Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 275 – Coming Up Empty

Mahler · 10-05-2009, 10:58 AM

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 275 – Coming Up Empty

Coming Up Empty (10-05-09)

I sat down and booted up my computer this morning and settled in with a cup of coffee close at hand to write this morning’s installment of the Motivator. As I always do, I pulled up the previous week’s ramblings, copied it and used it as a template to begin the current one. I scanned several of the sticky notes that I have decorating my desk cabinet like so many Want Ads on the supermarket bulletin board advertising everything from used cars to free kittens. Every time I get a germ of an idea, it goes on one of those little paper and adhesive marvels and finds its way on the side of my cabinet for future reference. A devilish thought crosses my mind as I wonder how much of an impact Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses would have had if he had fastened them to the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg using Post-It-Notes.

As I reviewed the notes and summarily rejected each idea it finally occurred to me that this morning I had nothing. After 274 motivators, I was coming up empty. I thought, “what the hell?” I closed the file and went on to other things. As the morning progressed and my e-mail began informing me of incoming messages and I responded to the usual Monday morning fire drills, I kept coming back to the nagging thought in the back of my mind that I had nothing to offer this morning. The well, for all intents and purposes this day, was dry. And it bugged the hell out of me.

The more I thought about it, the more it bothered me, but it also made me think and reminded me that no matter how dedicated you may be; no matter how consistent your actions; no matter how purposeful your behavior, sometimes you just come up empty. And, this morning, it happened. In spite of all the weeks that stretched into years of writing, I had nothing to offer.

Have you ever gathered with a group of friends on a regular basis, but on one particular occasion came away with a feeling that, somehow, things were different? Or, perhaps you find yourself walking out of the gym and thinking what a piss poor workout you just had and that the energy was just not there. Hell, you might be reading one of these little gems and finish with the thought that you just wasted three minutes. There are always going to be some events in our lives that are devoid of any gain, lacking in any satisfaction and which somehow, for whatever reason, miss the mark. But, does that mean that we will never go back, never reengage, never give it another shot? A near death experience may be a one time thing, but most other events in life deserve a second chance. Whether your are sidelined by an injury, nursing an emotional wound from being dumped, or just having a bad day, there is rarely a reason to toss in the towel and call it quits. There is nothing wrong with coming up empty, so long as you are resolved to make something happen the next time around. But, it’s your job to make sure there is a next time.

Sorry this is late, but I was just coming up empty.

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Copyright 2004-2009 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.

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Have a Great Week!

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