zoned out of here, but now I know I'm not alone!" Lily's jaw dropped opened in astonishment, here she was handicapped and this man poured nothing but love her way. She smiled, "Jefferson I like you" she said. They both giggled. Lily had never felt so alive. She had told Jefferson about her childhood adventures back in her home country and how they were the best years of her life until her parents brought her to the states at age 6. They had also passed to a tragic car accident and she had also been through the foster care system. These were the life stories they shared on most days. After much loneliness their life's were fulfilled. One day still in recovery Lily turned on the tv and saw an older man asking for info on his son who he had given up for adoption at age 2, he was offering a $20,000 reward for his find. Lily a bit perplexed thought "Could this be a coincidence"? Jefferson had just shared this part of his life with her, she called the hotline posted on the news. She gave much detail about Jefferson and they provided her with details regarding the toddler who the man had placed in adoption years ago. Same date of birth, same hospital. "I'm going crazy!" Lily thought. Jefferson arrived that day and saw camera man, news media surrounding Lily, "What is going on?" he asked, Lily smiled, "Jefferson I believe this is your biological father", "What? he questioned. Lily you're nuts! "No! Jefferson please take the DNA test" she said. He did and it was a match. Jefferson's father. Dr. Neil cried and cried. "My boy I have climbed mountains and crossed the sea to see you once again in my life, you're pale and thin but I have you here with me and you don't have to worry about a thing never ever". Jefferson cried and thanked Lily for everything. "Thank you for saving my life when I didn't believe in myself anymore" Lily said. "Lily you saved mine" he replied. Jefferson's life changed drastically after that, his father was filthy rich. The $20,000 had served Lily for her prosthetic hand. Jefferson and Lily were madly in love, they soon married. Lily was indulged with happiness and forever grateful for the life they had created. Their names remain marked in the bench in the park where they met.
By Ruth S Rivera6 years ago in Motivation
