What inspires you to go after your dreams and make your mark on this world? I am always curious to see what inspires others. As a creative arts person, I am always seeking out different ways to keep me inspired so that I can inspire others. I have been testing out ways to keep me motivated. Everyone works differently. Recently, I was asked the question, "What inspires you?"

I don’t really mean keeping it simple like “food” or “the sun” or “vacations." I have quite a wild imagination. Some adults may see that as strange, but not me. I love my creative side because it makes me who I am. It keeps me a kid at heart and that is something I will always cherish. I do not want to ever lose my wondering heart that is curious about people and wonders about this world. Today, I am contemplating inspiration. Inspiration is that feeling that hits you and you’re moved to action by something you are passionate about. Inspiration leads you to make change and to take changes. What REALLY inspires you?

For me, my faith plays a role in my daily motivation/inspiration. Jesus is the inspiration for my entire existence. But there was a time when my faith was wounded and I did not want to lean on that for anything. It was too painful, so where did I go to for inspiration then? I definitely leaned on music. Music is my go-to. When I wake up in the morning, I am most likely singing a song in my head or playing music on my phone to get me going. I love music. To me, music is a universal language, and when people use music to tell their stories, I love it!

I find that the courage of others inspires me. Watching people battle life and come out victorious and on the other side, you know, those tear-jerking stories that you read on the internet. But even when they don’t, I am still inspired by their fight. The people who wake up in the morning and have to literally battle for everything they have, but somehow they still keep a smile on their face, they inspire me.

The people that did not believe in me have inspired me. When someone looks you in the face and tells you that you aren’t worthy or you are something that you’re not, you have a choice to either let it break you completely or to use it as a stepping stone to your next journey. I was not always inspired by this, believe me. I carried those words on my back for far too long before I decided to drop it down and leave it as an inspiration for me to go to the next chapter of my life. My failures no longer defined me. Now, those words resonate and continually inspire me, they brought me to one of those “Ah ha” moments where what was meant to break you ends up being turned around for your good and you raise up that chin and keep pressing forward. To put it in a simpler form, I would say when the impossible becomes possible. When you never give up no matter how challenging the problem may be. What I once saw as something impossible to overcome I now see as a stepping stone in my life that launched me to my new path.

In a world where everything is so busy and constant I find that silence has become an inspiration to me. I love those quiet moments where I allow my mind to breathe and I just sit and evaluate my life and where I am. Becoming consistent in my quiet time has changed my life. I am inspired by life itself. Life is such a unique thing and we are so blessed to able to live it. We have no idea how long, maybe that is what inspires me. I never know when it is time for me to go so I want to live my life to the fullest while I can. I have been in a place where I did not value myself or my life and when my eyes opened and I realized how beautiful life really is I started to see those “little things." I call them God kisses. Take, for instance, when I’m walking down the street and an old woman stops me to tell me I am beautiful. It is inspires me to always be kind; I see how it makes my day, so I want to do that for others. When I see people stopping to help someone in need it inspires me to slow down and take in every moment. It inspires me to keep my eyes open and to always be willing to lend a hand, though I may be the only one that does. Those are a few things that inspire me, I could go on and on about individual people but that would be a book!

Who or what inspires you? Why? Find inspiration in the little things, keep your head up, and stay positive, you never know who you are inspiring!