Inspiration. The launching point of motivation and desire. Everyone gets their inspiration at different times through different outlets. Sometimes the same act or incident or thought or dream will inspire only one out of many that experienced similarly. But, isn’t that all it takes sometimes? One person, inspired – driven – completely immersed in the desire it birthed, that anyone caught in the path, can’t help but feel just a little different in the wake.
I am inspired because I survived, but beyond that I get to live now. It’s been more than a decade of survival. Answering the question “how are you?” With “surviving”. Because that was good enough, that’s all I needed to keep going. But at what point was it not enough? Survival became stale and stagnant. Then what? Nothing inspired, nothing motivated, it all just… Was. Until I started to move outside of the daily survival routine. The constant reminders from countless that cared, pounding into me over and over… Eventually taking hold.
I was inspired that a dear friend felt comfortable enough to tell me their untold story, to show me tears that no one ever would guess were there.
I was inspired because someone took the time to tell me every single day that they believed in me and that the impossible things I was only beginning to dream would become my reality.
I was inspired because of the man that always puts his family first. In unselfish and incredible ways.
I was inspired because I watched someone lose it all and still smile, every day. Then they lost everything again and used the pain to teach me to laugh.
I was inspired because of the person who unselfishly gave anything she had to another with nothing more than the hopes that it was making their life better.
I was inspired when I realized that someone did care, and would make sure I knew even if it was just a text every once in awhile to say they were there.
I was inspired when I learned family is more than distance, time, and blood.
I was inspired when I watched unconditional steadfast forgiveness. Over and over. Along with patience I still don’t understand.
I was inspired because I looked back and saw somewhere I never wanted to look at again.
I was inspired when I realized how many still didn’t give up, no matter how hard they were shoved away.
I am inspired because all these things amount to not only a second, third, but thousandth-chance, time forgiven and proof of unwavering faith in something I’m just beginning to be able to see.
I am inspired because you taught me to let go, in the most graceful, peaceful way.
I am inspired because I know now what I am, who I am, and where I am supposed to be.
I am inspired because no longer do I just have to survive. For the first time, in longer than I can remember, I can breath, live, dream, and prove. For no one else, but me.
There is a dream. I have been inspired to turn this dream into reality, and before I blink, it’s already begun.