Mono Light Syndrome

A few years ago - probably not all that long ago, really - my brother made up an excuse for his laziness. He called it SLM: Severe Lack of Motivation, which later became SLMD: D for Disorder. Perhaps if enough people signed a petition it would make it a more viable disorder - I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who lack the motivation they need to do even the most basic things.

Motivation is our biggest driving force. If you were told that you would be given 100 dollars for running around a field within the next five minutes, you wouldn't stop to change your shoes - such extrinsic motivation would be enough to send anyone out there at that very moment. When something drives us - when we have incentive - when we get enjoyment from what we do - then that is motivation to keep on doing it.

Take work, for instance. No, actually, just take work. It's more than an example - it's a reality, and probably the most affective thing in life. There are people who are motivated to go to work simply because they have chosen to do something they enjoy. Such people worked hard to get to a place where they actually want to do what they are doing. Then there are those that know that if they don't go to work, they won't get paid, and therefore will lose any place that they have, as bills start to come in, rent is due and food, as a necessity, begins to run low.

For those that have succeeded in choosing their vocation, perhaps it ends up not being the dream that they expected; for others, they may find that they can't wait to go back to work to achieve, to learn, to experience all that they do whilst there. At my age, I'm sure there must be more than a handful of people who have attained just what they strived towards - and enjoy it. After all, Bill Gates was only two years older than I am now when he made his first billion.

Money doesn't really appeal to me all that much - too much luxury makes you soft; though having access to a myriad of entertainment would be sweet. Earning from what you enjoy doing - that's everyone's dream. If you suffer from SLMD, chances are you just won't enjoy anything, as the things that appeal to you most will never satisfy you with material wealth, wellbeing or achievement.

All too often, I would see cars with one headlight extinguished - that is to say, they had one working headlight. I coined this Mono Light Syndrome, or MLS, for short. MLS is the opposite of SLM. When you have one headlight going you can see what lies ahead of you and you forge towards that, regardless of being only half as effective as you could be. Were both headlights lit you would definitely succeed - and fewer obstacles would lie in your path. It's in those times where a part isn't functioning as it should that real inner mettle is tested.

Will you keep driving towards your goal, or will you give up and never achieve even the slightest satisfying moment? All it takes is a little self-motivation - gritting your teeth and making it through one day at a time until opportunity presents itself and you can leave all those miserable times behind you, building strength to face more miserable and harrowing times ahead, but knowing that you will better face them because now there are things that you look forward to and actually enjoy doing day-to-day.

Haven't seen a bus with MLS in such a long time...

-Timotheos
Lighting the way