Motivations are tricky.  What compels someone to do something really stupid and post a video of it on Facebook?  Why would someone run for public office, let alone the presidency?  Why would I write a blog?

<<chirp, chirp>>

If ever the topic of my blog arises in conversation, reactions range from mild interest to “Oh . . .  wait, what?”  I get a lot of “What is your blog about?”  As if I have a purpose.  As if I have a single topic that is interesting enough to merit blogging about it.

Some people do.  Some are motivated by money and they zero-in on that thing, whatever it is, to generate traffic to their store, website, tourist attraction, sponsors or whatever.  I respect that, usually.  This is the way things are done these days.

Some people are true capital W writers and their blog is just another forum for them to express their meaningfulness and interact with their capital R readers.  Go and do, Great Minds!

My motivations for a blog have been more, what? Subtle?  I started out thinking I would use it as a place to write down little lessons I’ve learned over the years, in story telling mode.  I envisioned career/corporate world stuff.  The name “Tilting Up” was a reaction to “Lean In,” a book title that got so much attention and created such a stir that I never read it.  I’m a woman who was in an advancing career and who suddenly, and with mystery for some of those around me, left to live in a resort town.  I didn’t leave my brain behind and I still had things to share and add to that world, I thought, so I would do it in a blog.

A funny thing happened as my fingers hit the laptop keys:  I didn’t write my thoughts on effective leadership or how to communicate in the board room.  Instead, life came through.  People, relationships, mundanities, tragedy, humor, love and loss.  Dogs, snow and a convertible.  And I found that what I thought was my original motivation wasn’t even real.

So now I wonder, what is it?  Why do I do what I do?  It’s a connection to people I know and those I don’t.  It’s a catharsis I didn’t know I needed.  It’s fun.  It’s something I do without having to.  My own thing, my own deadlines or not, my own topics, my own thoughts.  No agenda.  No goals.

Motivation for Taking the Cat on a 10 Day Camping Trip . . . He’s Fun?

Still don’t have much of an answer here.  Not sure it really matters.  Thanks for reading —  maybe you are my motivation!

I would still like to know why someone would willingly run for president.

Happy 2015 and Happy Motivating!