I... Inspire

There are a lot of really great "I" words that I could have used for this A-Z Challenge but I just couldn't get the word "inspire" out of my head all weekend long. It wasn't a heavens opened, angels sang, stars aligned inspiring weekend, but I think that's part of why the word kept ping-ponging around in my head. It doesn't have to be easy or right in front of me but I try to look for inspiration in even the most mundane or misplayed things.

I personally think the word inspire is a word that carries a lot of weight and responsibility. I hear so many people say, for instance, "She inspires me to be a better... (I don't know, let's go with)... painter." When really? I think they're really saying "She makes me want to be a better painter."

To me, inspire means that you take it and you actually DO with it! You don't dream about it, you don't just think about it or pine over it or covet it. You DO it. I don't want to "inspire" someone if it means they just sit back and say "Man, that's great. I wish I could do that." I want someone to take whatever it is that they feel inspired by and actually DO it.

I was (sort of, between Stella's crying fits) watching Eat. Pray. Love. yesterday... a movie that I didn't find all that inspirational at all. I imagine the book is far better. But inspiration can be found everywhere. One quote from the whole movie really spoke to me:

Ruin is a gift. Ruin IS the road to transformation. -Eat, Pray, Love

Who or what really. REALLY, inspires you? Make sure you take that inspiration and use it. Do it. Love it. Live it.