Desire: From the Middle English desiren, from Old French desirer, from Latin desiderare, from de + sider or sidus meaning heavenly body or star. An obsolete meaning is invite, while an archaic meaning is, to feel the loss of.
Now it means to express a wish for, request, ask. I wonder if it comes from wishing on a star?
I cruised Wikipedia and found a list of concepts that can be related to desire.
Desire as emotion, a sense of longing or hoping
Desire in philosophy
As greed and one of the seven deadly sins
As Interpersonal attraction
Libido according to Freud and psychoanalysis
As limerence, an involuntary state of intense romantic desire
Lust
Motivation
Want
Motivation is a good one, something we writers need, something that mostly has to come from within ourselves. External motivations can be both a help and a hindrance. I might be motivated to write if someone was lashing me with whips, but would it help me produce good writing? Hmmmmm. I think not. I'd be writing simply to keep from getting whipped. Motivation is subtler than that. It quietly encourages.
I am motivated when my sweetie looks in while I'm working at the computer and I see that little smile on his face, a smile that says he's happy to see me writing. It pleases him, and in turn I am pleased that he is pleased. I am motivated to write more. I am motivated to see that smile.
What motivates you? What is your desire? Do you know the name of the star you wish upon?
I love the old meanings of the word. Shows the evolution of language.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff!
ReplyDeleteWhen desire and motivation collide- look out!
Great stuff, enjoyed it :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best
Marinela x
Short Poems
Right now my biggest wish isn't publishing related. But the second one is. Anyway, I don't know the names of the stars, but when I look up at them and make a wish, I'd like to hope I'm not wishing on a satellite!
ReplyDeleteI always make a wish when I see a falling star. Being out in the country, on a clear night, the sky is chocker with stars. Truly amazing.
ReplyDeleteDesire is a very powerful word.It drives you to the heights you want to reach..beautiful writing!
ReplyDeleteI'm motivated by lots of things I would say...pursuing a dream that only I can work toward, the accomplishment, but also touching the life of another through my words such as my blog...that is really what fuels my writing!
ReplyDeleteGreat post..
Happy A to Z!
I don't believe I have ever wished on a star. Of course, in the city, you don't really see them very well.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading this. Wonderful word desire. At the moment my motivation is created by need and I stopped wishing on stars a long time ago. If you wish long enough and your wishes never come true, than it is time to stop fooling yourself.
ReplyDeleteYes the whip isn't going to exactly motivate me to write the most moving words. However the aftermath might leave me so troubled that I write the best piece of my life. I guess it's all in how you look at it.
ReplyDeleteI think all of us desire something. What it is, well, that's in the eye of the beholder I'm sure.
Your posts are always so enlightening. I love getting to stop by!
Great D word. I am motivated by wanting to leave something good behind for this wonderful world that has given me so much.
ReplyDeleteOh I like this one. Very thought provoking. And I like Siv and Jen's comments.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting because we don't express our desires much and in the pace of life, they get rather lost.
I feel I've rather lost my mojo lately and really struggle to motivate myself. But my writing has been the one thing that gets me moving again. And doing a good deed for people, trying to help them, I can always manage to pull out all the stops if someone needs me.
Desire. I like that word. The D kind of lingers on the tongue. My mind runs in forms of music and all the songs about desire come to my mind. I like your profile picture with your pink dress and the pink blossom.
ReplyDeleteHappy D-Day
Great D, Bish. It motivates me to see hubby get so excited after reading what I've written, but he's my BIGGEST critiquer, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI have my dreams and my desires, I'm just waiting for my time.
Fabulous 'D' post. My dreams and desires are held close to my heart. :o) Thanks for sharing your great post. Happy Tuesday! :o)
ReplyDeleteMy readers motivate me and right now that's only my CPs but it keeps me writing. Also, The Man motivates me in his own curmudgeony way, he's more of a slave driver. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, to name the star that I wish upon. I wouldn't have thought of it. I enjoyed your version of the letter 'D.'
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.
Love that poem. Hm... lately I am motivated by FEAR. And finding it is very effective - if not pleasant - indeed!
ReplyDeleteOhhh. You have such a great motivator! I love that seeing you writing pleases your sweetie. :)
ReplyDeleteNice read. Desire is one of my favorite emotions!
ReplyDeleteLove it! YES desire, gotta to have it in buckets! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOne thing that motivates me is to get off the desire wheel as in Buddhism, although that in itself is a desire. And right now I have a desire for a chai. I am so addicted to desire.
ReplyDeleteNice post. My desire is to write. My motivation is the satisfaction I derive from writing. The star I wish upon does not shine alone...there are many stars including faith, hope, hard work, determination and opportunity. One of these days, all those stars will align! LOL And that's the trick, isn't it? Being prepared when they do.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and super comments. I agree with Lisa, the stars will align...even if we have to shove them into alignment ourselves!
ReplyDeleteSome great insight into "desire". I don't know the name of my star, I'm probably wishing on Mars or something ~ :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have a husband who likes to see you write.
ReplyDeleteThis word kind of rolls off the tongue casually, but it can move mountains. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI like the motivation definition.
ReplyDeleteThe desires of my heart: to see all of my children and grandchildren happy and productive human beings.
Ann Carbine Best’s Long Journey Home
I've read through your other letters and am thoroughly enjoying them. Being a lover of books and words myself, I appreciate learning their etymology.
ReplyDeleteLove is so often the best motivator, isn't it? Enjoy the rest of the challenge...:)
Lynette
Imagination Lane
I've thought about this question a lot, and I think my motivation is very internal...I am the one who pushes and inspires myself to write...I think this is because reading is so huge in my life.
ReplyDelete