Things that are supposed to inspire the adult life are bought, built or birthed. By that standard I am doing nicely.
I bought my house (and am still paying for the privilege), bought my car, bought shoes and clothes (and frequently even wear them- now that has you thinking doesn't it :) I bought furniture to sit on and sleep on and furniture to hold more of the stuff that I bought. I even bought some furniture just to stand there and look pretty. I bought music and books and tickets to plays. I bought food and stuff to keep it warm and other stuff to keep it cool. It's safe to say that I have bought my fair share of stuff.
But has any of it inspired me?
Yes. If your definition of inspire is to provoke someone to do something than I have had many inspiring purchases that made me spend money. If only my husband could understand how truly inspired I was at the time.
But this is not the inspiration I speak of.
Other things I have built.
Suffice to say they have been more inspiring.
I built a teaching career, a marriage and many friendships. I have built the right to speak in certain circles, the right to be taken seriously and, my personal favorite, the right to get in a boxing ring and smack other girls.
Did all this building inspire me?
Yes, if you definition of inspiration is to stimulate a particular feeling.
There are plenty of feelings when I step into a boxing ring. Plenty of feelings when she eyes off against me. Plenty of feelings when my husband yells out "Smack her!" from the side lines.
But even this is not the inspiration I speak of.
Then there are those things in my life that I have birthed. Two of them are tucked up in their beds right now, the littlest sucking his thumb loudly.
I have birthed a mother, birthed the woman I want to be for my children and husband, and birthed a new sense of self after life changing news. All these things have turned my face to both the sun and stars and made me look at the comings and goings of life with new eyes.
But have they inspired me?
Yes, if the sum of who I am is a mother, a wife or even a woman. Yet I have found it is rarely inspiring simply to be. My sons' inspire me in the way their father inspires me, and yet there is more.
What inspires the inner part of me, the part that searches to express herself, the part that wants inspiration to take her into moonlight writing hours fueled by something inside that won't let go is very simple, and always with a good dose of the fantastical.
My definition of inspiration is that which draws wings upon you back. It is that which smells like a rose to you and you alone and promotes a creative expression of who you are and the unique world that wraps around your life.
I am inspired by the thought of stepping into a puddle and being sucked down into another world, by stones that look hard and round as they should, but would squeal if picked up or squeezed. I am inspired trees that make me believe they could reach out their gnarled hands and draw me close.
I am inspired by Lego ships that my son and I build and the wars we know will fly off into and by the smell of my youngest son's hair, imagining what flavor it would be if it were ice cream. I am inspired by my husband's hand on my shoulder as we dance to no music but the sounds of all the songs we have listened to over the last 12 years. In my mind I can see the notes as they spin around us, I feel the light of the street lamp as it invites itself into our living room, a friendly visitor that says nothing and sees nothing. It is there only that we might see in the semi darkness.
These are the true inspirations of my adult life. It is not so much what is in this world, but the depth and fullness of my reality and how it invites out of this world imaginings. The sum of which are the expression of everything I am. Now that is inspiration.
What about you? What does inspiration mean to you and why?
Lovely post, Tabitha!
ReplyDeleteSo many things inspire me. Art, music, words.
ReplyDeleteI try to look for inspiration in everything, because without it, life doesn't seem worth living. What's the point of getting out of bed in the morning if there's nothing inspiring you to live each day?
Music, poetry and certain people inspire me.
ReplyDeleteMusic since I was a child and has stayed with me throughout my life and poetry only for the past 13 yrs.
Loved reading your post.
Yvonne.
TB wonderful post. Appreciate you sharing. I enjoy music and worship very much. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteOoh, well, it means a lot but I don't think I could express it as well as you. :-) I love the thought of squealing rocks! lol
ReplyDeleteLove your definition! Mine would be what makes me want to rise higher, believe and hope for more. :O)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Inspiration can be found in so many forms. I love that it that it's root meaning has to do with breathing, inhaling, the spirit.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I think you said it all, Tabitha, and much more eloquently than I could ever dream of! The only thing I'd add to that list is my pets. Don't ask me how to write that near as nicely as you would, though.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Great post. I often feel inspired by other people's work whether it be art, music or words. I also feel inspired when I look at how far I've come as a mother, women, soccer player and writer.
ReplyDelete"and birthed a new sense of self after life changing news." What an amazing way to look at this. Wonderful words. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love it! We have birthed and purchased much, and inspiration is in what we experience.
ReplyDeleteGreat fiction. Music. Nature. Silence. Silence inspires me. :)
ReplyDeleteAfter reading that awesome post, I won't even try but your post inspired me to dig deeper as a writer. Wonderful descriptions!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! Inspiration for me comes from seeing how others build their dreams. And, always, always from nature, God's playground of wonders.
ReplyDeleteLovely. Reading inspires me. YOU always inspire me. =)
ReplyDeleteWhenever I read one of your posts, I feel as though your words are exactly what I would like to say. But the thoughts that form in my head are never anywhere near as eloquent as yours. You, my dear, are inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI love how you seek out the essence of truth. How you try to get to the core, the meaning and purpose of (perhaps) why you have been placed here on Earth at this particular time in History. Keep seeking, knocking, asking... You are amazing!
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