What Inspires You?

Day 2~ I am inspired by so many things. Give me a gorgeous sunrise/sunset, a field of blue bonnets, a child's smile, a well written book.

What does not inspire me would perhaps be an easier question. To answer that question I am choosing to focus on quotes. I love reading quotes. I used to have a quote journal where I collected all of the wonderful, creative and intelligent things I heard or read that inspired me. That was before the Internet though. Now there are entire websites dedicated to the collection of quotes. I find other people fascinating. I enjoy the way they can rearrange letters and words and come up with something profound and meaningful. When I was in journalism I loved beginning my stories with quotes. I enjoy reading articles that begin with quotes. I just love that instant connection I feel when I get what they are saying or when someone expresses how I feel in a way I never considered.

Here is the quote that inspired me tonight, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." ~Marianne Williamson

Wow, I mean what else can I say about that? This is so insightful, so eloquent. It does not need to be explained or discussed, it just rings true. That is inspirational. That is what I want my children to know and carry with them. Who are you not be talented, special, amazing? My goal as a mother is to find that talent that is within them and help them learn how to grow that talent. No easy task. I worry that with our limited budget I am holding them back. But, you know, if I teach them what is in this quote, and teach them to find their passion, nothing can hold them back but themselves.