One thing that inspires me: Beethoven, and in particular his 9th Symphony ("Ode to Joy"). Every time I hear it I say to myself, 'if a deaf man can write music like that, anything is possible'. I also think of his despair at losing his hearing and how it nearly drove him to take his own life, and then after that, to write such a beautiful and joyful piece of music...breathtaking.

What inspires you?

People that do daring things, like pack up and move to foreign countries, sail long distances alone, brave incredible circumstances. It shows me that even the things I am afraid of can be done, and I could do them too.

Wheelchair bound people especially those who enter marathons or any kind of sports. They don't wallow in self pity.

Good art. To me it's like being in the presence of God - good art is divinely inspired and it can be felt. Picasso, Davinci, Monet - all are insipiring and remind me that humanity does have a 'good' side to it and it's not all wars and crimes. Good art gives me hope for the future of humanity.

Good acting. I love a good actor. Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, John Garfield, actors that felt their characters to the bone, actors that had no limits and no fear in being their character. To me that's inspiring - when I can forget that it's Bette Davis, it moves me.

Animals. The Animal kingdom and all its wonders inspire me.

Scentual, I feel the same way about people in wheelchairs, with canes or infirm in some way, and also very old people. In the dead of winter here, you will see people who have great difficulty getting around out and about, on the buses, braving the cold. One day I was walking on an icy sidwalk slipping and sliding and trying to keep my balance and a guy in a wheelchair goes zooming by with nary a care in the world. I said to myself "Dammit, if he can do it, I can do it!" and I pulled myself together and managed to get off the icy patch safely.

My husband inspires me. He's the most even-tempered, well-grounded, humorous person I've ever known. He judges no one, but isn't afraid to express his opinion. He's considerate, open-minded, and thoughtful far beyond anyone I've ever known. I would never have met him had he not charmed me completely through email and then on the phone. We were good friends for four years before we ever met in person, before we ever exchanged pictures or even last names or personal details. He's a true story of how great the internet can be for meeting people who fit one another intellectually.

He was born with cerebral palsy and though he is extremely high-functioning both mentally and physically, he has limited motor control on his left side, particularly in his left arm and hand. In high school, he loved sports so much that he developed a patented way of catching and throwing which sounds really spectacular to me - he'd catch the ball in his mitt, pop the ball up over his head, rip his glove off, catch the ball again in the same hand, and then throw it. Even now, he rarely lets his physical limitations get the best of him. He can't tie a knot or use a manual can opener but he can find a way to do almost everything else, and he's not afraid to ask for help if he needs it. That's inspirational to me - I'm not very good at that.

He's brilliant - he's in Japan right now as a Fulbright scholar, finishing his PhD in anthropology. He claims he's terrible with languages yet he's learned both Hindi and Japanese in his lifetime so far, and he's 29. He doesn't seem to be afraid of anything, and there's not even one ounce of pity in him. He is kind to a fault and I know he loves me dearly - this is inspiring to me as well because I don't always feel very loveable. And he's very encouraging of all my many projects and interests. He's true. That's the best word I can think of for him... he's true.

He is amazing.

Hmmm, so far our recurring themes are courage and/or beauty...

I also want to add that this picture inspires me, for a couple pf reasons:



First, in the movie the picture is from, "Safety Last", Harold Lloyd's character will NOT give up. He climbs that building despite numerous obstacles.

And, in real life, Harold Lloyd had lost the thumb and index finger on his right hand in an accident four years earlier, and he is really hanging off he hands of that clock, no special effects, no wires (that's a prosthetic glove he's wearing) and he is really as high up as he appears to be, fifteen stories above the street (there was a padded platform three stories below him though, in case he fell). He did most of his own stunts before and after the accident. He also would NOT give up.

I think I love your husband.
Deeply and passionately.
Dear God, I do.

Don't worry, honey.
I'm way too old to be interesting to him.
And I never betray a friendship, EVER.

Everyday folks carrying on their daily lives inspire me.
Nature.
Children.
All the arts.

Michaelangelo

The moon

Sunsets

music

Dance

Human beings being human. All my yoga classes conclude with a chanting of three OMs from the heart and then a fourth, offered for someone, someplace who needs love, help, and healing. Every time, that last OM is so heartfelt and the voices of the students have a sincerity that makes me just love humanity, that their deepest love is for someone they will never meet who might need a prayer at that moment.

Cleaning my kitchen and bathroom. These really start the perspiration flowing. I can't think of any other task quite as perspiring.

Never mind.

People that overcome obstacles and children, I love children and their innocense and sense of wonder.

Children and babies and puppies.... such precious innocence and fresh honesty, bravery, beauty, and happiness, and absolutely loyal.
How things all change as time goes by,
but little children and puppies can inspire me to remember how precious is life !

Kindness and grace inspire me. People who are able to maintain a decorum, dignity, equilibrium, and a "big picture" outlook on life.

I once had a boss who was the epitomy of this. He was VP of business development for a large pharmaceutical company, so he came in contact with some pretty unscrupulous and misbehaving CEOs. The strongest language I ever heard him say was, "That is complete and utter nonsense." But the way he said it left no doubt that he was completely disapproving and not buying whatever it was. This same boss was also kind enough to go to bat for me and get me the best salary possible at a time when the company was "tightening its belt." He knew my previous boss in the company had hired me at a "lowball" salary.

I've been on the receiving end of so many gracious acts of kindness from so many people that I cannot but hope to be in a position to replicate this someday. There is no small act of kindness. They all seem large.

I LOVE THIS!!

puppies cause me unbelieveable joy and get me out of any bad funk I'm in. Note to self. When are you getting a dog?

Barry White!! haha My First my last my Everything!

Barry White!!! Oh, Glo. Just because you're my friend, I'm going to share Hurra Torpedo with you. The fabulous, appliance destroying cover band: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4462791062611472906

OMG, I love this video.............

OMG! Thanks for the laugh! Great.

Last time I went up to the Cape to see my mom, she wanted to go for a drive to look at the Christmas lights in the neighborhoods. It was fahreeezing cold, and my stepfather really wasn't into it, and was driving like a maniac, zipping around so fast that had there been anything to see, you'd miss it if you blinked. There just weren't that many houses who put lights up or decorated their yards, and my mother was disappointed, and I was grouchy and Scroogey. But then we saw a house across the marsh where the owner had put lights up all over the side of the house that faced the marsh, which he would never see. There wasn't enough lawn between him, the house, and the water for him to be able to look at what he'd done. He put those lights up just so someone across the water could see them and feel festive.

It really moved me. It made me think about the importance of keeping a candle in the window and a light in the darkness, and how somebody might be warmed by that, even if you yourself can't see it. It also struck me that this was a meaning of good citizenship -- that you show a positive side and give your best, be of good cheer and all that Christmasy razzamatazz, because being positive promotes good mental health and inspires other people.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." -- Matthew 5:16

Bravo Fulltilt!!

FTR, this is a beautiful thought. I feel it's true about the Christmas lights, even the tacky ones. Sometimes people criticize people's outdoor decorations as wanting to impress people and outdo their neighbours but I consider their intent as a gift to passers by. It's sort of like what StAndrewsGirl was saying about people in her yoga class saying a prayer for those who may need it, even if they don't know them.

People who allow adversity to refine and purify them rather than destroy them.

There's an Orthodox monastery not far from us, where a very quiet, humble, elderly priest-monk lives. He spent years in solitary confinement in a hideous Romanian prison for his faith. He doesn't talk much about it, except to say that it was good preparation for being a monk. He's completely unprespossessing to look at, but there's a glow about him that I can't describe. When this man chants the liturgy, you know he is talking directly to God.

I'm inspired by people who

are humble

say only what they mean and mean everything they say

do not judge..not because they don't have opinions but because they see opinions as the trivial things that they are

are unguarded

are truly not materialistic

Someone like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG662-kKnnc&eur

I am also inspired by people who overcome obstacles and children! And you know, sometimes children can be obstacles themselves, like when they play on the floor and you have to get past them to the other side of the room...it's not easy! ;)

Someone had to say it. Good work, Ellen.

Beauty in any form inspires me. Music, art, The Lily of the Valley, The Rose of Sharon, The Bright and Morning Star, actions...and happy endings.

Humor inspires me!! Comedy's opposite side is pain. Commedians usually have had a painful life. They're overcomers.

Ya gotta laugh! What else ya gonna do??