Fuel Your Life

When it comes to strength and motivation, I like to speak in metaphors because they are a good way to get a wholesome look of the situation. It is sometimes easier to look at life this way, as it’s too easy to get overwhelmed and get lost in what’s going on in your life.

One metaphor that I like to use it so picture my life as a the original Zippo lighter. It has a shiny, hard exterior that can take a great deal of beating. On the inside, on the other hand, is a soft filter which holds the fuel. This represents my mind. My hope and motivation.
The flame of a Zippo lighter burns strong. It is wind resistant, and the only thing putting it out is if you close the lid, suffocating the flame. Or, if the fuel runs out.

Because when that happens, you can try to get a flame going but all you’re gonna get is sparks. Occasionally, there might be a weak flame but it only lasts a little while.
Therefore, it is important to have fuel at hand, in case it would run out, leaving the filter dried up.
When you feel out of motivation, energy and hope, remember that your filter is dry. It’s still there, but there is no fuel to get the flame going.

It’s now time to refuel. Because you want that flame to be going as soon as possible again. You can keep trying over and over to get a flame going, but you’re still only gonna get sparks, and eventually, not even that.

So find your fuel. Because when you do, it won’t take long until you can refuel your lighter and get a strong, high flame going. And learn from the mistake of letting the fuel run out. In stressful and hard times, it’s easy to forget that the lighter may be tough on the outside, but that won’t matter if the fuel inside gets used up.
Refill as often as you can, to make sure that flame stays strong. There might be gusts of wind knocking it out, making it sway and go weaker, but as long as there is fuel in the lighter, it will burn just as strong when the wind has passed.

The flame may burn your skin if you stay in the wind. Fleeing from the wind will only make you fear the next time you might get burnt.
What you should do, is stay in the wind, fight it out, leave with a burn and realize that burns heal. And the only reminder you will have of the burn is in your mind. All you will know when push comes to shove.

One of the most important things to remember is to never let anyone close the lid and suffocate your flame. Some people take more fuel from you than you can handle. The filter dries up quicker, if more people want your flame, and if you give it away without thinking ahead. Share only with the people who matter. When the flame starts growing weaker, and it takes more effort to get it going, it’s time to refuel.

Zippo lighters are expensive. You are the only one who should be allowed to use it up. Everyone has their own Zippo lighter, and the ones who are too lazy to refill theirs and go off of someone else’s flame, are not worth it. Never forget that.

“Learn the lesson of your pain”
Gary Null