Family

I suppose this question goes back to the post on positive emotion. You are motivated by what makes you feel good. I like the sense of pride I have when I do something for some and it helps them. I like the sense of pride I get from achieving something in whatever field that might be. However, one thing motivates me above all else and that is my family. Everything I do, everything I am, is for them and because of them.

I remember when I first met my wife back in 1987. I was aimless and lost. Yes, I had potential, but it was being wasted. She saw that and slowly but surely gave me a new focus and a new determination. It was a slow process but it was, and remains, an ongoing one. When we were about to leave to go to Hong Kong the Mother of a friend of mine came to our farewell drinks because she wanted to meet the woman who had sorted me out!! She wasn’t wrong!

Since becoming a Father I have had another focus and another motivation. Providing for them, of course, but much more importantly, trying to be a good role model for them as a person. As with all of us, I fall extremely short on most occasions because human beings are generally speaking unsuccessful at being their best selves. However I am always trying.

Now that I am looking forward to life after year round work I suppose that’s where a small measure of doing things for myself comes in, but I have a set of projects to complete involving our family history so it all comes back to that. On my own I don’t amount to much, but with Janet and the children in my corner I can become someone who matters in a small way at least.