Mother Teresa

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Anne Frank

Inspiring. Sarah Stanley just completed a 50-mile run (over 10 hours) while tweeting her progress with pictures. Why? It’s an easy answer for her, “I run 50 miles to inspire someone to run or walk 1 mile.” I got the opportunity to talk to Sarah, her passion was so clear – her intentions to help others just get off the couch radiated through the telephone. Her idea is to bring Healthy, Happy, and Fit together as one message. Just following her tweets for a day during that run had a positive influence over my future runs. And I wasn’t the only one. The conversation by so many that were affected by her life was uplifting. Allowing peeks into her life during a time of multiple emotions shows by example that you CAN do what you set your mind to. Follow Sarah’s blog and tweets to get your daily dose of inspiration.

There are so many others that can be used as examples of stellar inspirational people in the world we live. Find someone that has a similar interest to you – and learn by example. I know both Rocky & Sarah don’t bite, if you find someone you admire and want to learn more – reach out !

What is your message? What can you do to inspire others? As long as your intentions are pure – your passion and message can be whatever is closest to your heart. It might be to help the local shelters, support victims of domestic violence, volunteer your time, encourage entrepreneurs, the list is endless!

Inspiration is worldwide and incorporates many different venues of life. There are people inspiring others to read. There are mothers and fathers inspiring their children. There are teachers inspiring the students to get excited about education.

Inspire the Child. Inspire Each Other. Inspire Self.

—Harriet Tubman (1820-1913); African American abolitionist and humanitarian

FIGHT ON DEANA!!!!!!!!!

Back in October I posted about the randomness and proximity of girlfriends being diagnosed with cancer.  Today I am especially heavy.  My girlfriend who was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma in  October, was told that she has weeks to live, that though she has suffered through chemo, and radiation, the cancer is back and has spread.   She has 2 young children under the age of 5.  She has never waivered in her hope, and her determination to beat this cancer, yet this cancer is stealing Deana away from her family and friends.

In a Caringbridge blog,   Written in a by her husband he states,

“Deana wanted me to let everyone know that while we are hopeful, and are trying to remain positive, that the doctor did tell us that given the aggressive nature of Deana’s cancer, we are dealing with just a matter of weeks for Deana if not addressed. He has encouraged us to contact Hospice.”

Where do you start?  How to embrace each moment when everything in your body hurts?  How to capture memories and or make them for your children when you can’t get to the bathroom alone?  How to make time to say goodbye to your husband, and close up a life together.  To your parents, sisters, brothers?

Clearly, Deana’s story has me thinking, is it best to know when death is coming or not.  I have decided that yes, I would want to know so that I can complete my lists, have closure, have goodbyes, make memories for my children to open at sweet 16 and 21, marriage and birthdays.  In fact I am starting now, because what guarantee is there that I will know, this is something that can not wait.

The death of a mother is the hardest to bear for she is the one who is there for us the most.

William Makepeace Thackeray, 1811-1863

Andy Warhol

“Follow your honest convictions, and be strong.”

William M. Thackeray

We spent most of our time in a little town called Thomas. I’m an extreme morning person and rather than wake anyone, I crawled out of bed and got to know the town better. A sleepy morning town will tell you all about the people who live there, if you will just take the time to listen.

I know that the people there are kind. I saw proof of that in the flower pots set in front of a doorway to block the way. A terse “Use Other Door” sign would have worked, but the flowers said it with a smile.

There was a box of chalk and colorful designs scrawled across the sidewalk in front of a store. I imagined the shopkeeper setting them out for the kids, rather than trying to run them off.

A pan of water by a storefront told me pets were welcomed, not tolerated.

There was a sign in a shop proclaiming “Karma Soup”. If you’re hungry, help yourself. You get a meal, they get good karma and count it as a fair trade.

I saw a broken wheelbarrow used as a planter. An empty wine bottle propped open a broken bedroom window to catch the breeze. Everywhere I looked, I found things repurposed rather than thrown away.

This was an old town. Some might drive through and think that it’s seen better days, they might even write it off as poor or even backwards.

I know better. This town whispers that it’s full of creative, loving people who will find a way to work with what they have. They’ll take care of each other and every living thing around them. It was said so clearly that I didn’t even have to meet the people to know it. They left their clues everywhere. From one walk, I could tell you this was a good place to live.

I’m left wondering what my town would tell me on an early morning walk. I don’t think the story would be such a happy one.

And I wonder what I can do to change that.

Edmund Burke