Every week, I share a story from ordinary life that made me stop, laugh, think, or occasionally question what on earth I was doing. From running into spider webs and taking the elevator after the gym, to entrepreneurship, choices, courage and figuring out what we actually want next. No five-step formulas, no pretending I have it all figured out. Just real stories, honest observations and the occasional question that might stay with you longer than expected.
Who DON'T You Want to Become? š¤
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āāView in browserā Hi Reader, Iām not going to lieā¦ Iām NOT always motivated to do the things I need to do to become the person I want to be. Wow. That was a mouthful. Iām pretty sure I couldnāt say that five times quickly in a row š But then I started wondering: am I actually motivated by the person I want to become? Or am I sometimes more motivated by the person I donāt want to become? And yes, Iām sure a psychologist could explain the difference in great detail. Intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, approach motivation, avoidance motivationā¦ you know, the works. But in all fairness, I think itās a great question. Am I moving towards something, or am I moving away from something? I was pondering exactly that while doing some strength training the other morning. And, just as I was probably trying to convince myself that one more set was an excellent idea, I looked through the gym window. A lady came out of the apartment building across from me. In her gown and slippers, on her way to the smoking corner. First thing in the morning. No judgement here, just an observation! But something about that little scene stopped me. Not because I know anything about her. I donāt know what she wants from life, what her goals are, or even what that cigarette does for her. Maybe itās her quiet moment before the day starts. Maybe it helps her relax. Maybe she was thinking, Look at that crazy woman lifting weights at this hour š But watching her made something very clear about me. I want to grow older in the healthiest way I possibly can. I want to be able to do the things I love ten, twenty, hopefully even thirty years from now. I want to hike, sail, travel, explore and say yes to things without my body immediately filing an official complaint. And I donāt mean only physically. Itās also why I meditate and journal. Why I read. Why I keep learning and apparently canāt stop myself from signing up for one course after another. Oh boy. Thereās another Backyard Gossip right there š«£ So yes, I know what Iām working towards. Which brings me to the annoying partā¦ If we know what we want, why is it still sometimes so damn difficult to make the choices that will get us there? Why do I sometimes have to negotiate with myself to go to the gym when I know why I want to be there? Why is the choice that serves Future Me not automatically the choice Present Me feels like making? Maybe thatās where the other side of motivation becomes useful. Perhaps sometimes Iām doing that strength training because I can picture the person I want to become. And sometimes Iām doing it because I can picture the person I donāt want to become. Maybe we need both, something to walk towards and something that reminds us why we started walking in the first place. Although preferably not in slippers š Chat soon, Peggy šæ P.S. What motivates you more: the person youāre becoming, or the person you really donāt want to be? Backyard Gossip | Stories about life, business & the spaces in between |
Stories about life, business & the spaces in between šæ
Every week, I share a story from ordinary life that made me stop, laugh, think, or occasionally question what on earth I was doing. From running into spider webs and taking the elevator after the gym, to entrepreneurship, choices, courage and figuring out what we actually want next. No five-step formulas, no pretending I have it all figured out. Just real stories, honest observations and the occasional question that might stay with you longer than expected.
View in browser Hi Reader, This morning I joined the Beban Parkrun again. My friend couldnāt make it this week, so I was prepared to run on my own, go slowly, and really try to stay within my heart rate zones to build more stamina. Which currently means quite a bit more walking than jogging š And let me tell you, sticking to those zones while people are happily running past you is harder than it sounds. But anyway, thatās not actually what this story is about. At some point, while I was...
View in browser Hi Reader, On one of my latest jogs, I was just minding my own business. Which, if we're being honest, means I was giving myself silent pep talks. This is for a good cause. You'll feel great when you're back home. Stop whining, you literally chose to do this. Nobody pointed a gun to your head, Peggy. You know. Normal jog thoughts š Then, out of absolutely nowhereā¦ I found myself doing my best karate moves. Right there. In the middle of the trail. Because I had just run...
View in browser Hi Reader, Last Saturday, I found myself running out the door in a hurry. I had to get to my IELTS test on time. (No, it's not a contagious disease, don't worry š It's one of the official English language tests you can take to sort out documents. In my case, for my Canadian Post Graduate Work Permit.) Once I was on the road, I did what I usually do when I'm driving: I reached for my phone to call my mom. Exceptā¦ my phone wasn't there. It was still at home š There was no time...