What makes you tick?

[tartanwiz]

Look at your life. You go to work every day and come home at night knowing tomorrow and the day after will be just the same. The highlight of your year might be two weeks in the summer and an office party at Christmas. No, I don't want to know what's it all about and what is the meaning of life. I just want to know what stops people from cracking up, getting depressed or turning to booze / drugs. I know some people have career ambition to keep them going. Others have religious faith. How about you? What makes you want to keep going? (Sounds like a gloomy question, perhaps, but I'm interested).

[apricot]

Lots of things. For me it's trying to make a positive difference to other peoples lives. Lifes little victories, having a laugh, especially in the face of adversity. Making sure I have something to look forward to. Making sure that the battle is small enough to win but big enough to matter. I have told many people that what goes round comes round and I've found this to be true. I always try to treat others the way I would like to be treated. Ooer mrs do-as-you-would-be-done-by. Very philosophical for a wet Sunday afternoon tartanwiz.

[K99]

I work with children who have special needs. And that to me makes me feel great knowing I am helping them and that they rely and need me in their lives.

[saffstar]

There's tons of everyday stuff that keeps me going - I love it when I drive around the roundabout on my way to work and see the rabbits that live on it going about their business; I love how these weird pseudo-friendships based entirely on nodding or saying 'Hi!' develop with people I walk past every day, without me ever learning their names; I love seeing how nature changes with the seasons. I also have little mini-rituals - like my cup of tea before I do anything else in the evening. It all helps me to ignore the stuff I don't like. I certainly have career ambition, but that brings me as much worry as hope. I read a book on Taoism a few months ago that was brilliant. It's all about not striving for the impossible (cos you'll always be disappointed) and trying to take something positive out of everything that happens - very much as apricot put it in fact!

[Greedyfly]

I have had major problems with this issue as I don't have many things that keep me going and often wondered why I am still going but for now my tickage comes from my fella and music (my job) I love music, every day begins and ends with it and without that sort of release I don't know what I would do. And my fella is the only thing that keeps me sane these days and makes me want to better my life and actually live it without my depression ruling it.

[beenee]

I'm motivated by the fear that one day when I'm much older I'll look back and think I've wasted my life. Since I believe this is the only chance I get, it gives me incentive to do interesting things with people that I care about as often as possible.

May sound strange but I also find reason to be happy, in my parents. They've made countless sacrifices for me and I feel that I would be letting them down if I wasn't true to myself and live life to its fullest.

Not a gloomy question at all, tartanwiz; it's actually cheered me up! :)

[PurplePixie]

I couldn't quite get the point of living for most of my early life...but then as an adult I got Multiple Sclerosis & oddly I'm the happiest, most at peace with myself than I've ever been. Maybe it's because life has been forced to slow down a bit & I truly can get joy out of the most miniscule things. Because of the M.S I have no idea what's going to happen in the years ahead & it's really made me not waste time & let things slip past. P.S I don't think everybody needs to get an incurable disease to find happiness & peace but it got me off of my *rse to keep going!!

[Philtaz]

My wife, my children especially and the eternal dream that West Ham United will one day win the Premiership title!

[rarll]

My wife, my children and my love of music.Also the eternal hope that Liverpool will rise again and dominate the Premiership..........

[rarll]

Just to say that I hadn't read any answers, so didn't see Philtazs' .Sorry

[Moog]

Great question, I have to agree with beenee. I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm trying my hardest not to waste any of it.

[Uzoma]

Faith in Jesus does it for me! It gives me a purpose for living & makes life exciting! But I agree with Philtaz too, I love my family - COME ON WEST HAM!!

[jakesi]

When my little boy looks at me and smiles, thats enough for me.

[andy hughes]

My job is just that, a job. I have a zen approach to it, it never stresses me out, and I laugh all day long with my colleagues. Outsidw work, I live for my writing, and after more than twenty years, I still get a huge rush from doing that, and seeing my name in print. Otherwise, my extended family give me huge pleasure, and I spend a lot of my free time with my wife and children. Life is good. After almost three months in a spichiatric hospital, and nine months off work getting around a breakdown, I appreciate the good times, because I know the bad times.

[undercovers]

i ask myself this question a thousand times a day - and i can tell you exactly what keeps me going - inertia. Plain and simple there is nothing else, my life has taken the path of least resistance and is flowing inextricably towards its end (life is NOT too short)... i will continue on this route until it gets easier to stop it all

[jills]

Great question! Saffstar, I liked your answer. What keeps me going is my littel boy Charlie. Everything is new and interesting to him, and it's made things new and interesting for his parents too! Before he was born (11 mnths ago) what kept me going thru hideously dreary working days, was getting home and spending time with my lovely fiancee. I always looked forward to that and, like Andy, work was just a job. I work to live, not live to work. Now my full tiem job is being a mum, and that is a job that's just a joy, never a drudge, adn I am so lucky to be able to do that full time.

[nykkieberry]

My four year old son who finds total pleasure in watching aeroplanes, bumble bees and having a nice bath and a cuddle. That's what life is all about.

[gazzawazza]

This is going to sound incredibly corny, but my answer is to learn to like the things I'm not supposed to like, and for me, it does work.

I was talking to a mate the other day and mentioned how much I like rainy weather. He couldn't believe I'd actually said that, but what's the alternative? To be miserable every time there's a spot of bad weather?

I actually like all different types of weather and look forward to changes in climate (however quickly they come!)

I also try to take this approach with other areas of my life. I just can't see the point in being down about something, even if it is a drudge. I just tell myself there are millions of people throughout the world much worse off than me and they'd give anything to swap their lives for mine.

I can't believe how incredibly lucky I am. I've got a lovely wife and family, I'm fit and active and I love my life. And when I see the abject poverty and squalor some people live in I'm also incredibly humble and won't even allow myself to feel sorry for myself.

[jenstar]

What's wrong with cracking up, getting depressed and turning to booze? Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.

[aRonWatson]

Right on, Jenstar. Learning, competition, sports. That's what keeps me going when I'm straight. Getting f&$kd up takes up the other half of my waking hours.

[aRonWatson]

Great question.