What philosophy do you live by or...what would you say is the true motivation why you wake up every morning?

I’m retired so that my answers may not represent the younger, working, set who have a job to go to every day, one which they may not be happy with.

Philosophically, Objectivism has resonated best with me. I am not religious but my wife is.

I look forward to every day for a number of reasons, most of which I suppose are relatively selfish as I seek those things that give me pleasure.

I have a wonderful wife of 46 years. (Almost) Everyday spent with her has been a pleasure. We have very different views and interests but we just “click”.

My favorite hobby is music – I play/practice classical guitar and every minute spent with this most personal instrument is pure pleasure (even if I don’t sound the way I want to).

I enjoy home projects (painting, carpentry, electrical work, etc) and do a lot of it for myself and my two daughters. It is deeply satisfying to me in a very personal way to create something with your hands and see the result of your work.

I have two grown and married daughters. They are both good people ( one a psychologist, the other a vet-tech) and they give meaning to my life as well. We have one granddaughter, 6 years old, who is pure pleasure for us. Watching her grow and develop shows me much of what life can and should be – and it also shows me how much we lose of the excitement of being alive as we age and become entrenched in our daily routines.

There are other things but these are the main ones. Lest I sound like my life is Utopia, it is not – difficult and painful things happen all the time but these allow me to enjoy the good times, to see the contrasts that occur in life, contrasts which I think are essential for the right perspective. Also, and this is a very long story that I don’t usually share, my childhood and teen years were spent is a setting of war and constant fear of annihilation.

Enough of my gibberish except for one saying that struck me like a lightening bolt the first time I heard it and which has stayed with me: “Happiness is an inside job”.

I honestly wake up everyday and although I don't think this directly usually, my goal is to change this world in a substantial way for the better. My life does not depend on this and I would be equally happy if I could live a good life and contribute even a little through my career. I am hoping to become professor (I apply to grad school in the fall). I am also working on some pretty socially responsible and innovative entrepreneurial stuff that I hope takes off. Overall, I would like to change the world but even if I could find someone that I love and raise a family and contribute only a little, I would be happy. In the raising the family situation, what would make me happy is if I could find my soul mate and love my family incredibly. I am also a "christian." I put christian in quotations because I don't believe what you would likely first assume. I believe that Jesus's message was not an evacuation plan and he came here to teach us how to restore this world. This is a huge thing I think people miss at a human level. People strive to create, build and have purpose and meaning for a reason. God created (not saying you have to believe in god, just my opinion) to leave the world better than we when we came to it. It is not an escape but a meaningful adventure. I hate the whole converting thing and by no means would I want to convert you (I think it is wrong and leads to all sorts of problems) but if you are interested in what I just said, check out Rob Bell's book Love Wins (A book about heaven, hell and the fate of everyone who ever lived). Its all in controversy right now but I think it is a fantastic book which puts christianity in a more intellectually and emotionally sound perspective.

I once did not apply for a job that asked this question. I could not think of a truthful answer that did not condemn me. My motivation is to go back to sleep immediately and sort out all the messes and calamities in my nightmare which is always incredibly realistic and closely related to real life events. Only bodily functions actually force me to make the move.

All of what you mentioned above therefore '' a day I will proudly look at everyone in their eyes '' I was born poor and would miserably dye if I did not make a simple but powerful decision a day. I am still living grace of this mere sentence. '' a day I will proudly look at everyone in their eyes ''

I put my feet on the floor and I ask myself, " Why?" It is always the same question and there is never an answer. At the end of the too long day, I ask myself, "Why?" There is never an answer. So, I just keep getting up in hopes of having that one question answered that haunts me during the day and as I sleep.

The traumatic and abusive experiences from my family helped shaped me in to a better person... I live by my own strict morals and live strictly by rationality... I primarily focus on my priorities and think wisely about my decisions before taking action... ignore and accept the past as the past... live strictly to doing good deeds especially when its most needed, help innocent good people who need it... the only thing that will stop me from helping good people is when death comes to me... fear is an illusion that keeps us from doing what we enjoy most... we all have to take risks in life regardless how traumatic or abusive it may seem... courage will always be own my shoulders... we all need to take control of our individual lives to ensure happiness... death may come to me anytime of the day but I will always be ready to ensure that the good people will live on despite my own fate... what truly matters to me is just good people enjoying themselves and seeing the kindness I bring will help shape a better future for ALL to live in...

I guess you could say "I'm all about religion" but I don't like to put it that way. I believe that God love the world so much he gave his only son to die on the cross for our sins.

i wish i had a deep, meaningful internal drive to share with you. truth is, i am motivated to wake up every morning because my dog paws at my head until I get up for pee pee time.

I just get up and already know that there's going to be something good that will make me happy.

Curiosity is what gets me out of bed. I'm just a curious, curious man.