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After reading Katts great quotes she shared, I was wondering what (or who) inspires you in your life. I mean your current life. Thanks for sharing.
I guess I will start, what inspires me:
Although he’s been gone 20 yrs now, my father was a grest inspiration to me. My mom was ‘checked out’ on her own way however my dad was a real parent to me. He made sure he taught me about whatever he was doing at the time, fr balancing a checkbook to plowing a field. My dad loved nature and bought a farm when he was 40. It was a dream he always had. He worked a full time job and farmed our farm until he retired at 62 and then died 9 yrs later. My love of animals and nature were inspired by him.
One the weekends, when my mother worked, we would go visiting the neighbors. My dad was very grateful to them because they taught him how to farm. Many had given him their old warn out or broken equipment and he would fix it so he could use it. Our neighbors were generational farmers, my dad grew up in the heart of Chicago. I learned my social skills from him and the love of people.
My father was very smart, resourceful, frugal, and really, really funny. We knew we were his pride and joy. I have 3 older brothers. He made sure we all went to college because he valued education.
He’s to you dad. My inspiration, my teacher, my reminder to teach my children what I know, and always ask alot of questions; it’s the best way to learn.
If I do go to law school, I will go in honor of my dad. He would be so proud. Love and miss you.
Love, Nap
Strong, courageous, creative, justice seeking, insightful and funny women have always been my inspiration. Nellie McClung and the famous five here in Canada still inspire me–I think of them and cry every time I vote. Canadian Artist Emily Carr. Quilters. JoAnn. Barbara Steffens. Canadian Authors Louise Penny and Margaret Laurence and Margaret Atwood. Wanda Sykes (I laugh so hard I pee my pants a little—okay TMI) The sisters here–raw with loss and vulnerable at our core, yet brilliant and caring and funny and generous always. A woman in my church who survived terrible childhood abuse (raped by every male member of her family) and labours through resulting psychiatric pain and trouble every single day but has a great feel for liturgy and works side by side with me on the biggest services off the year as my “right hand woman”. Alison Kraus, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, The Good Lovelies, Oprah, Queen Noor, and yes, at times even Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama. And others you wouldn’t know but who, when the hard moment arrived, stood present in it with grace and integrity and honour.
that’s how I would answer your question NAP, at least right now.Diane,
I love all the neat woman you named in your post, especially the lady who has suffered so yet is so helpful and giving. I’m looking forward to looking up the women I’m not familiar with. Thanks for sharing.
Love, NapHi,
I’m inspired by my kids…how they are only little, and how they have spoken to me and shared their insight on their love for their parents. I am inspired by by Mum, she had a tough go with my Dad, and she has been hardened by that but she was always able to stand up for us. I am inspired by artists like Emily Carr, who was from western Canada (I am in Ontario). She lived on her own in the woods in a small cabin with chairs that were on ropes so they could be hooked to the ceiling and walls when they weren’t in use. More recently, I am inspired by your stories, your questions and your sharing….I appreciate not being alone.Lila
over the last 7 years i have been inspired by my youngest son. i have 5 children but my youngest came out grabbing life by the balls. by the age of 6 he was doing skateboard competitions. then around 8 his foot started to turn in. i took him the the orthopedic. not in my wildest nightmares could i have seen what was coming. the doctor told me he needed to go to children’s hospital in philly. a few days latter i was being told that my sons legs and arms are dieing. he has small fiber bilateral neuropathy. a condition that normally occurs in someone who is in their 20s. worse case he will have digestion problems and breathing problems. so for the last 7 years my son has been slowly losing his legs and arms. he never seems to get down, he takes what comes his way as if its ok with him. hes 15 now and has taught himself the drums, electric and acoustic guitar, keyboard, and piano. about 2 years ago he stop digesting food normally and now has to eat very small amounts around the clock. hes in high school this year and seems to be ok with himself thinks that if people cant deal with it-him thats their problem. he has had many thing happen with him from names, staring when out many times by adults. to having friends not allowed to play. yet he finds the good in every day he wakes up. he still walks with a rather odd step. his arms and legs look like a stick drawing, no real muscles are left. but he still grabs life by the balls and runs with it.
Bonnie, Lila, and Katt, thank you for sharing your inspirations. Katt, your son sounds so inspirational, I love the way he chooses to live and his great attitude about life.
Love, NapKaty,
I’m so sorry for your son but so glad he has learned to cope with life’s curve balls and preservers. At the same time I am very glad that it inspires you and that he had a mom like you to help steer him through life’s twists and turns.Kids ARE the greatest inspiration. Their innocent awe of life. Their excitement at the sight of a rainbow. You don’t have to lose sight of those things once you’ve grown up. Viewing the works through the eyes of a child is inspiring.
This is one thing I envy about my H. He still holds on to a little piece of that. When his stress gets too high… He will drive out to the country, away from the city lights, so he can appreciate the fact that the stars REALLY ARE bigger in Texas. He can lay on the grass for hours and look out into the universe and marvel at its mere exaistance; the secrets it holds; and the fact that is so immense and so beyond human understanding.
Hi All – I will put my two cents in as well. This is an odd story, but very inspirational.
My Dad was a sociopath/criminal behavior, and most of the time very absent in my life. Although I never respected him, as an adult I can see he did a lot more for me than I realized. When I was small, he taught me right from wrong, values, and to be the best I could be – all of this even though he did not live by those rules himself. (Kinda like the mafia philosophy). My mother was very passive and later in life became an alcoholic. Although she was passive by nature, she was also very loving. I inherited my strength and fortitude from my Dad, and even though he was the way he was I really think teaching me morals, values and perserverence gave me the strength to be what I am today.
I also had a strong faith in God from age 10 and up. I used to sit in the back of our church after choir practice and made up my mind I would not grow up to be like my parents. That sustained me.
That is my story.Katt-Your son shows so much strength, confidence, and perserverence. I am sure his mother had something to do with that! Pat yourself on the back
Love to you.
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