My Reasons for Studying

My studies have been on the back burner over the holiday season. My sister in New Zealand and I had a long talk this evening. She encouraged me to write down why I was studying and how I am going to do it, then read it aloud every day to keep myself motivated. I will pin it up near my desk so that I can keep reminding myself why it is so important. This is what I have come up with so far, but I will probably end up adding to the lists and perhaps removing things from it too.

Why am I studying?

• To achieve self respect
• To earn freedom from the exhausting Benefit system
• To have the power having my own cash can bring
• To give me more choices in my future with Sean
• To give me more choices generally
• To be able to help my children and Wendy
• For the heady feeling of achievement and success
• For personal safety
• For my own independence
• I want and need a marketable qualification
• Personal enrichment, figuratively and literally
• To insure against being powerless and vulnerable
• Because I CAN

How shall I achieve this?

• By asking God for help and inspiration
• By working consistently
• By setting boundaries and not allowing family or friends to distract me
• By making my studies my principle priority
• By asking for help when I need it.
• Self discipline and determination
• By remembering that I have done much harder things before now and have got through them very well.
• By keeping in mind the ‘no pain, no gain principle
• By being responsible
• By keeping focused on my reasons for wanting to study
• Remembering that I have a backbone. The wishbone has retired
• From past experience I know that I can do anything for survival and personal safety. These studies, in the final analysis, are about personal survival and safety.
• These studies are the doorway to a much better future