It’s crucial to know the why behind our what. I’m a journalist. I know why I am a journalist. As human beings, it’s not always easy to discern why we do what we do.

It’s one thing to have a driving force behind our actions that may not be as sustainable in the long term. It’s an entirely different predicament compared to not possessing certainty or at least an idea of why we do something.

So, what can we do if we don’t have any clue as to why we’re on the mission we’re on? A lack of clarity can brew frustration.

Why?

One of the critical facts to uncover in journalism is the why. It’s not outstanding or even satisfactory to know what happened or what is happening. The why must be among the discovered facts.

Knowing the why behind our hobbies, careers and mission in life brings focus and drive. What is the why?

It’s more than a simple “because it is fun” or some other generic statement. It should communicate the mission and purpose.

On the other hand, if statements such as those are the best one can do at the moment, that is fine. Motivations become less fuzzy and more defined over time.

Imagine someone telling you that they run their business because it’s their passion or because it’s fun. That’s great.

However, the answer becomes exponentially more powerful when that same person reveals that they run their bakery because a loved one got them into baking as a hobby.

See the difference? The first answer is okay. The second answer brings more details out and sounds far more interesting.

Imagine another scenario. It’s the grand opening of a new movie theater, and the new brand has attention from the press and social media. The business owner says they entered into this sphere of business because they like movies.

That’s a boring answer, and it does nothing to communicate a solid and unique why. A lot of people like movies.

A more interesting answer from the business owner may inform people that they entered the business because of a lifelong passion for film. That passion is fueled by years of memories at their local movie theater.

The excited entrepreneur shares the story of the first movie experience they can recall and maybe even talks about how some of the most meaningful experiences in their life have involved movies.

Those are just examples, but the point is that they are personal and interesting in contrast to saying something is cool, fun or a passion.

People aren’t interested in the impersonal. People want to see the unique stories and motivations behind actions.

Whether or not we are ever asked to publicly share or decide of our own will to give our answers, we should at least know why we do something that we’re passionate about. We ought to know what inspired us and keeps our work going.

Earlier, I mentioned less sustainable motivation. A lot of people want more money, but money should never be the main motive for doing what we do.

There are other motives like that which won’t and can’t sustain and nourish action. I won’t address those motives now, I believe most people know what they are.

In the future, I will write about why I’m a journalist. In the meantime, why do you do what you do? Whether it’s your hobbies or career, tell that part of your story in the comments section.

Hello, everyone! How do you like your news?

I’m taking a break from posting my news articles and blogs to ask for your answers. What news stories interest you most? How do you get your news?

I want to know how you get your news and what kinds of stories you read most. As a journalist, I’m fascinated by the different ways people get their news.

Some people like quick stories with minimal detail, and other people prefer as many details as they can get. Some people prefer electronic methods such as web, TV, or radio over reading a print newspaper. For some people, print newspapers are the news medium of choice.

What about you? The comments section waits for your answers!

You can also use the contact form to submit your answers. Thank you for reading!

Time is an odd thing. As humans, each of us has time each day to do various tasks. We wake up, prepare for the day and zip into the remainder of the time the day holds.

So, I want to ask you this. How do we spend our time? I won’t attempt to tell you how to use one of your most valuable possessions, but I hope to encourage everyone to consider how all of us spend our time.

Of course, we all spend it in different ways. Furthermore, we spend it in different ways at different times.

For example, a person may spend more time studying while in school than they do after they have completed school. Some students proceed in their education and seem to study all the time; as a graduate student, even more of my time is occupied studying than when I was an undergraduate student.

Not too long ago, someone asked if I play video games. While video games took up some of my time many years ago, what I allow to consume my time now looks far different than when I was a kid.

I haven’t played a video game in years. Perhaps it’s even more strange to some that the times I’ve attempted to play video games in more recent years, I simply don’t enjoy it.

The consoles and controllers are lackluster to me. I’m no longer pulled to play even what were once some of my favorite video games.

Recently, I passed by video games while I was at a store. I thought to myself that it would be neat to enjoy a game again, but I know if I bought one, I’m likely to play it for 20 minutes or less.

It’s because I don’t enjoy them anymore. There are a few times when I wish that wasn’t the case. However, there’s a feeling I can’t escape.

If I pick up the controller to a video game console and start playing, I’m not truly doing anything. One might reply by telling me that doing nothing is the point, and that video games are for entertainment and enjoyment.

That is true, and I will add that many video games have good storytelling. With that said, the entertaining storytelling is also not enough for me to justify playing.

None of the above is to state that video games are bad or advocate that nobody should play them. I’m only saying that they aren’t something I care for.

The shift from interest to zero interest is strange. The idea of spending an hour or more on a video game seems so distant to me now.

I’m aware that there are hobbies and subjects that grab my attention that other people don’t have an interest in as well. For instance, I love studying and researching.

I enjoy learning about government, politics, philosophy, art, astronomy, storytelling and more. I understand many people don’t enjoy researching.

Some people wave goodbye to studying and research after school because they view the action as impractical or simply find no joy in the work. However, I find the work it takes to learn highly practical and enjoyable.

At the same time, I readily admit that there are people who find deep studying to be just as much a bore as I do video games. In addition, I admit that the possibility of studying and researching too much exists as much as putting far too much time into video games.

Growth through education is excellent but not at the expense of relationships with people. Entertainment through video games provides fun, but spending an inordinate amount of time playing them results in missing out on other experiences and joys.

If we don’t spend time outside of our interests, we miss out on growing in other ways. If I have my focus locked on studying all of the time, I miss out on connecting with other people.

Films capture my interest in a way that electronic games fail to hold my attention. Fellow film and TV show lovers alike know that it’s possible to get sucked into spending too much time watching flicks and shows.

Don’t let me discourage you from enjoying your hobbies and interests, but all of us ought to consider how we utilize our time and our motivations for doing so in the ways we do.

How do you spend your time, and have you thought about making changes? Please share in the comments.

I recently returned from vacation. I had a blast and made memories, and I was inspired to write this post. As a writer, it’s lovely when coming up with ideas is almost or totally effortless.

What I’m about to share will change your travel experience and life. I’m not one for exaggeration unless it’s to make a point, but my claim that this is life-changing is not hyperbolic.

A few years ago, I read a book in which the author suggested something that at the time I thought was too simple. I’m paraphrasing, but the idea is that one should give at least a few minutes of their time to people by engaging in conversation.

Keeping in mind that the above is a paraphrase, I will explain why this is such a powerful practice to me, what people often do instead and what this better path forward can look like practically.

The Power of Giving of Your Time

Talking with people in a manner that displays genuine care and interest is rewarding. Doing the same thing when engaging with someone you may find annoying or someone you’ve just met is even more rewarding.

Some of my most fulfilling interactions have been with tour guides, food servers, other vacationers and other people I have never known prior to meeting them. On more than one occasion, these conversations have resulted in close friendships.

I call this my traveling tip because this better method and mindset to engage with the people around me has been most fruitful during vacations. I’ve met with interesting people who became dear friends as a result of embracing this practice and not passing up opportunities to meet new people and hear what they have to say.

Please understand that I’m not saying we need to be everyone’s best friend. I don’t think we should. However, I believe we should treat even the person we find most irritating with respect and see them as worthy of our time, especially when they seem in need of a listening ear.

Scenarios to Consider

Picture a person who wakes up, goes about their morning either as routinely or spontaneously as they usually do and rockets out the door engulfed in their own thoughts.

When this person enters the local coffee shop to grab their morning brew, they’re not necessarily rude but impatient. As they stand in line, they regretfully spot an acquaintance they mostly consider annoying.

Hoping this acquaintance didn’t notice them as well, they begin to put on their best performance, acting as though they are having a serious discussion on the phone.

The barista hands the coffee over to the impatient customer only to receive a nod in return. This is one scenario.

Another scenario could include eager travelers waiting to finish checking into their hotel room. They’re excited, of course. However, they fail to propel the conversation forward when the tired but helpful employee asks how they are doing.

Many of the family members are glued to their phones, but the one family member who’s listening replies with a quick, canned and disinterested “Fine, thank you.”

For some, acting that way may not come from a place of negative intent. At the same time, what sometimes sits beneath such speech and tone is a view of people being obstacles to one’s end goal.

Take the coffee shop scenario for an example. The impatient customer avoided the acquaintance so as to not encounter hindrances to the end goal.

The family in the other scenario didn’t take note of the tired employee looking for someone who would just hear their thoughts for a minute. These scenarios are obviously general and don’t account for other variables.

Be that as it may, my point is that if one isn’t careful, it’s easy to fall into the dangerous trap of treating someone, especially people who may annoy us, as an obstacle.

Someone may say that there’s a contrast between behaving this way intentionally and behaving this way unintentionally. The only difference is the intent, but the result is often the same.

Whether intentional or not, treating people as numbers only renders a negative impact. Everyone has either seen or been a food server who is on the receiving end of rude or indifferent customers.

The customer doesn’t make eye contact with the employee and speaks to them as if they’re a nuisance only there to serve them. Of course, there are also employees who dish out the behavior on a guest or customer undeserving of such treatment.

No matter what the scenario or the shoes one occupies, treating people this way is wrong. Furthermore, it’s negative and not conducive to truly enjoyable moments.

A Better Option

There’s a better way to communicate and interact with our fellow humans. I want to paint a brighter and more considerate picture.

Imagine you’re in line at your favorite place; you are minding your own business when someone you’ve never met tries to launch into a conversation with you. Sure, you want to return to your thoughts and be left alone.

Instead, you engage with the loud but kind individual. You learn that they’re buying meals for a family who finds themselves supporting a loved one battling sickness.

This individual is still loud, but by giving someone just a couple of minutes, you see them as a person and not a problem.

This is one example. The same enriching experiences can also occur at restaurants, schools and anywhere else. We must value our fellow humans and offer our time.

A Word of Caution

It’s potentially easy to read the above and think it’s an encouragement to throw boundaries away. Boundaries should not be eliminated. Valuing someone and taking an interest in what they have to say, whether it’s serious or light-hearted, is never an invitation to be mistreated.

The Thrilling Opportunity

Therefore, go boldly into this thrilling opportunity to value and impact people by sharing a few minutes of your time; be cautious, but remember that you never know the transformative impact this can have and the unexpected friends you can make.