[tranquility]

When I was discussing road rage with my hypnotherapist, he asked who I admire (religious icon, famous person, etc). I told him I don't admire anyone like that because I like to think of all people as the same with no one better than anyone else.

But then I told him that some situations inspire me. I had seen an obituary in my local paper for a 35 year old guy who died of lou gherigs disease. There was a website for him so I went and browsed around. Six months after diagnosis, he did a triathalon and began a foundation to raise money for the disease.

Apparently he was on Dateline or something like that an this young boy from Virginia (I think) around 10 saw him and told his mom he wanted to raise money for this guy. The kid was already doing triathalons so he started doing them for this guy. Then he got his brother involved too - eventually he met the guy he was doing this all for.

It was a very touching story that told about the strength that people have and the good that is still in people. Kinda reminded me of the movie Pay it Forward.

What inspires you?

Tranquility

[DePressMe]

At the moment I don’t feel too inspired…but maybe this will help me get out of my funk.

My office is in a major medical center. Everyday I see people with missing limbs or going through chemo or in wheelchairs or any number of major medical issues. They seem to be pushing themselves and doing what they need to do to take care of themselves. Having them smile at me and say hello inspires me to take full advantage of all the gifts I have…for the most part, I have been blessed with good health and I often need to remind myself not to take it for granted—it could disappear in a flash. If that happened I wonder if I would be strong enough to smile and say hello to a stranger.

[dreamrunner]

I work with high school special ed kids in an intergrated program.Everyday they show happiness in spite of challenges,they show appreciation in the way they interact with me,they are loving and accepting no matter how you look,what your social status is,or how imperfect you may be.
I often tell the kids that I wouldnt change a thing about them as in my eyes they are perfect.

[tranquility]

Thanks Depressme and Dreamrunner (((((hugs)))))

Those are wonderful stories of inspiration. Depressme this does help me when I'm feeling bad - I just try to think of all the things that could happen that happen to other people and it helps.

I hope others post their inspirations because I do love to see them. Doc John - I also wish you would - I'd like to know what inspires you.

Tranquility

[pachyderm]

Stories of people who have made it out of mental illness, mostly by their own efforts, or out of related conditions. I have for the last number of months been going through the biography section of our local public libraries, finding stories that appeal to me -- there are lots of them, which is quite a surprise to me. Stories written by well-known people (for instance, Mariette Hartley), and ones I'd never heard of.

[sabby]

This is a great question!

There are a lot of things that inspire me. I'm inspired by all the folks here at PC who work so hard day in and day out to reach out for help, to grow and learn and heal. Their battles do not go by me unnoticed. I'm inspired by the connections that are made here, folks who are hurting and desperate for healing, yet can reach out and touch someone else who is in the same place to give them a sense of hope and compassion.



Hugssssss
J

[KathyM]

My friend across the street with cerebral palsy. We grew up together - our mom's were best friends.

I used to think her mom was really mean. We were laying on the floor watching TV, and her mother told her she couldn't watch TV until she cleaned her room by herself. It must have taken her 30 minutes just to make it to a standing position on her crutches.

She endured numerous painful surgeries on her legs, but she was never able to walk without crutches. Kids in the neighborhood used to run up behind her and kick them out, then laugh when she fell. My other friend and I began serving as her bodyguards.

When she was born, doctors told her mother to place her in an institution and forget about her. Her mother wasn't mean - she just had a fierce love for her daughter. She fought tooth and nail to get her into a public school, and taught her daughter to be independent. The Catholic school wouldn't take her because they said it would be too disturbing for the other students.

Our parents are gone now. My friend lives in that home independently, drives a car with hand controls, and has a full life. She even teaches at the Catholic school that wouldn't take her as a student.

The tables have turned a bit in our relationship now that I'm sick. She's the one who helps ME now because I can't drive. She says she'll help me all she can, but if I ever feel faint I'm on my own. She tells me to keep my paws off her crutches, lol.

[Wants2Fly]

Fabulous stories, all. I found KathyM's especially moving.

For me, I have to say that it is the people here at PC that inspire me. For when I first came here there was no inspiration to go on. There was no hope that I would reach out or post or anything. I came and read everyday and I could see through the fear and tears those here reaching out and taking the risk to ask for what they needed. I read in others words of the strength and courage they have everyday to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. As I have begun to get to know others here and their stories and struggles that they face everyday, yet, in those struggles reach out to others in need, I find myself overcome with tears of encouragement and an ounce of hope. There are alot of things that inspire me, but it is here that I have made a connection to life and the human spirit that I did not know existed. For each of you are not just a story but people that I am growing to love and appreciate more with each passing day.

purplesecrets

What inspires you?

The thought that every day is a new one, today, doesnt have to be like yesterday, granted no matter what choices you make sometimes it all ends up back in the same cess pit for while, but it can change eventually, that one day?, that’s is what inspires me, thats what keeps me going, you?

[tranquility]

You all shared wonderful thoughts - thank you!!!!

Kathy you reminded me of a girl in my high school. Born with very bad spina bifida - doc told her mother she would never walk but she did. Her mom died when she was six years old of cancer and then her dad died when she was twelve years old of a heart attack. She lived with her aunt who took her social security checks and wouldn't give her any money.

She was in my class in high school but almost 2 years older since she stayed back so much from having surgeries. She had a shunt that drained fluid from her brain down into her abdomin and every once in awhile it would get clogged and she'd have to go in again for another surgery.

This one time she was really upset because she had just grown all her hair back and was going to have to shave part of her head. When she came back to school she wore a bandana. This was a catholic high school, so they had started every morning announcing that we should pray for Cheryl over the loud speaker.

The week she came back we were walking down the hall and this girl came the other way and asked why she was wearing that stupid bandana. Cheryl was devasted and I promptly flipped out. This girl was the toughest meanest girl in the school and I didn't care. After I dressed her down she just turned and walked away and never bothered me or Cheryl again.

The highlight of Cheryls junior year was that she went to the prom and she never thought she would. She had to use two metal canadian crutches but she was there dancing. She also use to say she was fat all the time and she wasn't. She had to wear diapers so her bottom looked a little bigger. But I always called her skinny. She loved that so much that she signed her year book skinny.

I often think of her and the trials and tribulations she went through. She was awe inspiring.

Mellors asked what gets me through the day and what inspires me - for me it's the fact that it's just today. It's not tomorrow, it's not yesterday, it's just today. Someone today said that no matter what feelings you have they always pass even the good ones. It's true - you never have anything permenantly so you have to enjoy what you have while you have it.

Tranquility

so now that your "real question" is out there , you ready to talk?

[beelieving]

Hi Tranquility,

What a nice topic. I often find inspiration through the world’s developing nations. To hear about women who hike 2 miles every day to fetch drinking water from a contaminated river, inspires me to be grateful for the things provided here. Not only that, but stories like this inspire me to broaden my education and make an effort to help and reach out beyond my familiar surroundings.

And of course everyone here inspires me. Such strength to heal. ~ Bee