I have always wanted to work just to be able to take care of myself, help others, and be a contributor and not just a consumer. Growing up, I watched my mom become an independent person who would take care of her children, whether our father put money down or not.
I learnt to understand what being financially independent means after her death, and I never wanted to be a liability to anyone. I remembered the words of my big sister a long time ago when she would advise us to know what we were doing because if any of her younger siblings became wayward, she wouldn’t be responsible. After all, she didn’t want liability, also trying to make us sit tight and know what we were doing. As harsh as those words were, they echoed in my heart, never to have to depend on anyone for support, especially when it comes to my basic needs.
I became more committed as a teacher, and also as I joined various writing platforms. There were days I would stay awake all night just to keep grinding and accumulating, which often left me without enough sleep. All in my mind was the determination to make sure I build a life where I could feed myself and those around me, especially my family. I wanted to be there to contribute. I wanted to be respected.
I saw through experience how being able to take control of myself could earn me the respect I deserved. And even though I haven’t attained that maximum level, I have been accorded respect by my aunts because I wasn’t seen as one who would depend on them every time for help, making me a liability to them. I don’t want to be ridiculed in any way. So, my motivation has been to take control of myself financially, and even if I need help, I should at least be able to do more than half of it.
I wouldn’t say I am not driven by profit, or passion, too, because who isn’t? There are instances when I have loved what I do and wouldn't mind if I get something from it, i.e, working in the house of God as a children's teacher because I love children. I have been passionate about being around kids, and it is the reason I became more interested in teaching, as it allows me the opportunity to be surrounded by children. Being passionate about children in church has been something I do for the passion/motivation, and not for profit. Of course, I know it is God who rewards those who diligently work for Him, and I keep doing that.
And in most cases, I have come to realise how being motivated naturally when there’s something to gain from it could take one very far. But sometimes, I just have the thought of living a financially stable life, and so whatever I need to do to help me achieve that, I do it, but in the right way. An example is being on Hive. Even though I came here for the money, along the line, I fell in love with the platform and was motivated to keep writing and being active daily, as it gives room to work myself into becoming independent financially. So, I guess passion, profit, and motivation work together in this aspect.
Independence, to me, is not just about survival. It is about dignity, contribution, and peace of mind, of which I would say I have been able to achieve these to some extent.
That’s why my deepest motivation is not only for profit or passion, it is for independence. Being independent to stand firm, to contribute when I need to, to be respected, and to live a life where I am not a liability but a blessing to others.
Images are mine
