Perhaps I’m feeling inspired. Or uninspired. I’m not entirely sure why this question popped into my head the other evening, but it did, and I put the query out in a few places hoping to expand my own set of voices to stir, to excite, to inspire.
I ask myself who inspires me and run through the film of my life in image and event, plucking the moments that motivate with words or actions to be better, to do better, to perceive differently; to stretch myself into new configurations.
Initially I anticipated identifying women who play an inspirational role in my life. Then I consider my childhood, and realize the first people who come to mind are Henry Miller (as a writer) and Audrey Hepburn (as a style icon).
But otherwise?
I frequently ask myself questions without answers; in part I do this to travel the process of uncovering more questions, to taste their pleasure, and to wander what may be a fruitful path.
Yet I find myself at something of a loss, and that speaks volumes. Where have my heroes gone? Surely, once, I must have had some?
I cannot seem to dredge up a single “famous” person – living or dead – who serves as a model that is applicable in my own life. That saddens me.
Real World Women
Our dictionaries tell us that inspiration is something or someone who incites ideas, who stimulates, who stirs. I would expand that to suggest that inspiration stirs something in us to see newly, to act toward a purpose, to refashion ourselves; to “tweak” our immediate world, or even seek to rebuild it.
As I think beyond the literary and artistic luminaries who have brightened my days and nights, my own inspirational figures tend to be “ordinary” people.
My first thought is of the piano teacher in her 60s who has taught hundreds of children, including my son. She is wise in the ways she encourages him to think beyond measures and beats; she uses gentleness and discipline, stories from her life, questions – always questions – with no need to respond with a prescribed answer. This remarkable woman exemplifies living a modest life but one that is full of meaning; she has pursued her passions (music and teaching), raised two children, given to herself and given back – with joy.
Words To Live By
There is a poem by Pablo Neruda – Emerging – and its words inspire me every time I find myself in a tangle of confusion over the machinations and responsibilities that hold us in our disarray. The human complexities of dealing with each other, and hanging on to our dreams.
May I count him as inspirational? Or should I generalize to the influential writer, the jubilant artist, the poet with whom we form a life-long connection?
Could I add my own sons to the list?
There have been periods in my life when my children inspired me; they were my reason for getting up through pain, for smiling through depression, for standing strong with obstacles in our path. Their laughter encouraged my own, their questions ignited wonder, they kept me going, they gave me purpose.
Yet I wonder who inspires my children? Whom might they inspire when they become adults?
Tweaking This, Tweaking That
I do not believe we stand still. I do not believe we lose idealism without internal turmoil. I tweak myself, I tweak my views, I tweak my outlook with each day’s curiosity and the occasional epiphany, with the shifting revelation and the knowledge of its mutability.
I look beyond my windows for sources to inspire. I fight cynicism, and I know it. Yet I am rich in the encounters that continue to reshape my vision, and offer examples that encourage me.
- Who inspires you?
- What jobs or professions inspire you?
- Do you still believe in the power of the poet, the dreamer, or even – the statesman?
Who inspires me? My heroes are Gandhi, M. L. King, Tolstoy, Thoreau, Norman Thomas, Robin Harper All these individuals are well known except for Robin, a pacifist friend who has redirected all his federal war taxes to peaceful endeavors for many decades and been in court with the IRS many times, but they have never collected on him. Oh, and the historical Jesus of course, based on his teachings and how he practiced what he preached.
p.s. I could include my wife and parents, but that would be taking a somewhat different approach from how I’m interpreting your question. Also, we were camping with a group of young people a few days ago, and when Fran and I discussed relationships with a young woman who was at a crossroads in her life and we described how we managed our marriage and lifestyle, at the conclusion she said to us “You are an inspiration.” How surprising to hear, and how very sweet of her.
Timely post for me. Who inspires me? Randy Pausch, Maya Angelou and Gandhi. What inspires me? Great writing, natural beauty, and the people who overcome the insurmountable odds they face in their life.
I look to many different people — both men and women — when looking for inspiration. And I find it changes with age and circumstance. Most recently I met a women who drove 25 pounds of boston butts to a church in Missouri because she heard they were running out of food to feed storm victims. It wasn’t even the generosity that inspired me most. It was the initiative and gumption. This woman is her own agent of change, and it awakened in me the remembrance that I, too, can take action based solely on my knowledge that action is needed.
This is a wonderful example, Kelly, of the sort of inspiration I find as well – from “ordinary” people who – as you say – take initiative and exemplify gumption. This woman is certainly one to admire. Would that we all saw a need, and did what we could to address it.
wow! Beyond my own parents, who consistently have been and continue to be my go to source… I would really have to think.
So many people continue to inspire me and fill me with awe. From teachers of my past, to fellow single parents who can make it work no matter the obstacles. And my own children who amaze me everyday.
Maybe I take a bit of inspiration from many different sources, some not as consciously as others.
I do love so many of Paul’s choices too.
I agree @notasoccermom, that Paul’s choices are wonderful – as were Maya Angelou and Rosa Parks, suggested by a few on Facebook. Like you (and Kelly), I see many “unsung heroes” around us. Those who inspire in less public ways, through everyday actions.
Maybe it’s an age thing but gone are the days when I look to others (enviously) for inspiration. Perhaps it’s a slowing down and taking in all the moments, the present, that inspire. My kids inspire me to be the best mom/person I can be. I have to say that I think now is the time in my (our?) lives where I hope I inspire others.
I’ve been asked this question so many times, on televison, by newspaper reporters, when I used to have a job that put me in the public eye (magazine editor). And I always went blank. Truthfully, I’m someone who’s been looking for a mentor my whole life (and now I’ve finally stopped looking); I haven’t had that leader to look up to and lead me. Instead, I followed my instincts, crossed my fingers, tried to be honest, cried when I needed to, and made my way. And one day I realized, THAT’S who inspires me: All of the people I’ve met along my life’s path, who are doing the same things. Trying to make things work, reaching for answers, sharing their insecurities, holding other people up. Those were the women I worked for at the magazine, and those are the women and men I seek out now, online and in life: people who want to have conversations about how we find our way.
Thanks for asking the question, W. It’s a good one. xx
Theatre. Listening to musical theatre, seeing live theatre, being around theatre people. It just lifts my spirits, thereby allowing me to be free of the clutter in my brain to find beauty and spirit.
@April – Lovely reminder of how important the arts are to us in our harried lives.
@Stacy – Interesting how life teaches us to look to other sources than the expected for what is most meaningful; sometimes it’s all about the conversations, even as moving targets.
@Michelle – yes, the kids. They inspire us to be better, don’t they?
I’m clearly on an etymologic horse, but I had to point out that the original meaning of inspire is to breathe in.
What a wonderful question!! I am inspired by my mom and husband and kids. But also by this whole blog realm. I have only been here a year but voices – like yours!! – blow me away. You are very inspiring in a very organic way. You ask the tough questions and bring up great topics.
Bono inspires me for his longevity, his integrity, and his ability to maintain his relationships.Geraldine Ferraro inspired me. Mary Oliver inspires me.
You inspire me BLW! 🙂 Seriously, I love your site.
Also, ordinary people who do extraordinary things, or survive extraordinary things, inspire me as well.
Thanks for another inspirational post. And I also really enjoyed reading all the great input from readers too! Lots of interesting ideas.
Thank you, Andrea. And yes – there are great readers/writers with so much input who stop by here! (One of the reasons I do this… every day, like that vitamin…)
I take inspiration from everything and everyone around me. “Real” people have a tendency to be more inspiring to me and also are motivators to try to be/do the best that I may be/do.
However, one figure, a spiritual one, has been a recent constant source for inspiration: Mother Teresa. I so embrace her ideology of how to live life. If I could come slightly close to embracing her being as being a focus of inspiration of life, a little closer to Christ I will become. That is important to me. I love how she always said that the first source of world peace is creating within one’s own family… love that so much and, as a teacher, see the truth in those words.