Why our Why Matters

Photo by Ken Treloar on Unsplash

The finish line draws near. The crowds clapping picks up as the runners cross the line once by one. 26 miles completed by each and every athlete. A marathon race has taken the toll. Some have trained well for the miles and they are still tacking big gulps of breath as sweat pours off of their faces. Others show signs of dehydration, lack of readiness, and exhaustion by either lying on the ground gasping for air or gimping toward the medical tent. One woman runs up to the finish line and stops. She scratches her head and asks, "Why am I doing this?" 

Our why is what motivates us to make changes or push ourselves past our limit. Our why is what drives us to change careers, raise children, buy a home, or train for a marathon. We do not run to the finish line and stop because our why pushes every step there. Our why is what keeps us going when nothing else makes sense and we want to give up. 

Everyone has different reasons why they do what they want to do. Some people their why is their children. They want to make better lives for those who come after them. They want their children to become over comers and set a physical example for their kids. For some people their why is revenge. They have been through a hellish break up or a rough childhood and all they want to do is show those who doubted them what they can accomplish. Whys do not have to be noble or even good. They are simply what gets you going.

photo by Mary Greer

My children are one of my big whys. I was raised by a single mom who was on disability. She could not work, she was 400 lbs for most of my childhood, she was in and out of the hospital. She could not be the mom I needed her to be. I want to be different than that. I want to show my kids what hard work and perseverance look like.  I want my kids to know how to commit to goals and accomplish them. I want them to find motivation and stick with it. I want them to enjoy childhood memories and have fun being kids. My children motivate me every day to be a better person and a better mom.

Photo by Mary Greer

This person right here is another one of my whys. She ran every single day no matter what the weather was like. She was strong and felt great. She was confident about the direction of her life. I am going to get back to the woman I was not that long ago. Mary in 2016 was entirely different then Mary 2019. Mary 2019 has gone through a ton of emotions and physical changes since 2016 but I can get back to the place where I set aside my anxiety and depression and push towards the person I want to be. I know I can do this because I have already been there. 

I could keep going with my whys. I have tons of them. When I stop and think about why I want to be my best self my brain is full of reasons. I need to remember these reasons. This is why I am writing this blog. I am writing because I want a record of all the reasons I have for becoming my very best self. I will come back and read this some day and my whys may be different but that is okay. People change and grow and their motivations do the same. 

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful to be able to grow and change.

2) I am grateful for a clean car.

3) I am grateful for Nerd Camp.

4) I am grateful for places to donate our gently used items to make a difference in the world.

5) I am grateful to live during a time that I can share my whys with the world.

6) I am grateful for the convenience of the store.

7) I am grateful for long hikes through the beautiful world.

8) I am grateful for sunny days.

9) I am grateful for warm blankets.

10) I am grateful for fans.

Things I have Accomplished:

1) Potty trained 3 children.

2) Created various costumes for my kids throughout the years.

3) Learned to bake delicious foods.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

What are your whys? What reasons do you have to keep goaing towards your goals?