Growing up, my favorite place to go was the library. It was about a fifteen minute walk from my house. Where else could a ‘tween go that was safe and cheap in New York City? Though I was an avid reader, my motivation for going there was because of another reason. The Internet.
After checking out HTML for Dummies, I studied how to build websites. Pretty soon I created my first website. It was a Backstreet Boys fansite using a simple pagebuilder tool and my crude HTML on Geocities. Geocities. As my kid would say, “That’s Unc status.” I guess we both don’t know what the other is saying.
But, it wasn’t long after that, that I began my first weblog under my online pseudonym Twilight. Sadly, some vampire chick flick ruined my branding. That’s a story for another day.
Some days, I am jealous of the creator I was in my youth.
The drive I had to see my projects through could take me around the world twice. The endless nights on Photoshop making layouts were some of my happiest. Hearing my mom get out of her room to get ready for work, and I hadn’t even slept a wink because I was coding all night, was scary. Do you know how hard it is to pick back up after stopping?
Of course, circumstances are different now. I am a mom with responsibilities. Bills need to be paid. Children need to be fed. The house doesn’t clean itself. But, I am grateful that my husband is supportive and gives me the space to be me. I am just – missing something.
Thanks to this media blog assignment, I reflected on this and learned that that something is motivation.
What motivates me to create? Where do I draw inspiration? What is causing the burn out? How can I keep myself accountable to – well, me?
I invested time, energy, and quite a bit of coin to create a studio at home. Now it’s time to
focus the frame back on me.
Drop a comment with some encouraging words or share your favorite ways to stay motivated when you find your drive waning.
With peace and love,
G