Inspirations

What inspires us? Who inspires us? Where do we find inspiration? We all find inspiration in someone or something profoundly meaningful, and it inspires us to achieve or aspire to accomplish amazing feats. Inspiration allows hope to transpire; it allows individuals the motivation and encouragement to succeed and work towards attainable goals. As we journey in life, we cross paths with many individuals who inspire us to be better, do better, or accomplish the impossible.  You never know the impact inspiration brings to you unless you experience it yourself. Children have an amazing ability to be truly honest, and they can inspire us as well. We have learned  throughout history that great men and women achieved the impossible in their respective fields of expertise. Many like Gandhi teaching peace and civility,  to Abraham Lincoln teaching us leadership. From Nelson Mandela teaching us forgiveness, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. teaching us the right to equality for all. They have inspired us to break through the barriers that limit us from doing right by others. We remain hopeful because these individuals have graced us with their presence over the years. The resilience of a child can teach us true strength, and a determination to overcome obstacles and challenges that we may face in life.

"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." 

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall". 

- Nelson Mandela

“I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.”

- Abraham Lincoln

“Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.”

- A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

The poor can teach us to live within our means, and with less, happiness we can still prevail. We can learn so much simply by being inspired by other human beings, animals, and even nature itself. Inspiration can take various shapes and forms once we are fortunate enough to bear witness to or directly experience a profound lesson of enlightenment.  A sense of understanding and just being insightful can lead us to open our minds to new prospects of awareness. A good example is living a life of simplicity, which prevents us from being caught up in the pseudo world marketed by society. People that live simple lives, inspire us to break away from the constraints of the facade world of today. Inspiration is all around us, from our teachers and coaches to our parents and mentors, and even strangers. We can be inspired to change not only our individual lives but also those we cross paths with. Ignorance is no doubt futile.  Even the most vile individuals can lead people down the wrong path, and history has no doubt shown us that. The benefits of the right Inspiration can teach us compassion, humility,  kindness, understanding,  and empathy. So choose wisely and live a life full of love above hate, while well considering there are some people out in our world even mental health therapy will fail to help. I have always seen myself as an optimistic individual, who aspires to do his best whenever I can and able to do. 

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing". 

- Walt Disney

"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."

- Maya Angelou

"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants."

- Isaac Newton

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

- John F. Kennedy

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."

- Aristotle Onassis

When we are inspired, we learn, and when our knowledge expands, we shine. Always remain open to Inspiration; you will be amazed at how your life can change; most importantly, the Inspiration benefits you and makes your life better. We are often inspired by great deeds and amazing feats, and we bear witness to so much during our lifetime. Whether we learn about them through books or documentaries, we are inspired by their achievements and their contributions to society. Inspiration leads us to become better human beings, and our deeds and feats will be a testament to that. As I reminisce about who inspired me, I think about historical figures: my parents, teachers, mentors, and even friends and family have all contributed to the man I have become. Life lessons are often inspired by the experiences of others, including ourselves.  Over the years I have told friends I aspire to always learn, and live to inspire as many people as I can. My struggles with chronic illness and disability have no doubt been a difficult journey for me, and an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience provides me the opportunity to inspire many. Every one of us can attest to that because Inspiration has had that impact on us. Never hesitate to learn, always take the opportunity to expand one’s knowledge. Inspiration is always around us; keep in mind it comes from the utmost sincerity. Be open to it, and you will be pleasantly surprised how much it can change you for the better. How we evolve as individuals, is determined by what we have learned and what we applied to our individual lives.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”

- Henry David Thoreau

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

- Buddha

“If you always put a limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”

- Bruce Lee

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.”

- Steve Jobs

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

- Robin Williams