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“Keeping Motivated” Archive
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I haven’t had a chance to catch up what is going on in the blog-o-sphere this week. Between looking for a title and working around my home to get ready for a long winter, I haven’t had much time.
So this week, I’d like to share with you a story that you may or may not have heard about. It’s one of those stories where it makes you feel so good. Why? Because there is a humble person with a wonderful talent who now can share his talent with the whole world.
This man is none other than Paul Potts. He was salesman at Carphone Warehouse who surprised Simon Cowell and the rest of the judges on the Britain’s Got Talent show.
Here’s a link to the YouTube video of his first appearance: Paul Potts Sings Nessun Dorma
Here’s a link to his next appearance: Paul Potts Sings Time to Say Goodbye
I used to say that I love all types of music except for opera. I listen to country, heavy metal, new age, rap, etc. For some reason, though, I’ve never cared for opera music. But Paul here with his beautiful voice sends chills up my spine and down my arms. He has a wonderful gift and I am so grateful this opportunity came his way so that he could share it with us all.
Since this is a debt blog, there’s also a debt story here as well. Paul had some medical problems in his life when he was struck again with another blow. He cracked his collar bone when he was hit by a car while cycling. He couldn’t work, and his debt grew to £30,000 (about $61,000 USD). All the while, he never fully gave up on his dream of singing and auditioned a few years later for Britain’s Got Talent [via Paul Potts Fan Site]
Here’s another interesting tidbit about Paul. Even though he’s fairly popular right now and just came out with a CD, he’s still technically an employee of Carphone Warehouse. As shown in this nice piece about Paul’s story, he is on a six-month leave from his job. He hopes he sells enough albums so he doesn’t have to go back, but it’s there if he needs it.
Anyways, I felt like sharing. Paul’s story and his voice make me feel good and hopeful all around.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how far we have come. Both in terms of our debt (and more recently with my weight).
Why did it take so long to decide that it was time to pay off our debt? Why did we insist on not tackling our debt and keep on charging things? Why did we just live with our debt? What was stopping us from deciding that today was the day and we didn’t want any more debt?
So many questions, and I think for us the answer revolved around a certain theme…
We thought greener grass was around the corner. In our minds, we were spending more than we made because we thought we would make more money later to pay it off. Live life now…pay later. After all, that’s what most of the credit card companies tell you. We deserved to have a nice camera. We deserved to have a nice computer. Who needs to save up money for purchases like that? We had a nice shiny credit card with available credit. Sure, there’s something called finance charges we’d have to deal with. But they can’t be that bad…right? WRONG!
Looking back, we didn’t need greener grass around the corner. We could have started working to pay off our debt when we were making less money. Even if we were only paying $20 extra a month. We could have been hitting the debt as hard as we could with what we had. I know by looking at our monthly numbers that we could have made it work.
If I had done this exercise some time ago, we could have been debt free right now. So, if you are in debt and haven’t started a debt reduction plan, try going through the questions above. Perhaps it can help you.
Sometimes I get so stressed and yesterday was one of those days. When I get stressed, I start getting negative. I could feel that I was going to have one of those down and out days, maybe even a few days.
So, I asked what you would wish for trying to get a little perspective on things. I found your replies very interesting and here are a few (to read them all, click here).
Sandy wished for “Good health and happiness for my children” and that was echoed by Bianca.
Kristina wished “To end all forms of violence worldwide, including sexual assault and rape, domestic violence, trafficking of women, war, starving, and all other violence.”
Kim wished “To be satisfied with the present, excited about the future and reconciled with the past.”
D wished for “Peace in my home, family and world. The rest will work out then.”
Boomie wished “…that more people would concentrate on their blessings and what they DO have, rather on what they DON’T have. It makes all the difference.”
Thank you to everyone that replied. Your wishes helped a lot and I think all of us can learn something from it because if you are human you are bound to have bad days like I had yesterday. The key is to not let them get you down for too long and a way to do that is to regain the perspective on your life.
Personally, I like reading things that make me think and that’s what your answers did. It made me think of what I value and want I want out of my life. It also set me in my place and indeed realize that my problems are very minor compared to others. It also made me realize that all the while during my rough day, I was thinking on the negatives instead of thinking of the positives. I was making matters worse!
Right now, I am feeling very fortunate for what I do have. Sure I have a lot of debt and sure I am smack dab in pretty stressful situations at the moment. But I have a whole lot more.
I think everyone should visit this link (it’s at Blogging Away Fat) and look at the video I posted of a dancer named Bryan Gaynor. It’s not personal finance related in the least bit, but this 20 year old is an inspiration.
For some inspiration that is debt reduction related, here’s a blogger who paid off a $20,000 student loan in 2 years
I hope you enjoy! 
I’ve never heard of 97 year-old Mae Laborde before today. She was highlighted in a Yahoo article and I couldn’t help but smile the entire time I was reading it. What an amazing woman.
Mae Laborde via Yahoo.com.
There’s much to be said about life and what you can do with it. Since this is a personal finance blog, I’ll highlight a tidbit related to finance I found in the article:
“A Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop, she has kept in touch with most of her daughter’s friends. Now in their 70s, they’ll ask her for secrets to living a long life. She’ll tell them to never retire.
When she was 89 Laborde took a police training course just for fun, and she still cooks for herself, paints and raises tomatoes in her garden that she sells to a local restaurant.”
A police training course when she was 89? She’s amazing.
I’m still smiling…what more can I say?
On Wednesday, I discussed that I had an idea. A major problem that I have is finding the time to devote to the idea to bring it to life. I have the ambition and I have the knowledge, I just need that time.
Anyways, I was feeling ho-hum yesterday. I still had my green sheet of construction paper at my desk as I worked and still jotted down ideas that came to me. There were no major developments, but at least the idea was still there. It didn’t go away and I’m not so sure it will.
Maybe I need something to help nudge me on. Something that tells me that, “Tricia…you are meant to bring this idea to life.”
Well, I received something. Actually, I received two things.
The first thing was a book that I received to read and review (and then give away on here ;)). The book is about attracting the job you want. In itself, the book doesn’t fit my idea and I already have a great job and I’m very happy with it. It was a quote in the beginning of the book that struck me:
“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them” - Albert Einstein
I have been less than optimistic lately. I’ve found myself writing about the horrible stories of credit cards. While I think it’s good to discuss those things, I seemed to be writing about them a lot. Where did my optimism go? Yes, I have had some difficult times lately, but I know I need that positive outlook to make things happen. I need that back. I want it back.
The second thing was a resource that I will need to bring my idea to life. Talk about timing! And it wasn’t even something that you can order and it’s not something you think of arriving at your doorstep at a certain time.
Two nudges in one day. I can’t ignore them. It’s time to get my game face back on, kick some debt booty and get my idea going. I still need time, but I have a feeling if I work hard and work efficiently the time might be there.
Correct that…it will be there!
Waking up every morning and deciding that we will not go out and spend money is not an easy task. It takes a lot of motivation to look at the money we have as a way to get out of debt rather than a way to have something we “want.” But somehow, after a year at this, I’m still holding strong and I think I owe a great deal of gratitude for the people/things that motivate me.
There are the sources of motivation that started me on this journey…
Back in April of last year, I sat down and wrote a list of 10 things that keep me motivated to become debt-free. I still do all of those, but as the days are turning into years I am finding that I zero in on certain ones.
Like the sources of motivation that are always there…
My son. My husband. My mom and dad.
Those four people are more than my family, they are the reason that I can do things when I set my mind to them. They are my inspiration for so many things in my life. Whether it’s trying to be a good person or paying off our debt - they are right there with me with unconditional love. They make me want to succeed.
Then there are the stories of others…
Whether it’s stories from other bloggers who are now debt-free or those who are working towards it. I look to their stories for inspiration.
Then there are quotes…
I love quotes and one of my favorites is this one here. It’s amazing what the written word can inspire you to do.
Then there are times where I look everywhere for some motivation…
I look at things differently now. Every movie or show I watch or story I read I look for inspiration. Like how a horse is inspiring me to reduce our debt or how a chipmunk is being frugal.
Last, but definitely not least, I have this blog…
This blog has played a major role in our debt reduction. Writing about our finanical situation daily keeps me focused and the comments of others help to keep me motivated. I do want to see the day I can come on here and write in huge bold all cap letters that I am credit card debt-free. I want to go outside and shout it. I want to hug a stranger on the street and tell them I am credit card debt-free. Okay, maybe I won’t hug a stranger, but it will be a very happy day.
Now that I’ve shared where I get my motivation…what about you? Would you like to share?
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