Inspiration is an interesting thing, you know. I’ve had people inspire me throughout my life that probably don’t even know the impact they've had on me.

Wrestling

I remember being 13 years of age and being inspired to join the wrestling team by a friend. I stuck with it, and it forever changed my life. I remember that same friend told me, “but you could sing dude,” in an attempt to convince me that I too had talent, after I had lost a match and was feeling down. It was random that he would mention that, but for some reason, it made me feel better. In a way, it was him telling me that I too inspired him. That simple sentence I remember to this day, and it is as impactful as it was the day he said it.

Sophomore year of high school

Fall of 2006, entering sophomore year of high school, one of my older sisters could tell I had been nervous. I confided in her the very reason why I was nervous: I feared playing volleyball during gym period. I know, it doesn't sound like a big deal, but I was not skilled enough to feel comfortable playing, and felt self-conscious. She told me: “Just play, and enjoy yourself. Don’t think of what anyone else will think. Just have fun.” And I chose to trust her. I played like no one was watching, and that made all the difference in the world. I slipped at one point, and hit my head on gym floor, but I had so much adrenaline rushing through my body, I guess I didn’t feel it. The game went on. And that was the beginning of self-acceptance, and self-love.

Re-usable inspiration

The interesting part here is that neither my friend nor my sister expected to inspire me those days. They where sincere and only said what came to mind at that moment, in hopes of making me feel better. It wasn’t the words they said, as much as was how they said them: They’re face expression, the inflection and tone of their voice, their body language. All of that translated into an honest, and kind response, emitting energy that fuels me to this day, and carries me throughout any day I need it. Any day I need a boost of motivation, I reach into the archives of my memory, and relive those moments of kindness and genuineness that only true friends and loved ones could provide. I am now forever immune from sadness, impervious to life's obstacles, and ready to take on the world.

The point here is: Always be kind and caring. You never know who you'll inspire. You might just end up equipping someone with a lifelong supply of re-usable inspiration, that is always there when they need it.