Inspiration

Today my word is Inspiration. I choose this word because of it being the day we celebrate Martin Luther Kings Birthday. Who I ask is not inspired by this man, his life, the message he always tried to get out there and even his quotes that still pop up. I believe in what he stood for and still represents.

http://www.mlkonline.net

“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: / we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream, 1963.

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Lucile Ball is another that inspires me . She made a nation, a world laugh. She still does. She lead a life that was anything but easy, despite what appeared to the public to be so. She once said that she did not think she was funny, that she was brave. I of course find her very funny, but after reading several books, brave is also a very perfect word for her.


For awhile she also inspired how I dressed, a nick name a boss once called me by and even my hair color. I think her faults, and from what I read they were many, shape who she was , and so in that turn, she inspires me to embrace my own. I also love many of the wise words she spoke. This is one of my favorites!


"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself." 

The next person, who is also an actress that has always inspired me, from where she came from, what she made of herself, her humble attitude and the way she gave of herself till the very end is Audrey Hepburn. I could fill post after post with her wise words, words that through most of my life have changed how I look and think of things in life.

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"
— Audrey Hepburn

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 Jackie Kennedy Onassis. How could one not be inspired by such a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman. I am inspired from her strength to her fashion.

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"Whenever I was upset by something in the papers, Jack always told me to be more tolerant, like a horse flicking away flies in the summer."
Quotation of Jackie Kennedy


 Recently I have been inspired by Paula Abdul. She has often gotten bad press. But her story is very inspiring. What she has done with and is doing with her life is inspiring to me. But since following her on FB, Twitter and her web page, what she is doing for others, her kindness, her gentleness, her humbleness and so many other character traits have come to light on a daily basis, I can not help but to be inspired to be even a little like her in my daily life.

http://www.fanpix.net

" Keep the faith, don`t lose your perseverance and always trust your gut extinct."

I am always inspired by Oprah. Her life story, where she started, where she is now, where she is going with the rest of her life and what she has done for so many people in the world! 

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"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work."

Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine

Then of course there is Ellen! You all know I am a huge fan! She makes me laugh, dance, cry ( in a good way) and inspires me to do for others. What she stands for, represents and fights for also inspire me! Her wife Portia truly inspires me as well. Having in my life struggled with eating disorders, self image issues etc. To see where she is today in her life, well you have to be inspired!

girlstalkinsmack.com


“Sometimes you can't see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others.”    Ellen     

Just last night while watching Extreme Home Makeover on ABC, I was once again, as I often am at the family that was featured. This week it was the Simpsom Family. Of course their story inspired me ( read here) , but what really inspired me was their spirit. 

http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/2011/01/16/extreme-makeover-home-edition-simpson-family-and-paula-deen-in-savannah/

Despite all their struggles, they kept a book of "big dreams" that contained things that they wanted to do for others, from buying an engagement ring for a friend who could not afford one, a food drive, to a coat and blanket drive as well. Here they lived in a house that was not hardly fit to reside in, and they had no money to spare, and their son has medical needs, they thought of others. They want to make a difference in the lives of other people and their community. That is beyond inspiring to me . ( watch episode here)

On a personal note I have people in my family that inspire me greatly. First, my cousins. Beginning with my cousin Dierdre. She has been through hell and back most of her life, yet she always finds a way to be upbeat. Even now with her husband dealing with cancer , she inspires me even more, day after day with her hope, faith, and her optimism . Not to mention her drive to make things happen. 

 And the next cousin is her brother Will. He has been a self made go-getter his entire life. He has lived a life many can only imagine. Yes there as been peaks and valleys in this life, but he has always fought hard to over come them, there has been sacrifices and gains as well. But he never compromises in his drive to reach his goals.  He always inspires me to try harder, to not give in or up on what I truly want and need out of life. 

My Husband inspires me. He works 5-6 days a week , 12-16 hour days, but still when he comes home, he takes care of me and whatever chores I was not able to handle. He puts me and our children above his own needs. He always thinks of others and there is no favor too big or small that you can not ask him for and he,if he is able will do it.    

 Of course my children inspire me, their hearts and work ethic and how they treat others never cease to amaze me. How they stepped up with all the struggles I and my husband have had and been there to comfort, support and even help anyway that they can has just made my heart swell.     

My Mother inspires me. She has for years taken care of others. First of course me and my Dad and then my Grandma ( her MIL) then her own mother for many years, and now with my Dad's poor health, she once again is a caregiver to him . She has not always been perfect at it, it has always stressed her out, and she often gets lost in the shuffle of caring for others. She has struggled because of the life she has lead and it can cause major road bumps in our relationship , but her strength to do what she has for the bulk of her life and what she does for her friends and is currently also doing to help myself and my husband and our children really does inspire me.

I could go on and on with who inspires me day in and day out in life. The list is a very long one of people in the public eye and those in my personal life. I am truthfully grateful to all those that inspire me on a daily basis to be my best, not give up or give in. To show love, kindness, and generosity of spirit and self. To be humble, and to work harder in the face of adversity to achieve dreams, turn life around and as the old adage says "Make lemons into lemon aid! " I try hard each time I write to inspire my readers as well, and from what some of you have told me, I have done that.  

 But one of the greatest inspirations to me are those that do not intend to inspire, but simply do,  many of my friends do that on a daily basis, people I run into in a store, such as kind clerks and like you my readers who often inspire me the most simply by knowing that you are reading.  

Thank you.