Do you live your life as though you are motivated and inspired, or do you just go through the motions? Is each day a new adventure, or do you just go to work and wait it out? When you pass by Joe/Jane Human in the hall, do you say, "Hey, there!" with a big smile, or do you go, "Whew, man", with a little smile, as though you can't believe how long the day has been?

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

Answers

I work two jobs. A desk jockey job for the City and as a College Instructor in the field of Occupational Therapy. City Job: moments of inspiration, but generally hours of slow-motioned numbness.

College Job: almost always "up", always happy, always inspired.

Goal: Make the college job the full-time job and the City job the part time one....or even better, the forgotten one.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

I think that, like most people, I will get caught in the "going through the motions" life, while aspiring to be "motivated and inspired." I love the days when I can greet everyone with a smile and a "hi there," like today... but who wouldn't be happy when their bright orange hippo shirt from Yum Pop finally came? Whee.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

I wake up. Collapse. Twist the huge wind up key in my back. Crank. Crank. Crank. And then go through the motions, and everything is cool and grey. Then suddenly I get smile from a joke. Some holds a door open for me while my hands are full. Or I just eat a real good bagel and suddenly, without meaning to. I'm living in a world a bit more real.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

My day is grey and meaningless, until I get my Squishy fix. Then I'm unproductive for the rest of the days as I read all the new posts in the forums.

OK, so maybe I'm not that bad....

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

I'm a stay at home mom, and MY GOD is it an adventure!

It can be 3:00 am and I'm still on the job, so I try to find things in my day to day life that I can enjoy. Even 5 minutes alone can make a world of difference. This is what I wanted to do and so I wake up everyday excited about what is ahead of me. Raising kids is THE most inspiring thing out there I believe.

My baby finds out something new and wonderous about her world everyday, and, in a way, I do too. That kind of brings everything into perspective for me. Ya know?

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

When it is 7:30 in the morning and I have to be awake and fully coherent, I am anything but perky and inspired. Fortunately, I'll be done with my last semester here, and then I get to go on to that mytic thing called College, which I hear usually does not start at such an Ungodly Hour.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

I work for a corporate monolith. It's HUGE. The division I'm in now is way better than the last one. I'm free of the ball and chain. If I'm late for work due to a 42 car pile up, I'm not penalized. I just make up the time.

I've learned a lot since May, and I actually like my job.

What I would change? I deal with the employees on a daily basis on the phone. This is my fantasy: After I've told someone 3 times and they're still not listening or they just generally call up being rude and pushy and think they can abuse me because they may think of me as just a "peon," I think I should be able to say: "Okay, you have just CROSSED THE LINE, and therefore, I get to tell you whatever the hell I want. I won't get fired. You don't get to report me, I just have that right. A. SHUT UP AND LISTEN! and B. I will now be hanging up on you because YOU ARE AN IDIOT!

Those employees are a very minor minority, but there are some days when that rule would fit into my life rather nicely.

Other than that, I don't mind the job at all.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

I'm very lucky in that I am able to make a living doing what I love. I am an artist, writer, jeweller and am on my way to becoming a film- maker and costumer. In a way, my jobs dictate that I be inspired daily- my livelihood depends on it. So, I cannot allow myself to slip into a rut. My general strategy for when I become complacent or apathetic is to force myself to take in all the fabulous things around me. Like, I go for a walk near a lake, or to the art gallery, or the cinema, or buy a coveted CD. Or, if I need a more heavy-duty kick in the pants, I'll visit the Holocaust Museum, or read accounts of people who have experienced circumstances far worse than mine have ever been. So, I usually tend to view things with gratitude and wonder because anybody who gets to a point they aimed for and doesn't appreciate it is a moron, IMHO. Inspiration leads to energy, and we all need plenty of both. It also helps that, not so long ago, I faced a potentially fatal illness (I'm fine now), and, let me tell you, there is NOTHING like facing mortality to make you inspired by and appreciative of life. God, I sound like a total Pollyanna, don't I? ;)

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2000

I may be going through the motions, but I always ACT as though I'm motivated. Because if other people hate you because you've got it together, it's a pretty good motivation to make it so. There are many easy ways to make others think you're happier and more needed at work than they. Learn them.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2000

Although I wouldn't say I was inspired on a daily basis at work, I am very appreciated, and I know that's worth a lot. I'm in a position where a lot of people depend on me greatly, and tell me so. Having seen how upset friends and family have gotten over working their butts off and getting no recocgnition, I know that I am very lucky in that respect. I also like the people I work with, which helps.

Otherwise, my job is just the way that I make the money I need to enjoy my REAL life. My countdown to the end of the day begins at 8:00 a.m. If money were not an issue for us, and I could take a job that paid less but that I enjoyed more, I would do it in a heartbeat. Something that requires creativity would be nice.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2000