What’s your motivation?

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Let’s talk about motivation. This is one of those questions where I’m attempting to harness all the great minds out there in Renoland. This, for me, is the beginning of the year. I know, I know—a lot of people have a symbolic beginning of the year on Jan. 1. Others prefer spring. I’ll bet there’s a few kids out there who believe the year begins at the launch of school or summer vacation. But, for me, it’s when the leaves come off the trees, and the plants go dormant. Symbolically, death is the beginning.

So, last year, I started a diet and exercise program that was supposed to culminate in a result next month. I don’t mind saying, since I’ve only discussed my battles with weight a million times, I was aiming to get rid of my love handles by November. Honestly, I wanted to see abs. I reached my weight goal, 210 pounds, in March, backslid a bit, up to 218, but now realize I’ve got to go down to 200 if I’m ever going to see that six pack. And it’s not going to happen by November. And, to be perfectly honest, I’m 45, it’s less likely to happen with each year that passes.

OK, so here’s my question: Where do people find the inspiration to go that final mile (especially after the timekeepers have gone home)? It’s plain I’m not going to achieve my goal, or maybe it’s more plain that I’m not willing to do anything extreme to get there. Where do you readers find inspiration to continue when you’ve already failed to reach your goal, and somehow the bar has been raised in the midst of your failure?

Anyway, if you are writing for publication, go ahead and send your answer to <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> </script>. If you are only writing to me, send it to my regular email. Hey, here’s another idea: Go to www.newsreview.com/reno, and post your comment under this column for the whole community to read. Don’t have a motivation? Go ahead and mock me.