What motivates you?
For some, it is money.
For others, it is winning.
For me, a big motivator has always been to make my family proud.
I come from a working-class, blue-collar, union, factory-working family. All of us lived in and around a small town for 7 generations and can even trace back our work history to 2 factories located in the same town.
My family has a proud tradition of hard work, sacrifice, generosity, and being genuinely good people. Simple, genuine, and hard-working people.
So, each day I am motivated to do my very best to be like them, but truly one person in particular that always comes to mind is my Grandma Sophia. I could say so many things about her to demonstrate her generosity, but today I am sharing this photo.
In this photo is a recipe she made that became the stuff of legend in and around the neighborhood. If you say ‘Winnie Stew’ to any of my family or my Dad’s or Uncle’s friends they will light up and then start sharing stories of how my Grandma Sophia made this for the entire neighborhood and how they have not had it in years. Then the laughs and smiles will continue as they share stories of how they were all showed in and she made this for them while a dozen or so boys all piled into the small living room having fun.
It’s just hotdogs, potatoes, and rice. Simple really, but if you think about it, how could a working-class lady feed dozens of neighborhood kids on a meager budget? Affordable ingredients, simple recipe, and a lot of it, but combined in a massive pot and made with love.
She never knew a stranger and always wanted to make sure everyone was ok, everyone. She looked for chances to help people. Her life and the way she lived it always motivates me and acts like a beacon when I am due for a course correction.
So, what motivates you?
Who are you going to help today?
Jason A. Belt 