be inspired

“How hard is it to decide to be in a good mood,
And then just be.. in.. a good mood?
That’s all I have to say because it’s a straight up fact,
You control your emotions it’s as simple as that”

“You don’t achieve anything by letting the past rule within you,
Getting all pent up and angry about stuff just eats away inside you,
If you can’t forgive and forget,
How’s this,
Forget forgivin’ and just accept that that’s it”

I’ve often found myself envying other people for something that they have or something that they are considered, but I’ve come to realize that as once put by someone: “it is better to be a first rate version of yourself, than a second rate version of someone else.” How true that is!! I’m young, but life is still precious and learning from other peoples mistakes so as to not waste my own time on regrets is a continuous goal that is a process being re-made everyday. Look around you for inspiration!! It’s there everyday even when you don’t see it. No matter how gloomy, and forlorn the day seems there is ALWAYS a silver lining to the cloud. Inspiration can come especially from those around you. I have a co-worker who has 4 kids and is only 28 but she doesn’t ever complain about it and works as hard as ever and I know that if she can keep going than I can too. Look up to the stars and watch them twinkle and glow, all of creation is inspirational. You need only look to find your own source, and if that one cannot be replenished know that there are always more.

It seems like ever since I put this down as a goal I have been consistently inspired by the people around me every day. Amazingly manifest-y.

Seeing with the eyes of the Master Sculptor

'When a fanatic dealt several damaging blows to
Michelangelo's Pieta, the world was horrified.  It surprised no one
when the world's best artists assembled to refashion the disfigured
masterpiece.'

‘When sculptors arrived in Italy, they didn’t begin
repairing the marred face immediately. Rather they spent months
looking at the Pieta, touching the flowing lines, appreciating the
way each part expressed suffering yet ecstasy. Some spent months
studying a single part such as the hand until finally the sculptors
began to see more and more with the eyes of Michelangelo and to
touch and feel as the master artist would have done. When the
sculptors finally began repairing the face, the strokes belonged
almost as much to Michelangelo as to themselves.’

—Matthew and D Linn from Healing of Memories

i think it’s pointless to do anything without inspiration.

I read an article called ‘A Sacred Journey’ by Reverend Debbie Shields.

She talks about the book On Retreat with Thomas Merton by Basil Pennington.

She quotes, “First we must detach ourselves from things so that we can truly see them. When we do, we see God in them. Then we can begin the quest for God, leaving things behind, going into the darkness. When we find God, we find all things again in Him-the hundredfold. But, we have a job of letting go of things - especially of our own creations: our thoughts and images. We try to get God to fit within them. But any god who will fit into our thoughts and images will never satisfy our hearts. He is a false god, an idol that we have created. We have to have the courage to go beyond our thoughts and images where, at first, it is very dark… This is the initial experience in Centering Prayer: darkness—until the inner eye of the heart opens and adapts to the too brilliant light that is God. This eye is the penetrating eye of love. When it opens the heart is filled.”

She writes of taking a time of soul searching and honest reflection of our lives and allowing spiritual growth to take place that then prompts our working to make a difference in our personal lives, in our communities,and in our world.

Seven years I’ve waited
Seven years of holding on
Yes, it’s been
Yes, it’s been
Always get my faith and
I always knew this day would come
Let everybody know

I’ve made up my mind
It’s time for a new beginning
I’m living my life, yeah
It’s time for a new beginning

There’s a new day coming
I’m getting ready for a change
Yes, I am
Yes, I am
Gotta keep on running
Gotta be a better way
Yes, there is
Yes, there is

I gotta do what’s in your heart
Say what’s on your mind
Everybody (everybody)
Gotta be true to myself
I feel now that it’s my time
Let everybody know, yeah

I’ve made up my mind
It’s time for a new beginning
I’m living my life
It’s time for a new beginning now

It’s time for a new beginning
Yeah

I’ve made up my mind
It’s time for a new beginning
I’m living my life (living my life)
It’s time for a new beginning

Come on, come on
There’s gotta be a better way
(It’s time for a new beginning)
(I’m living my life)
Come on, come on
There’s gotta be a better day
(It’s time for a new beginning)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
(43T quote)

I love this site!!!

I’m always looking for things that will inspire me. These things include videos, photographs, music, art, and people.

These days, I find the average American voter inspiring—I never thought I would live to see the day when I would be so proud of my country, and so hopeful for a brighter future in America.

Theoretically – everything in this world should be inspiring. The fact we are even alive is a miracle unto itself. But by and large, the historic events that positively inspire large groups of people are few and far between, which is why I feel so lucky to have been part of and witness to one.

Smaller things that have recently inspired me—a pinhole camera I received as a gift. getting in touch w/old friends who I haven’t seen in too long. the smells of weekend cooking wafting through the house. pumpkin pie ice cream. long conversations with my mother on the phone. breaking in new running sneakers on a 5 mile run by the river on a perfect day. singing in my band.