Actually sat on the porch for an hour today in the cold looking for inspiration for today’s thoughts. Penelope sat in the swing with me and the sun warmed us where we sat. Wasn’t that bad till the wind would rush by. All the wind chimes were singing. I could hear the ones across the street singing, too. The sky was the dark blue of winter. No clouds but a huge turkey vulture was riding the wind currents. Don’t know why we have vultures around so much. Guess they are on cleaning duty looking for a carcass to clean up. I’d love to be reincarnated as a songbird but please not a buzzard. Don’t want to put my head in the guts of some stinky old road kill!

While I was sitting and pondering and occasionally shivering in the swing, I was thinking about the word inspiration. Lots of things inspire me and lots of people are inspirational in my thoughts and in my life. Inspiration can be found anywhere and any time. When I feel inspired I start typing fast and my thoughts outrun my typing speed. I’m happy knowing my pondering is writing itself.

My nephew Nate is at the top of my list of people who inspire me. Every time something scares me or I think I can’t do something, I think of Nate. The little showers in my life that scare me are nothing compared to the medical storms he has weathered. Nate had a battle with A Plastic Anemia with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. He went through chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant and through it all managed to keep up with his calculus homework. Calculus! Even when you feel good you don’t enjoy Calculus! Got to admire someone who endures chemo and still has the wherewithal to get up out of his hospital bed and keep up with his class work to the point where he was named Validictorian of his senior class.

During his illness, I never saw him without a smile on his face and an attitude of “I got this!” He spent months in the hospital, months in quarantine, and months taking a handful of medication everyday. His illness started off with a brain bleed during a high school football game in 2020. Today he is a freshman at Auburn University, studying in the honors program, and making 100 on his organismal biology quiz! Got to admire that! His mother’s bravery and support during this time in his life inspired me too. She was with him every step of the way, in every way. When things would take a wrong turn she never gave up and was by his side everyday of his journey to wellness. She’s graciously letting him travel alone now, stretching his wings and making his way in the world, secure in the knowledge that God and his prayer warriors brought them to this place in their lives. You just watch, Nate will make his mark on the world!

My grandson Alexander inspires me, too. He was diagnosed with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis in 2012 when he was almost three. The illness caused him to lose the use of his arms. During his week in the hospital I never entered his hospital room that he wasn’t smiling sweetly. He’d thank the doctors and nurses for helping him. He’d fall down and just use his head like an inch worm to get back up. Several years of physical and occupational therapy helped him regain the use of his arms. He has the greatest outlook on life. Always cheerful and happy like he subconsciously knows he was given a second chance at life. My daughter-in-law inspires me, too. During Alexander’s illness she was a rock to my son Thomas and dedicated herself to Alexander’s recovery.

I’m also inspired by the school teachers in my family. The world is a hard place to grow up these days and school teachers have so many roles to fulfill in the classroom. It’s not just about teaching a subject. I know my nieces are inspirations to their students and strive to make learning a fun adventure. Teachers are pivotal role models in children’s lives. I still remember my first grade teacher, Mrs. Quattlebaum, and my favorite college professor, Ann Munck.

My dearest friend Linda inspires me with her caring and dedication to all her friends, both young and old. She never thinks of her self but always has others and their needs on her priority list. She quietly goes through her life serving others. That is true inspiration.

Song birds inspire me with their beauty. They work hard all day, in all kinds of weather, filling their little stomachs. And think of how many trips they make to get food for their babies. The internet says a baby bird eats 720 insects a day! That’s a lot, maybe I should check that fact in a Brittannica encyclopedia.

I’m inspired by the work ethic of doctors and nurses who powered through the pandemic with death at every turn. I’m inspired by my young nephew’s prayers before our family dinners. I’m inspired by young people who join the police force despite the world’s turbulence.

It takes lots of self discipline and dedication to aspire to the goals you have in life. Inspiration helps us to be creative and boosts our happiness. There are so many ways to be inspired by life’s blessings. I’m inspired by people who aren’t afraid to take chances and make bold decisions. Self inspiration helps us motivate ourselves. Find out what motivates and inspires you