Writing Prompt #5 - due February 6

What motivates you?

My answer to this question depends on which part of my life I'm looking at.

As a mother, my kids motivate me every day.  When I'm tired, when I'd rather do nothing, when I don't feel like what I do is enough, they're my motivation.  I have to keep going and get things done for them.  And when I feel like what I do isn't enough, usually one of them reminds me that it's exactly what they needed.  Maybe not that day, but eventually I'm reminded that it's enough.

As a teacher, seeing the student who is struggling who finally gets it (that "lightbulb moment") is what motivates me.  One year I had a student who saw that I was frustrated by what was going on and I'll never forget what he said.  He told me, "You know, Mrs. Horn, I'm thinking that teaching is a lot like building a lake." I wasn't sure where he was going with that, but I simply asked, "What do you mean?"  His response was this: "You are constantly digging that hole and some years are wet years so you see that hole fill up quickly and immediately.  Some years are dry years - maybe like this year - and you have to have faith that eventually it will rain and that hole will fill."  I had never thought about it before, but he's right.  Sometimes, what I do and what I teach matters right away.  Sometimes, I don't think I'm reaching anyone, but then - maybe years later - I learn that it had "rained" at some point and they remembered what I had taught them.  That's what motivates me.

As a coach and director, those kids motivate me every single day.  They come committed, they come passionate about what they do, and they continually amaze me with their talent.  When I've had a bad day, typically speech practice can make it brighter.  Most cannot fail to make me laugh at some point.  And, through it all, there are subtle reminders (and sometimes not so subtle reminders) of why I do it.  It's definitely not for the money :)  But it's most definitely for the kids.  They find their niche, they find out who they really are, they find out what they are really capable of - and I get to watch it all.  To me that's the biggest motivation there is.

**Now, for your assignment, make sure you copy and paste the prompt to the top of your post (NOT the title - put Writing Prompt #5 as your title).  Your entry should be at LEAST 100 words (not counting the prompt).  It needs to be posted by 11:59 pm Wednesday.