Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Motivation.
Wear A Damn Mask and Hug A Tree. Top Story - September 2020.
Corona has offered many different experiences. The majority of which were unfortunately bad. However others experienced a different kind of journey. One where the sickness started in the mind and the antedote being to face yourself and force a change for the bigger picture. For yourself. And eventually for humanity.
By Karina Moumne6 years ago in Motivation
The Hidden
The Hidden One moment, a mere second. That’s all it takes for your world to crash all around you, for your life to burn you beyond recognition. For some it’s a lesson, others the final straw. Thankfully my moment although at the time seemed to consume me, was the beginning to an epic adventure and the greatest lesson I have ever learned. To be courageous and have hope. No matter how dark the world seems, have hope. No matter how scary your choices seem to be, have courage to stand up. Take that step forward, fight back, show them they’re wrong. So powerful were these words to me I had them branded upon my skin. Proving to myself and others, I fought back, I got out. That yeah, the night is always darkest before the dawn, but damned if I’m not gonna have one hell of a dawn coming my way.
By Rachelle Janssen6 years ago in Motivation
Two sides to every story..
When I was 16 in highschool; I had asked my mom about what she thought of tattoos. She didn’t like them and told me that if I ever did get one that I had to have meaning behind it. While in school; I was diagnosed with depression. Since I did want a tattoo; I decided that I would design one that had purpose and meaning behind it. I believe that a person has two sides of their body; the left side is the flow of your heart and what you believe in. And the right side is where you draw your strength from; where you came from and grew up with. It’s your grounded side. So I designed a tattoo to be on my left foot; so that whenever I felt depressed; or I wanted to do something harmful to myself in any way; that when I looked down at the ground and saw the back of my feet; I would have a reminder to look back up and keep my head held high. I wanted to incorporate my belief; and a reason to keep breathing. So I have a heart that can be connected into an infinity sign; with six circles on the outside of one side of the heart (circles are continuous; therefore represents the six days of the week) and a cross on the inside of the heart to represent God and the seventh day as Sabbath. This tattoo was my first tattoo of three; my second tattoo is on my left hand as well. I believe that if you love music; then it’s a type of air that keeps you alive; keeps you breathing, and steady. I didn’t want to just “follow the crowd” and get “music = air” written in cursive on my arm. But when I got bored in high school; I used to draw a music 🎵 note on my the top part of my left thumb; and would draw it in pen every day to the point I was getting a stain there and people would be asking me if it was real. In 2016, five years after my first tattoo; I went and got it done on my hand finally. So when you cover both notes; the middle of the note is blank to represent the “=“ sign; and the rest of the notes are not filled in to represent the “air”. My last tattoo is on my right ankle. It’s a cartoon character from the early 1930’s dark artist era Edward Gorey. The character is from his book called “The Doubtful Guest.” My late grandmother enjoyed this cartoon very much and told me it reminded her of a child growing into a teenager and coming into a house and destroying it for 18 years. This character on my ankle is also holding a rose in representation of my other late grandma whom loved to garden and roses were her favorite flower. The scarf on him is in representation of my mom and myself as we enjoy the Harry Potter series; and the small ball is a golf ball to represent my father and grandfather whom both loved to play. They are on my ankle because without an ankle you have no support; and they are my support system; the roots to my being. I hope you enjoyed these tattoos as I have creating them. My father recently passed two days after my birthday last month and I plan on getting his last voicemail on my right inner arm of a sound wave of his voice. It’s the last time I heard his voice before ALS took it away from him completely.
By Kelsey Mahl6 years ago in Motivation
I AM MY OWN CREATION
You ever wonder what its like to feel emmm...different?Of course you have who doesnt right. but i mean different, different. like its a piece of you missing or a whole of you. Well Ive always known i was different and the best way to express who I am is through art. Your body is a blank canvas, you create the art that you live. The tattoos that i will be writng about will be 1 of my most recent tattoos. "MOYOCOYTZIN"
By YuoBobbi6 years ago in Motivation
Why the how doesn’t have to control you
Why the how doesn’t have to control you COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE “All rights reserved. No part of this Mental Toughness Power Action blog publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorded, scanning, displaying, modifying, republication, republishing, posting on any website, platform, social media, RSS feeds or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher or author. Requests to the author should be addressed to [email protected].” — Copyright 2007, CIPO, USCO Mental Toughness For Life, Coach Franco Cianflone
By FRANCO CIANFLONE 6 years ago in Motivation
The Naked Arm
My naked arm was once enslaved by my obscene loyalty to the Corporate World of Conformity. Now freed, the open-air sleeve on my left arm tells my story of discovery and truth. This was the first uprising by my soul to express its true self. It came in the form of a small Buddhist mantra in Sanskrit (Om Mani Padme Hum) tattooed on the inside of my wrist. I had previously subscribed to the false thinking that successful corporate women shouldn’t have visible tattoos, so I strategically placed that tattoo where it could easily be covered by my watch. It’s constant message was compassion; specifically, compassion for myself. Clearly, I was still conforming, but the freedom I felt in putting ink on my wrist was an opening, like a tear in a garbage bag, no matter what I might try to do to stop it, it continued to tear and let its contents spill out. Shortly after, I would experience my body’s discomfort in associating with this outer self that was no longer able to contain my insides - and it would manifest itself as Multiple Sclerosis and then Melanoma. I believe that the body expresses anger and sadness in varying ways, sometimes in the form of dis-ease. Once I started this opening, my soul’s expression was no longer willing to be contained.
By Joi Whitmore6 years ago in Motivation
An Armor of Ink
The first 6 to 8 weeks of a college semester are known as the “Red Zone,” and this is the time period a student is most likely to be sexually assaulted or raped. It’s a fact emblazoned across my mind and embedded in my bones. But it’s one I didn’t know - until I was raped at the beginning of my college experience. My collegiate years were marred by a man with no human decency, but reclaimed by one who is a master with a tattoo machine. Through his work, my arm has evolved into a testament of the strength of survivors and daily affirmations that I am more than a statistic.
By Jennifer Miller6 years ago in Motivation
Living Canvass
Hello! I’m an addict named Trisha! That’s how I have been introducing myself for 17 years now. Living in the self-centeredness of active addiction nearly ended me. Today I am blessed to be living clean & free from all kind & mood altering substances!
By Patricia Ellis6 years ago in Motivation
Grounding
I have many dreams. I wonder sometimes if I’m the only one but I’m certain I’m not. Even the Beatles said it: “I’m a dreamer...”. Through my self-enquiry I’ve had conversations with people. I remember one person shared with me that his career was something that he had chosen to do since he was very little. Yet, this person showed no passion for his career. I felt a connection with this person. It was like mirroring me years before, when I was studying International Business, but absolutely clueless of what I really wanted to do with my life.
By Denisse Ramirez6 years ago in Motivation
Tattoos can tell a lot about the person who wear them
Tattoo’s are one of the world’s most artistic way of self expression. Whether you have them because they look pretty or because it holds meaning that is dear to you. I myself have 37, give or take a few depending on how you count them. However, this story is about two of them. My all time favorite would be my very first tattoo. Nothing too big and fancy, just a little butterfly with a tiger as a face. To me, it means a lot. Everyone always asks how can something so simple and trivial can possibly be important enough to want to etch it into my skin forever. Well the simple answer is, it’s symbolic. However, today I will give the explained version. The butterfly stands for the fragile state of my mind, body, and mental while I was in an abusive situationship. the tiger face represent the buried strength I had to not end myself, to wake up every morning and not leave my children orphaned. As a whole it stands as a memory of what was and how far I came from that, growth and progress, a well as a reminder that I’m no longer a victim and that I’m free from the clutches of an evil that could’ve and almost succeeded at taking my life, and my sanity. Now on to tattoo number 2. This tattoo in particular has a funny story behind it and a deep meaning. This tatto was strategically placed to cover up a, what was I thinking moment. Let me take you back to a time, when YouTube challenges was in their prime. It was the time of the chubby bunny challenge, the cinnamon challenge, and the challenge that scarred me for life, the salt and ice challenge. My sister along with my little cousin, I shall refer to them as the spawns of satan, came to me with the challenge with the biggest smiles on their faces. I should’ve took that as a hint and ran for the hills, however, I chose to go along with it. We gathered the materials, salt, ice, and a rag, so now we set and ready to begin. I spread the salt on my wrist and add the ice. Satan’s spawns laughed, but I had no idea why. Nothing was happening at this point. Next thing I know they grabbed the rag and put it on top of the ice and squeezed, before I knew it I screamed out in agonizing pain. My skin literally felt like it was burning but cold. After a tear dropped and they let go. I had a huge frost bite that left welts, but that was it nothing more nothing less, so I felt as if I came, conquered, and crushed this challenge. Oh was I mistaken, three hours later my skin started to peel. A hour later I was in the emergency room at children’s hospital with a fourth degree chemical burn that burned through a tendon, a stupid look on my face, and a heart full of regret. I was told that if my skin healed it would be discolored forever, and were they right. I ended up with a huge, and hideous discolored scar. after a while I got tired of looking at it and wanted it covered. What better way to cover a scar, than with some sick ink. So I sat in a corner and came up with a design that I feel do exactly what I needed it to. Called up my friend for some ink therapy, and together we made magic.
By Shaquana Garris6 years ago in Motivation
This Is Gonna Hurt a Little
I fidgeted anxiously in the passenger seat, suddenly unsure of this decision, despite long hours of examining the details, and careful weighing of my options. The conviction of 30 seconds past had evaporated. My best friend had driven us here, out of support and encouragement, but I could sense her uncertainty as well. I understood that the consequences of this appointment would be permanent, forever altering the way in which I viewed myself, and perhaps how others would view me as well. “It’s now or never,” she joked, and we resolutely exited her beat up Toyota and entered into the experience that would indelibly mark my existence.
By Sara Dugas6 years ago in Motivation
